This briefing highlights the urgent need to strengthen civil society’s engagement in the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF). While billions of euros in EU funding are reshaping infrastructure, energy, and human capital across the region, civil society organizations (CSOs) remain largely excluded from project programming and governance. Structured CSO participation is essential to ensure transparency, public legitimacy, and locally informed investments, making EU-supported development inclusive, accountable, and resilient. The briefing proposes the establishment of a dedicated WBIF Civil Society Facility to formalize CSO involvement and maximize the impact of EU investments in the Western Balkans.