Skip to main content

Author: WeBalkans

EU-Western Balkans summit 2025

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The EU and Western Balkans meeting, chaired by President António Costa, provided an opportunity to demonstrate and reconfirm the strength of the EU-Western Balkans strategic relationship and the benefits it brings to citizens.
“Today’s summit has delivered a clear message: we firmly support the Western Balkans’ future in the European Union. Enlargement remains central to our shared objectives.” President Costa
The President of the European Council represented the EU at the summit together with the President of the Commission. High Representative Kaja Kallas also attended. A declaration was issued at the end of the EU-Western Balkans summit. All attending partners from the region have aligned with it.

Strategic partnership between the EU and the Western Balkans

The summit highlighted the importance of the close political and economic relationship between the EU and Western Balkans partners, especially in the current geopolitical context and the need for ever-stronger ties between the EU and the Western Balkans. The EU reaffirmed its commitment to the European Union membership perspective of the Western Balkans, and welcomed the progress achieved in the enlargement process.
“The acceleration of the accession process, based on credible reforms by partners, fair and rigorous conditionality and the principle of own merits, is in our mutual interest.” Brussels declaration
The summit underlined the importance of tangible progress on reforms, alignment with the ‘acquis’, regional cooperation, good neighbourly relations and reconciliation. The EU welcomed the Western Balkans partners’ commitment to upholding European values and principles, in line with international law, the primacy of democracy, fundamental rights and values and the rule of law, and expects them to demonstrate this in both words and action by taking ownership and implementing the necessary reforms, notably in the area of fundamentals.
EU-Western Balkans relations

Gradual integration and the Growth Plan

The EU is committed to bringing the Western Balkans partners closer to the EU during the enlargement process.
“Enlargement is a deeply transformational process.  Socioeconomic convergence will anchor their future in the European Union.” President Costa
Their gradual integration, carried out in a reversible and merit-based manner, is ongoing in several policy areas, preparing the ground for accession and bringing concrete benefits for citizens. The EU is expected to welcome concrete progress on the gradual integration of the Western Balkans partners into the EU single market, notably through the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. Launched in 2023, the Growth Plan aims to further integrate the Western Balkans partners into the EU single market, advance regional economic cooperation, as well as to incentivise the necessary EU-related reforms by providing up to €6 billion for reforms and investments.
“EU calls for making the most of the unprecedented opportunities provided by the Growth Plan through timely implementation of reforms.” Brussels declaration
The Growth Plan has the potential to accelerate economic growth in the region over the next decade and to speed up socioeconomic convergence between the Western Balkans and the EU, provided that the partners implement the EU-related reforms. The EU is the Western Balkans’ primary and most reliable partner. It is the region’s main trading partner, investor and donor.
EU-Western Balkans investment and trade

Foreign affairs and security and defence

The EU underscored the importance of the alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), including the implementation and enforcing of the EU’s restrictive measures and countering circumvention. This remains a strong expression of a partner’s strategic choice. The EU also welcomed partners’ contributions to the EU’s CDSP missions and operations. EU and Western Balkans leaders reiterated that they stand united in their unwavering support for and solidarity with Ukraine. Leaders also discussed cooperation:
  • in the areas of security and defence, notably through the European Peace Facility and the launch of security and defence dialogues
  • in building resilience to hybrid and cyber threats to counter foreign information manipulation and interference

Connectivity

The EU welcomed the strengthening of connectivity within the region and with the EU in energy, and transport. The EU will continue to support ongoing efforts to diversify the sources and routes of energy supplies, and to contribute to the energy transition in the Western Balkans.

Cooperation in migration management and combating organised crime and corruption

The EU and the Western Balkans have a shared responsibility for addressing common challenges. While progress has been made, further action is needed by the Western Balkans partners to fully align their visa policy with the EU, to combat the smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings, and to further strengthen border management, asylum and reception systems and returns to countries of origin. Leaders also discussed joint efforts on the fight against corruption, drug trafficking and organised crime, as well as preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism.

Background information

The summit is part of the implementation of the European Council’s 2024-2029 strategic agenda. Regular EU-Western Balkans summits have been held since 2018. The latest summit between EU and Western Balkans leaders took place in Brussels in December 2024. The next summit will take place in June 2026 in Montenegro.

EU and Western Balkans partners take further steps to implement initiative for fast-track lanes

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

This morning, Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos witnessed the signature of three bilateral operational agreements strengthening custom cooperation between the customs administrations of Albania, Moldova, and North Macedonia with Greece, Bulgaria and Italy. The memoranda, which form part of the EU Moldova Growth Plan and the EU–Western Balkans Green Lanes initiative, led by the Transport Community and Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), aim at reducing waiting times at border crossings and facilitating the movement of goods.

The three new agreements build on existing bilateral memoranda already in place at other borders between partners in the region. The provisions on customs data exchange between EU and non-EU countries can only be put in place when the necessary EU legal framework is established and the EU Customs Reform will be in place.

In parallel, the EU has also made available €54 million to invest in 11 priority border crossing points ensuring smoother transit of goods. This is a concrete step in the gradual integration of Western Balkans partners into the EU’s single market, as foreseen in the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans adopted in 2023.

Reflections from the student seminar in Poland

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in YEA Blogs.

Written by Jana Andreska, Young European Ambassador from North Macedonia

The Fifth Edition of the “Remembrance, Understanding, Future” seminar took place on 22 – 29 October in Krzyżowa and Wrocław. The seminar is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the “Krzyżowa” Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe. In addition to participants from the Western Balkan Six, Poland, and Germany, this year’s seminar also welcomed participants from Bulgaria and Croatia, bringing together a total of 30 participants from 10 countries for the 2025 edition.

I had the privilege of attending this seminar as a representative of the YEA Network, and the experience was far more inspiring than I had imagined. In this blog, I want to share some of the lessons I learned, the moments that stayed with me, and why this seminar left such a lasting impression.

LESSONS FROM HISTORY: The path toward Polish-German reconciliation

The student seminar aimed to present the experience of the Polish-German reconciliation process after World War II overcoming a difficult and traumatic past, and to emphasize contemporary examples of Polish-German dialogue, while highlighting the lessons that youth from the Balkan countries can learn from the successful Polish-German example of cooperation and reconciliation, despite a burdensome history.

On our first day, in the lecture “Polish-German Relations 1939 -1989 – 2025,” presented by Dr. Tomasz Skonieczny, Deputy Head of the European Academy at the Krzyżowa Foundation, we explored key historical developments as well as several landmark moments remembered today as important steps toward reconciliation, moments marked by remorse, and gratitude.

One of the first attempts of reconciliation after the tragedies of the Second World War was the Letter of Reconciliation of the Polish Bishops to the German Bishops in 1965, which marked a historic moment in post-war Europe. Commonly referred to by its most memorable phrase, “We forgive and ask for forgiveness”.

Following, on 7 December 1970, Chancellor Willy Brandt and Polish Prime Minister Jozef Cyrankiewicz signed the Warsaw Treaty. Before signing the treaty, Brandt laid a wreath at the Monument to the Unknown Soldier and at the Monument to the Victims of the Warsaw Ghetto. Unexpectedly, after laying down the wreath, Chancellor Brandt knelt on both knees as a symbol of penance and remorse. As the Chancellor rises to his feet, he has made history. From this day on, the world will talk about the ‘Kniefall von Warschau’ (‘the Genuflection of Warsaw’).

At the beginning of the 80s, in Western Germany a spontaneous action was organized in support of the activities of the “Solidarity” movement. Also, civil society played an essential part in the Polish-German reconciliation. Endless NGOs were involved in activities and projects bridging the two nations together. Youth camps, historical tours, exchange programs and joint projects contributed to a shared sense of community.

In the following lectures, we turned our focus to the development of the Polish-German history textbook, guided by a lecture and discussion with Prof. Igor Kąkolewski, Director of the Centre for Historical Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Berlin. In 1972, the German-Polish Textbook Commission was established. Comprising historians, geographers, and educational specialists from both countries, the Commission aimed to confront and replace distorted narratives with historically accurate and balanced interpretations. In 2008, it initiated work on the “Joint German-Polish History Book,” a groundbreaking project intended to create a shared perspective on European and national history. This long-term cooperation resulted in the publication of the first volume in 2016, titled “Europe – Our History.”

WHERE HISTORY LIVES: Learning through places of memory

In addition to thematic lectures and interactive discussions, study visits to historical sites contributed to the seminar’s dynamic nature. During our stay in Wrocław, we explored the Four Denominations District, had a reception at the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as a guided tour of the ‘Wrocław 1945 – 2016’ exhibition at the Zajezdnia History Centre.”

Wroclaw was the biggest city in Poland’s Western Territories that came within Poland’s borders after World War II and where the entire exchange of the population took place as a result of post-war migrations from 1945. The most impressive sight was seeing many little gnomes adorning the city’s landscape. As adorable as they are, these Polish gnomes carry a deeper significance. They serve as mini memorials to Poland’s Orange Alternative resistance – an underground anti-communist movement active in cities across Poland during the 1980s.

We continued our journey in Krzyżowa, located in the region of Lower Silesia, about 60 km to the south west of Wrocław. The village also became notable due to a significant historical event: the Reconciliation Mass, held in the courtyard of today’s meeting centre on 12 November 1989.

For me, our stay in Krzyżowa truly showed the spirit of connection among youth, built in the peaceful atmosphere of the village.

Our visit to Gross-Rosen in the following days left a deep emotional impact, reminding us of the human suffering endured there. Today, the Gross-Rosen Memorial site serves as a place of remembrance and education, providing a comprehensive understanding of the camp’s history and its role in the Holocaust.

As our final destination, we visited the twin cities of Görlitz and Zgorzelec, a perfect culmination of our journey, where we could see firsthand the inspiring results. Görlitz in Germany and Zgorzelec in Poland are two cities divided by the Neisse River, forming a unique cross-border urban area just across the bridge. When you walk or drive across, you might not even notice that you have just crossed the border if you don’t pay attention to the language on the signs. In Görlitz, we met with students from Augustum-Annen-Gymnasium, who presented their bilingual-binational German-Polish educational programme, as well as listened to presentations from local authorities about cooperation, reconciliation and cultural exchange of the two cities.

CONCLUSION

As a Young European Ambassador and political science student this seminar was a valuable opportunity for me to engage in the themes of history, reconciliation and critical reflection, not only an act of remembrance but as a way to inspire active youth participation in peacebuilding. 

Through lectures, discussions, late-night debrief sessions, eating pierogi, exploring the culture and history of the cities, laughter, tears and everything in between, this program became rich not only in knowledge but also in memories, friendships, and hope.

Reconciliation cannot succeed without the human touch, without empathy, and without building trust by learning first from the past rather than being trapped by it. That, above all, was the true message of the seminar.

Media Literacy Week at the European House

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in YEA Blogs.

Written by Anastasija Dobrilović

The end of October brought a week full of learning, connection, and inspiration, a week dedicated to one of the most important skills of our time: media literacy. As Young European Ambassadors, together with the European House, we had the privilege to organize and participate in a series of events focused on critical thinking, fact-checking, and understanding how media shape our world.

We began on October 27 with an interactive workshop called “Facts Come First.” Our Young European Ambassador Aldo opened the session by sharing the idea behind the whole initiative and reminding us that media literacy is not just about recognizing fake news. It is also about understanding how media influence our perceptions, decisions, and even our sense of reality.

The workshop was followed by a lively panel discussion where Emina, Vasilisa, and me, as representatives of the YEA network, shared our experiences alongside our guest, Montenegrin influencer Filip Petrović. Emina presented the Facts Come First campaign, screened a short video, and spoke about her experience from a regional event that brought together journalists and fact-checkers from across the Western Balkans. I spoke about the outcomes of the campaign and the importance of keeping the conversation alive beyond a single project. Vasilisa then energized the audience with a short quiz that revealed how much more there is to learn when it comes to identifying reliable sources.

One of the most inspiring moments of the day was our talk with Filip. He spoke openly about the responsibility influencers carry, the challenge of staying authentic, and how every post we share can have a greater impact than we realize. The discussion with the audience was dynamic and thoughtful – we explored how young people can help spread accurate information and be more mindful of what they share online. Filip’s words stayed with us: “I would tell young people to pause and think, to try to understand what is really behind a message. Check the source, compare facts, and ask who benefits from that information. These are the steps that help us build critical thinking. It’s important to keep learning, both formally and informally, because only then can we recognize manipulation and make informed decisions.”

A few days later, on October 29, we continued with an event dedicated to disinformation and digital literacy. Our guest, media expert Snežana Nikčević, led an engaging and practical workshop showing how disinformation spreads, how to recognize it, and how to think critically when consuming online content. The YEA team supported the organization and actively participated in discussions and group exercises, making the session interactive and eye-opening.

We closed Media Literacy Week on October 31 with “Youth Voices for Media Literacy.” The atmosphere was relaxed but buzzing with energy and creativity. We started with the classic “Telephone” game. There was plenty of laughter, but also a clear reminder of how easily messages can change as they are passed along, just like news can get distorted when it’s not shared carefully. Participants, divided into teams of primary school students from Podgorica, were tasked with creating and presenting a news story (either true or false), while the rest had to guess which was which. The activity brought fun, surprises, and meaningful reflection. Each team showed, in their own way, how important it is to think critically and not take information at face value. Together with Vasilisa, Boris, Marija, and Elif, we helped guide the process and made sure everyone felt included and empowered to share their ideas.

As the week came to an end and we exchanged impressions, one message stood out: this is what media literacy is truly about – to pause, to think, to verify, and to remember that not everything we hear is true. Being media literate means being responsible, informed, and aware of the influence each of us has in the digital space. Throughout Media Literacy Week, we were reminded that facts really do come first,  but even more importantly, that finding them takes curiosity, teamwork, and an open mind willing to understand the world around us.

Reflections from the 2025 EU Enlargement Forum in Brussels

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in YEA Blogs.

Written by Ilir Kiçmari, Young European Ambassador from Kosovo On 18 November 2025, I participated in the EU Enlargement Forum at the Charlemagne Building in Brussels – a major gathering dedicated to discussing the future of the European Union’s enlargement policy. The event brought together political leaders, policymakers, analysts, youth representatives, and civil society voices from across Europe. Setting the tone: Europe at a turning point The Forum opened with a video message from the President of the European Commission and an introductory speech by the Commissioner for Enlargement. In her published remarks, the Commissioner stressed that today’s global landscape is forcing both the EU and aspiring countries to act with greater urgency, noting that “candidate countries take time to reform, and sometimes our Member States take time to decide – time which today’s world no longer grants us.” This message shaped the discussions for the rest of the day, emphasizing that enlargement is no longer a distant aspiration, but a strategic necessity. The panels: A collective look at Europe’s future The Forum consisted of several panel discussions, each focusing on a different dimension of enlargement.
  1. The Geopolitical Imperative
This session explored why enlargement is directly linked to Europe’s security, stability, and resilience. Participants discussed how the global environment has shifted, making it clear that strengthening ties with neighboring regions is a matter of strategic relevance, not only political will.
  1. Perspectives from EU Member States
This panel highlighted a transparent reality: Enlargement requires both internal readiness within the EU and credible reform in partner countries. Speakers emphasized topics such as institutional capacity, public trust, and the need for the EU to remain efficient while preparing for a larger union.
  1. Citizens and the next generation
This session focused on how enlargement is perceived by society, especially youth. The discussions underscored that younger generations across Europe are more globally minded, innovation-driven, and eager for collaboration. For many, enlargement represents both opportunity and responsibility.
  1. “Getting to YES!” – The political decision-making moment
The final panel dealt with the practical and political steps needed to advance enlargement. Here, the discussion was more direct, reflecting the complexity of aligning national positions, institutional processes, and geopolitical realities. My contribution at the forum During the final session, I took the opportunity to raise a point about the importance of inclusive and accurate language in European discussions, particularly in regional contexts where terminology carries political and emotional weight. I also shared reflections from the perspective of someone working in artificial intelligence and innovation, noting that young professionals in our region are deeply engaged in digital transformation, and Europe’s future competitiveness relies on embracing this new generation of innovators. The audience reacted positively, confirming that youth perspectives, especially from fast-developing fields like AI, have an important place in shaping EU policy debates. Keynote and closing messages One of the most impactful moments of the Forum was the closing speech by António Costa, President of the European Council. He stated: “In today’s uncertain world, an enlarged European Union means a stronger, safer, and more peaceful Europe, at home and abroad.” His message brought the day to a clear conclusion, that enlargement is not merely an institutional process; it is a strategic commitment to Europe’s future. What I took away from Brussels Participating in the EU Enlargement Forum reinforced several beliefs:
  • Enlargement is about shared stability and opportunity, not only political negotiations.
  • Europe is entering a period where unity and cooperation matter more than ever.
  • Young people, including those working with AI, technology, and education, are shaping the next chapter of our continent.
  • Constructive dialogue, even when sensitive, is necessary for progress.
The EU Enlargement Forum showed that the concept of enlargement is not simply a technical agenda item; it is a generational project. And contributing to it, even in a small way, is both an honor and a responsibility.

Carrying the YEA spirit to the Mediterranean Youth Academy

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in YEA Blogs.

Written by Debora Kolgegaj, Young European Ambassador from Albania

From 13 to 17 November, I, Ada, Artina, Bogdan and Ivan had the chance to be in Nice, France, for the 4th edition of the Mediterranean Youth Academy, an opportunity that felt both inspiring and eye-opening. Being surrounded by young people from all around the Mediterranean reminded me how much diversity, passion, and potential our region holds. This year’s focus on climate action, gender equity and transformation, and youth employment made the experience even more meaningful, because these are not just abstract topics, they are challenges we all live with in our countries, our communities, and sometimes even in our personal lives.

As a Young European Ambassador, I chose gender equity & transformation as my working group while the other YEAs were divided according to their interests. Whether we were talking about how education systems should promote climate awareness, how governments can support gender equality, or how to create fairer opportunities for young workers, everyone contributed in something unique and applicable to our countries. These conversations didn’t feel forced or theoretical,  they felt real, honest, and rooted in our shared desire to shape a better future.

We were guided by experts who didn’t just lecture, but helped us think strategically. Step by step, Prof. Matthias Waechter (Director General at Centre International de Formation Européenne) taught us how to build a strong policy brief, how to turn an idea into a realistic plan, and how to design strategies that could actually be implemented. I especially appreciated the extra training on programs like Erasmus+ with the help of Mr. Yassine Zarouk and the other forms of cooperation for initiatives facilitated by Mr. Alejandro Lafarga Martinez (Programme Officer en INTERREG NEXT MED Programme Branch Office Western Mediterranean) and Ms. Elisabetta Necco (Quality Assurance and Civil Society Manager), because they showed us how many opportunities exist for young people if we know where to look and how to use them.

Being in Nice as co-partners of this year’s academy made me feel proud of what we, as YEAs, represent. We weren’t just participants, we were contributors. We had the chance to share the spirit of our communication program, express our values, and show what the YEA network stands for: connection, cooperation, and a commitment to positive change. It was a chance to demonstrate our energy, our creativity, and our belief in inclusion and European values, and I think we truly delivered on that note.

By the end of the academy, what we created felt genuinely rewarding: clear, practical, and meaningful policy briefs that addressed real problems affecting Mediterranean youth. But beyond the final documents, the experience itself changed us. We left with better skills, wider perspectives, and stronger motivation to continue our work. For me, the Mediterranean Youth Academy was more than an event, it was a reminder of how powerful young voices can be when we come together with purpose and hope.

Pathways to freedom: Young European Ambassadors in the BSC Young Leaders Programme

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in YEA Blogs.

Written by Aleksandra Grbović Bitić, Young European Ambassador from Serbia

This November, Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) from all six Western Balkans entities came together in Belgrade for an event that transcends the scope of a typical conference. We joined the Young Leaders programme, organized by the Belgrade Center for Security Policy (BCSP), which runs in parallel with the Belgrade Security Conference (BSC) – the largest high-level foreign policy and security gathering in the Western Balkans, bringing together over 500 participants, 80+ speakers, and more than 20 panels and side events.

This year’s conference, titled “Pathways to Freedom”, paid respect to the struggles of all those searching for their paths toward liberty while resisting oppression and seeking dignity. As Mr Cvijić, President of the International Advisory Committee of the BCSP, underlined, “Across the world, young people are leading movements for justice and freedom,” a message that strongly resonated with us as Young European Ambassadors.

For us, it was not solely about hearing global experts discuss security, democracy, and Europe’s future. It was more about ensuring that young people from the region are actively involved, raising questions, challenging assumptions, and demonstrating what a European Western Balkans entails in practice. 

Young leaders in a high-level arena

The Young Leaders Programme aims to empower young people from the Western Balkans to become future decision-makers and opinion-shapers. As Young European Ambassadors, we joined students, researchers, activists, and young professionals from across the region to unpack intricate matters such as transatlantic relations, EU enlargement, and the evolving global security framework.

Workshops equipped us for the main conference sessions, enabling us to integrate the “big picture”, ranging from global crises to EU reforms, with tangible realities observed within our own local contexts. Rather than functioning as a separate youth side-event, we were integrated into the core programme, granted the opportunity to address the assembly, formulate questions, and challenge speakers regarding the implications of their decisions for our generation.

This experience demonstrated in practice what we often promote as Young European Ambassadors: meaningful youth participation. We were not there to “symbolically represent youth”, but to offer ideas, perspectives, and lived experiences from Tirana to Sarajevo, from Prishtina to Belgrade.

Four days of learning, one shared future

Over the course of four days, the Young Leaders space transitioned from resembling a programme to embodying a genuine community. We initiated the programme with entertaining icebreakers and introductions; however, those quickly turned into honest conversations about what freedom, security and “Europe” mean in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. By the time we stepped into our first sessions, we already carried each other’s stories into the room.

In the days that followed, the agenda evolved into a sort of roadmap: from women leading regional dialogue and our critical walk through the Labyrinth of the Nineties to workshops on transatlantic relations, EU enlargement and digital security. We shifted between personal experiences and pressing geopolitical questions, transitioning from museum halls to conference rooms, engaging in both attentive listening to experts and challenging them from the audience.

The concluding sessions, during which young individuals candidly discussed remaining in or departing from the region, as well as issues of trust, fear, and responsibility, appeared to be a natural culmination of all that had been revealed over the course of those four days. It was no longer solely about the knowledge gained from the programme but about how prepared we were to apply it upon returning home. 

Learning from the past, speaking for the future

A particularly impactful moment of the programme was the guided critical visit to the Labyrinth of the Nineties exhibition at the Museum of Yugoslavia, led by the esteemed historian and professor Ms Radina Vučetić. Walking together through the exhibition, we reflected on the manner in which media, propaganda, and everyday life during the 1990s continue to shape our societies and form our current perceptions of one another.

For YEAs representing all six Western Balkan entities, this event represented more than merely a museum visit. It served as a space to cultivate empathy, to listen attentively, and to recognise how diverse narratives shape our perception of history. This experience complemented panels on regional dialogue and reconciliation, where we encountered inspiring stories of women, activists, and educators who foster understanding across divisions on a daily basis. 

These moments served as a reminder that security encompasses more than borders, institutions, and alliances; it also involves memory, trust, and the courage to engage in challenging conversations.

Taking BSC home: From conference hall to community

Departing from Belgrade, we did not perceive the Young Leaders Programme was “completed”; rather, it appeared to serve as another building block. As YEAs, we will now be applying our knowledge within our own communities. In this way, the Pathways to Freedom theme persists through incremental but tangible actions – within classrooms, youth centres, and neighbourhoods across the Western Balkans.

The conference also strengthened the connections within the YEA network. During our time together, we discovered new ideas for joint cross-border initiatives, from exchanges and study visits to creative storytelling projects that show how EU values are already lived in our region. We departed as a more cohesive regional team, better integrated and more equipped to support each other’s efforts.

In a conference that honoured those who search for their own paths to liberty and dignity, the presence of YEAs sent a clear message: young people from the Western Balkans are not only learning about freedom, but we are actively contributing to shaping its future in our region in the years to come.

Bridging the gap: New research illuminates future direction of career guidance in the Western Balkans

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in YEA Blogs.

By: Andrea Darabašić  The lack of structured career guidance is a major challenge contributing to high youth unemployment across the Western Balkans. But thanks to dedicated YEA initiatives, we now have a starting roadmap to change it. The project, “Career counseling in the Western Balkans: Accessibility, gaps, and future directions,” successfully concluded its four-month run (July–November 2025) with the delivery of comprehensive research and an advocacy event, setting the stage for improvements across the region. A voice for 1,300 young people Spearheaded by Young European Ambassador from Serbia, Andrea Darabašić, the project’s core achievement was mobilizing the voices of the region’s youth. The regional survey exceeded its ambitious goal, successfully gathering input from 1,306 young participants across Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia. The project delivered not one, but two key reports:
  1. An objective overview mapping existing career counseling services and identifying systemic challenges.
  2. A detailed youth perspective report analyzing what young people actually need to transition successfully into the job market.
This rigorous, dual-perspective approach was supported by 12 career professionals, including psychologists and youth workers, who ensured the research instrument was grounded in real-world expertise. Advocacy event drives action in Belgrade The findings culminated in an advocacy event held at the Europe House Belgrade on November 6th. The event brought together over 30 key participants, including high-level professionals from the HR, corporate, and education sectors. The session featured a presentation of the research and an engaging panel discussion among regional representatives, focused on leveraging cross-country collaboration and creating institutional linkages. Crucially, the event launched the final report, which contains 10 specific, actionable recommendations designed to improve career services for young people across the Western Balkans.

EU and Montenegro provisionally close another five chapters in accession negotiations

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in News.

The 24th meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro provisionally closed accession negotiations on chapters 3 (right of establishment and freedom to provide services), 4 (free movement of capital), 6 (company law), 11 (agriculture and rural development) and 13 (fisheries).
“The EU welcomes Montenegro’s progress in closing five additional chapters today. This means that in total twelve negotiating chapters have already been closed – a significant step forward on the country’s path towards European integration.” Marie Bjerre, Minister for European affairs of Denmark, on behalf of the Danish presidency of the Council of the EU
The EU may, if necessary, return to these chapters at an appropriate moment. Chapter 5 on public procurement had already been provisionally closed at a previous Accession Conference on 27 June 2025. Monitoring of progress in the alignment with and implementation of the EU acquis will continue throughout the negotiations. Montenegro has opened all 33 negotiating chapters in its EU accession negotiations. With the provisional closure agreed today, a total of twelve of these chapters have now been provisionally closed. According to the negotiating principles endorsed by the Accession Conference, agreements reached in the course of negotiations on specific chapters, even partial ones, may not be considered as final until an overall agreement has been reached for all chapters.

Background

The European Union delegation was led by Ms Marie Bjerre, Minister for European affairs of Denmark, on behalf of the Danish presidency of the Council of the EU, with the participation of Commissioner for Enlargement, Ms Marta Kos. The Montenegrin delegation was led by Mr Milojko Spajić, Prime Minister of Montenegro.

From police stations to secret flights, Serbian reporters follow the trail

Written by WeBalkans on . Posted in Stories.

Over the past few weeks, the Western Balkan countries have been celebrating investigative journalism. Professional juries across Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia, and Kosovo have gathered to evaluate some of the most compelling investigative journalism pieces.

We spoke to all first-prize winners across the region, and will publish the interviews with them in series. Through this series that we have titled “EU Celebrates Investigative Journalism in the Western Balkans” we want to celebrate these exemplary journalists and get to know more about their investigation practices, the urgency of addressing these issues in their country as well as their reflections on the position of investigative journalism in their country and in the region at large.

BIRN’s Aleksa Tešić and Saša Dragojlo shared the first prize for investigative journalism in Serbia. The jury in Serbia — comprising Aleksandra Nikšić, Milka Tadić Mijović, and Snježana Milivojević — awarded Tešić’s investigation Proven: BIA Hacks Activists’ Phones, which informs the public about how Serbia’s Security Information Agency (BIA) used Israeli Cellebrite technology to unlock activists’ phones and install domestic spyware. Dragojlo’s From Belgrade to Be’er Sheva: Israeli Military Flights and Million-Euro Weapons Shipments traced Serbia’s €23 million arms exports to Israel, uncovering deep-rooted ties in military trade and providing valuable context to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Aleksa Tešić

Aleksa Tešić has been a member of the BIRN Serbia investigative team since June 2021, focusing primarily on digital security, privacy rights, and personal data protection. He is the author of multiple investigations into public procurements and the use of surveillance and espionage technologies by state authorities. This year, he received the first-ever NUNS award and the first journalism award presented by the European Union in Serbia. In his work, he frequently relies on automated data analysis, artificial intelligence, and computer vision — in collaboration with programmers and data experts. He graduated in Journalism and Communications from the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Belgrade in 2019. Before joining BIRN, for more than a year he worked in the advertising industry. During his studies, he interned and worked part-time in television and online media and served as an assistant editor on a TV show. He was born in Čačak in 1996, where he completed primary school and high school.

 

WeBalkans: What was your process of investigation for the piece “Proven: BIA Hacks Activists’ Phones”. This investigation comes at a time of serious political turmoil in your country. How did this affect your process?

Aleksa Tesić: Back in 2023, I researched and published an analytical investigation on the digital forensics equipment owned by Serbian law enforcement — tools used to extract data from phones and computers. At that time, we didn’t know the equipment was being misused; we could only assume the possibility.

Then, last year, activists slowly began reporting that something strange was happening to their phones after being detained and taken to police stations. That was the turning point. We started contacting everyone who had been questioned by the police because of their activism or journalistic work.

It was challenging to cast a wide net and reach all those people, especially because we aimed to verify as many cases and inspect as many phones as possible. The investigation was successful because we acted quickly — we examined phones shortly after activists were released from “informational interviews,” which was crucial for preserving digital traces and evidence.

 

WeBalkans: What are your thoughts on the position of journalism at large in the region today, and especially of investigative journalism. In regions like Western Balkans, it seems like the need for independent investigative journalism is even more urgent, whereas pressure towards journalists and investigative journalism is at the same time higher and ever-more present. What are your thoughts on this?

Aleksa Tesic: The position of investigative journalism largely depends on its economic position. It is not profitable, yet it is highly valued in the region, and I believe newsrooms need to rely more on community support. Also, there are never enough investigative journalists—there is a growing need for reporters who are specialized in one (or more) specific field.

In countries where the judiciary is captured and where hybrid authoritarian regimes exist, such as Serbia, investigative journalism becomes a kind of alternative to the work of the prosecution—of course, with significantly fewer resources and no formal authority. It becomes a bastion of truth, holding an essential role in society by bringing forward previously unknown information and enabling citizens to form opinions based on verified facts.

Saša Dragojlo

Saša Dragojlo is an accomplished and award-winning journalist offering years of expertise in political corruption, global arms trade, human trafficking and labor exploitation. He is the recipient of several EU awards for investigative journalism as well as the “Dejan Anastasijević” investigative journalism award.  In 2023 he was awarded the prestigious “Dusan Bogavac” award for ethics and courage in journalism. Dragoljo has published articles in Serbian and international media, such as Balkan Investigative Research Network (BIRN),  the investigative portal KRIK, Insajder TV, Haaretz, Le Monde Diplomatique, Vice Serbia, weeklies NIN and Vreme, daily Danas, the fact-check portal Istinomer and many others.

WeBalkans: Your investigation for “From Belgrade to Be’er Sheva: Israeli Military Flights and Million-Euro Weapons Shipments”, comes at a very complex time in your country and in the world. What was it like looking at this sensitive topic at such a time for your country, what drew your interest to this angle of the governments’ relation to the Israeli army?

 

Saša Dragojlo: I am very proud of this story because, at a time when the so-called “most progressive” countries — and even many intellectuals — have remained silent, we did not.

A series of reports we published draws direct links between the supply of ammunition to the Israeli army — which, according to numerous experts and humanitarian organizations including the UN and Amnesty International, has been committing systematic war crimes in Gaza — and Serbia’s arms industry.

My experience in investigating the arms trade and understanding the political context were key to developing this story. When I saw Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s statement from February 2024, calling Serbia’s authoritarian president Aleksandar Vučić “a true friend of Israel… both in word and deed,” I suspected this had something to do with ammunition supplies. Serbia is known for exporting weapons to numerous conflict zones around the world, so I decided to investigate further. My sources indicated that this was indeed the most likely scenario — especially given the close U.S.–Israel ties and Washington’s strong influence over Serbian arms exports.

When the Serbian government rejected my Freedom of Information request, claiming that details of arms and ammunition exports to Israel were classified, I knew my instincts were correct. I then teamed up with a colleague from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, and together we continued to look for evidence. We discovered that all Israeli military flights to Belgrade we tracked coincided with the dates of Serbia’s ammunition shipments. It was also very weird, since Serbia did not export a lot of arms/ammo to Israel before this. The Serbian authorities ignored our findings for more than a year — until President Vučić eventually admitted to them.

Exporting ammunition amid ongoing war crimes, and in defiance of UN experts’ appeals to halt shipments to Israel, is not only immoral and in violation of Serbian law and international standards — it also makes Serbia potentially complicit in future war crimes proceedings.

I am proud that we uncovered this and maintained our professionalism even when it was unpopular among powerful elites, including those in the EU. It is easy to do your job well when it is easy — but when the darkest hour comes, that is when you show who you truly are.

 

WeBalkans: What are your thoughts on the position of journalism at large in the region today, and especially of investigative journalism. In regions like Western Balkans, it seems like the need for independent investigative journalism is even more urgent, whereas pressure towards journalists and investigative journalism is at the same time higher and ever-more present. What are your thoughts on this?

Saša Dragojlo: The Serbian authoritarian regime maintains near-total control over the country’s mainstream media landscape. Their goal is to prevent our work from reaching a wider audience, confining us, in a sense, to online “ghettos.” For more than a decade, Serbian government officials and the media outlets under their control have been running smear campaigns against us—branding us as traitors, mercenaries, or whatever suits their narrative at the moment. They have turned us into “public enemies” in the eyes of ordinary citizens, so that our investigations into crime and corruption are dismissed as lies before they are even read.

With the ongoing unrest in Serbia, the regime has grown increasingly violent. Journalists have had their homes set on fire; some colleagues have been targeted with Pegasus spyware; and physical attacks by hooligans paid by the ruling party are becoming more frequent. I was personally attacked by one such individual this March—right in front of police officers who did nothing, despite standing just a few meters away. The Serbian prosecution has yet to initiate a case. Sadly, this is just one among hundreds of similar attacks on journalists.

Despite these conditions, investigative journalism in Serbia remains among the best in Europe. But we urgently need support—both financial and physical—to survive. Serbia stands just an inch away from full-blown authoritarianism. If it happens, don’t say we didn’t warn you.