Balkan youth is facing important problems today, such as prejudice, intolerance and unemployment. This is causing a significant brain-drain. Youth participation and activism is more important than ever. Sharing these common challenges, the Western Balkan societies decided to work together in order to empower young people.
To tackle these issues, six Western Balkan States (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia) have decided to take part in a regional initiative in order to promote reconciliation and cooperation between the youth in the region. On 4thof July, their heads of States met in Paris to sign the founding document of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) during the Western Balkan Summit, gathering German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President François Hollande, Austria's chancellor and Italy's finance minister, as well as the Western Balkan leaders, who discussedkey topics including migration policy, security and economic cooperation.
The establishment of the Regional Youth Exchange Office (RYCO) is inspired by the experience of the Franco-German Youth Office, to develop new relationships and improve cooperation projects.Based in Tirana (with one local branchper country), and operational in January 2017, RYCO will implement joint programmes for young people focusing on the principles of democratic governance, sustainable economic development, education and innovation.
The equal participation of civil society organisations and governments is a crucial approach to ensure an inclusive process and create adjusted projects and synergies.ALDA, the lead coordinator of the Balkan regional platform for youth participation and dialogue, participated in national consultations and in local working groups, discussing the implementation of this structure during the summit.Balkan regional platform for youth participation and dialogue welcomes this major initiativeopening perspectives for Balkans Youth, and will continue to support regional cooperation and reconciliation in the Western Balkans as one of its main missions since its creation.
For more information visit the official website of RYCO and the Twitter account.