"Five of the six non-EU countries in the western Balkans region have signed the Council of Europe's European Charter of Local Self-Government, the exception being the Republic of Kosovo which is not yet a formal member of the Council of Europe. Moreover, Serbia, Montenegro and North Macedonia have signed and ratified the Additional Protocol, showing their willingness to enforce the effects of the Charter, while, in contrast, Bosnia and Herzegovina has neither signed nor ratified it and Albania has only signed it. Indeed, this Charter is a cornerstone of local governance whose aim is to enhance citizens' participation in local decision-making. This article compares the domestic institutional framework regarding local government in the five countries and seeks to highlight whether the Charter has indeed enhanced citizens' participation. In addition, it explores the practices occurring in some countries which have implemented the Charter before, ultimately, seeking to answer the question as to whether it has enhanced direct local democracy in the western Balkans."

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