About this learning event

The panel “No Region for Young People: Time for Change” at the Bled Strategic Forum will showcase the work of six young public officials from the Western Balkans who have spent the past year developing policy papers under expert mentorship. Each paper reflects a personal and professional motivation and addresses an area where progress is needed, whether related to institutional performance, social inclusion, or policy alignment. The proposals are grounded in firsthand experience and are driven by a shared aspiration to contribute meaningfully to the EU accession process.

Despite years of commitments to reform and EU integration, young people in the Western Balkans still face limited opportunities, high unemployment, and political systems resistant to change. The region’s emerging professionals often encounter barriers that prevent their ideas from influencing policy. This gap between aspiration and action not only discourages the next generation but also slows the region’s path toward the European Union. Bringing together foreign ministers and young professionals offers a unique chance to confront these obstacles and explore what is truly needed for meaningful transformation.

Guiding Questions:

• How can governments in the Western Balkans better integrate young professionals into policy-making processes?
• What concrete reforms are required to address persistent challenges in employment, education, gender equality, and civic participation?
• How can intergenerational dialogue between senior leaders and emerging voices create momentum for change?
• What role should EU institutions and regional cooperation mechanisms play in empowering young people to drive reform?
• By confronting barriers and sharing innovative approaches, how can the region ensure that its youth are active contributors, not bystanders, in shaping the Western Balkans’ European future?

Who should attend

This workshop is by invitation only,  intended for participants from the second generation of WeWrite component under the WeLead project.

Partners

This event is delivered as part of the EU-funded multi-beneficiary project “EU Scheme for Young Professionals in the Western Balkans” (WeLead) implemented by the CEF.