Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe with the support of the European Union
One regional conference – five cities – one vision:
Belgrade · Sarajevo · Skopje · Tirana · Pristina
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The Regional Academy for Democratic Development, in cooperation with partner organizations from across the Western Balkans, organized a two-day regional conference “Western Balkan Youth and the European Union: Shaping Our Common Future” within the project “Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE” (2023–2026), supported by the European Union.
The event was held on 18 and 19 November 2025, simultaneously connecting voices from five cities – Belgrade, Sarajevo, Tirana, Skopje, and Pristina – in a regional gathering featuring inspiring speakers, dynamic panel discussions, and youth-led initiatives.
At the opening of the conference, Plamena Halacheva, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, emphasized that the EU recognizes the many challenges young people face — from economic insecurity and social inequalities to the growing impact of climate change. Halacheva underlined that dialogue is the space where progress begins, noting that young people should come together and remain open, honest, and curious to learn from one another.
Secretary General of the Center for Democracy Foundation, Nataša Vučković, emphasized that young people must be recognized as drivers of change, noting that they carry European values in their expectations—and today, more than ever, they advocate for those values clearly and courageously. The Western Balkans are part of Europe, she stated, and will become even more so through deeper democracy, strengthened rule of law, and the protection of human rights.
Brankica Janković, Commissioner for the Protection of Equality of the Republic of Serbia, stated in her video address that young people must dream bigger dreams than those offered to them, observing that they understand that economic security, the rule of law, and the elimination of corruption are essential priorities.
The regional conference brought together young people, policymakers, civil society representatives, experts, and other stakeholders from across the Western Balkans to present youth priorities and challenges in the EU integration process, to encourage mutual understanding, and to highlight examples of good practice from the Western Balkans and the European Union. Discussions focused on public policies, advancing reforms, and shaping a shared European future.
The aim of the conference was to strengthen the voice of young people at the local, national, regional, and European levels, promoting dialogue on reforms that directly impact the young 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 Wellbeing in Focus: Health, Housing, Culture
• Youth in the Digital Landscape: Safety, Trust, and Resilience
• Youth and Nature: A Partnership for a Sustainable Green Future
AGENDA >>> (PDF)
Video of the opening session: https://youtu.be/09aGb2_Yrp4
The conference was implemented within the project “Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE” (2023–2026), supported by the European Union and carried out by the Center for Democracy Foundation in cooperation with partner organizations from across the Western Balkans.
