We Are Shaping Our Shared Future — this was the theme of the two-day regional conference “Youth of the Western Balkans and European Union”, held as part of the project “Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE” (2023–2026), organized by the Center for Democracy Foundation in cooperation with partner organizations from across the Western Balkans and with the support of the European Union.

The gathering took place on 18–19 November 2025, bringing together voices from five cities — Belgrade, Sarajevo, Tirana, Skopje, and Pristina — for a regional conference featuring inspiring speakers, dynamic panel discussions, and youth-led initiatives.

Opening the conference, Plamena Halačeva, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, emphasized that the European Union recognizes the many challenges facing young people today — from economic insecurity and social inequalities to the growing impact of climate change. She stressed that dialogue is where progress begins, noting that young people must come together and remain open, honest, and eager to learn from one another.

Plamena Halačeva, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia

Nataša Vučković, Secretary General of the Center for Democracy Foundation, underscored that young people must be recognized as drivers of change, noting that they embody European values in their expectations — and now more than ever, they stand up for those values with clarity and courage. The Western Balkans are part of Europe, she said, and will become even more so through stronger democracy, improved rule of law, and better protection of human rights.

In a video address, Serbia’s Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, encouraged young people to dream bigger than the opportunities currently offered to them, stressing that they understand economic security, the rule of law, and the eradication of corruption as key priorities.

The regional conference brought together young people, policymakers, civil society representatives, experts, and other stakeholders from across the Western Balkans to present the priorities and challenges faced by youth in the European integration process, to foster mutual understanding, and to highlight examples of good practice from the Western Balkans and the European Union. Discussions focused on public policy, advancing reforms, and shaping a common European future.

The goal of the conference was to amplify the voice of young people at local, national, regional, and European levels, encouraging dialogue on reforms that affect the younger generation.

Key topics were explored through five panel discussions: A Bridge to Europe – Western Balkan Youth in Reform Processes; Youth Employment in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: The Youth Guarantee in the Western Balkans – Challenges and Opportunities; Youth Well-being in Focus: Health, Housing, Culture; Young People in the Digital Landscape: Safety, Trust, and Resilience; Youth and Nature: A Partnership for a Sustainable Green Future.

 

The conference was held as part of the project “Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE” (2023–2026), supported by the European Union and implemented by the Center for Democracy Foundation in cooperation with partner organizations from across the Western Balkans.