Young people from the Western Balkans and the future of Europe

Europe: an idea

The relationship between ideas and reality has always been complex. If only the young knew and the old could, said Freud.

Even we who are not so young but not old either and work with young people are trying to adapt our reality in the hope that their energy, innovation and freshness can save us all.

Churchill said that an optimist sees an opportunity in every difficulty. The pandemic, which is approaching its second year since entering the global scene, has changed our lives from the roots, especially those of us in the Balkans, who are so close and yet so far from Europe.

We in the Balkans really experienced Europe and Europeans in the best and worst times. Historical times, both Balkan and European, are connected.

Like nature, politics does not like a vacuum and I cannot deny that these days there is a lack of connection between the energy from the European integration process of the Western Balkans and existing expectations.

What to do then?

Let's not kid ourselves. Although we live in more peaceful and secure times, we are still in a challenging situation. Despite the ideas advocated by thinkers, academics and political activists regarding how we can re-embody the spirit from which the European Union was born, regarding the value of one Europe, one continent, and despite calls for proactive responses to the emerging reality in the EU and the Balkans, however, the story of the expansion of the European Union to the Balkans is convincing only for a very small number of people in Europe.

Still, however, I believe that the idea of ​​prudent politicians and activists from which the European Union was born is necessary for the reconciliation of conflicting states, establishing cooperation and stability without fueling the fire and encouraging discord between neighboring states, as well as the art of living with others is the best call that we need to persevere nurture.

To nurture vocations, believe in young people, Pope Francis said.

Religious life, however, is not the only vocation we know.

At first glance it may seem illogical, but it is exactly the opposite.

Seventy percent of Western Balkan citizens between the ages of 18 and 24 believe that EU membership would be good for their economies, which is much higher than other age groups. Their vision of the EU and Europe is one that enables freedom of travel (59 percent), freedom of work and education (59 percent) and economic progress (48 percent). The fear of losing sovereignty, the main theme of Eurosceptics from the EU, is minimal, for only 5 percent of them. Values ​​are therefore in the center of attention, or as some from Brussels would say, the values ​​contained in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union.

Freedom is the main purpose for young people. Even if they could make a long drive romantic, freedom of travel is not what young people from the Western Balkans think of when they imagine Europe. They also think about freedom of education and work, which for some of us, like young people from Kosovo*, is still a dream.

In a region where two-thirds of young people would be willing to acquire additional qualifications to get a job and additional skills to advance, almost a quarter of them are not employed, are not in education or training. We should not be surprised then that two thirds of them would be ready to live and work abroad. Opportunities to work and study outside their economies are, again, exhausting, expensive bureaucratic processes and procedures for recognition and seeking the necessary permits.

Ask young people in the Western Balkans what they want and they will quote you, in their own words, Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. It is not the definitions that they have learned but it is the idea that they want to live.

Between idea and reality

Reality imposes limits on ideas. The European Union is not perfect, the enlargement process is not easy, and the future, for the most part, is not a straight line. If, however, we are guided by the idea, there are things we can do for our present, but also shape the future in accordance with the ideals we strive for.

To begin with, we can start with ourselves. If Europe is an idea, we can bring it to life in any corner of the world, and that means in the heart of the European continent, in the Western Balkans.

The citizens of the region have great ideas. How do we know that? We invited them to participate in our Balkathon competition where they presented new, digital and innovative solutions that will benefit our region. In the Western Balkans, you can find many positive examples of girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, women entrepreneurs and successful young people, which we follow and notice and are always here to promote. By supporting the Regional Coalition for Jobs and Skills, the region will ensure that businesses develop and retain talented people from the Western Balkans.

All this is for the purpose of the most important goal, that our region becomes a place where young people have a reason to stay, but also a reason to return to it. Despite the undoubtedly great developments, such as the roaming-at-home regime that came into force in our region in the summer, we have a long way to go, on which various factors are slowing us down. This is not a reason to despair and certainly not a reason to give up on our vision. Instead, it is an additional encouragement to speed up the process and strengthen the mechanisms of youth participation in decision-making, as well as regional initiatives for youth cooperation.

Trusting the youth is not wrong. When the Western Balkan Youth Laboratory project was launched in 2020, it was an experimental, innovative approach. Although modeled after good European practices, it represented a novelty in the region, an idea that had yet to become a reality, and that is precisely why its success did not come lightly. The incredible commitment, enthusiasm and intelligence of young people, who worked with policy makers, led to a series of initiatives across the region.

The youth laboratory continued its work, and this time attention was devoted to mental health. Mental health is a very important topic, not only because suicide is the second most common cause of death among young people between the ages of 15 and 29, but also because experts and the profession warn that the pandemic has worsened feelings of fear, anxiety and depression.

Let's be honest: the generation gap in the digital sphere is undeniable. Let's take a banal example: while on average a citizen of the Western Balkans uses Facebook more often than other social media platforms, 62 percent of young people are on Instagram.

The reality in which young people live today is specific, marked by the rapidly changing age of the fourth industrial revolution, a volatile and unreliable labor market and a pandemic unprecedented in modern history. Our goal here, as well as in other issues, should not be to understand young people, but to give their information, priorities and recommendations an appropriate space in the adoption of policies and public debates. In 2022, the European Year of Youth promises to do just that.

As of yesterday, Tirana is officially the European Youth Capital, which is a great honor, responsibility and opportunity to shape the future of the city and our region in the heart of Europe.

When asked what should be done first, most of the young people involved in the process pointed out the same thing, which is to be involved in creating concrete changes, especially in terms of education, employment and the environment.

What it means?

The Western Balkans is full of young women and men with ideas, bright, talented, who speak several languages, brave and self-confident, top in sports and art. They are not poor relatives of Europeans. We urgently need to review, rebuild, and recreate the reality that young people would want to deal with.

Something always seems impossible until someone does it, said Nelson Mandela.

The author is the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC).