Made of Us- An EU Western Balkans Road Trip

From EU Member States to the Western Balkans: A journey highlighting how the benefits of EU Membership enrich everyday life.

 

“During my trip to Ljubljana, Slovenia, visiting Ekologi brez meja, an environmental organisation supported by EU green initiatives, I marvelled at how clean and green the city was. Recycling dumpsters, thoughtfully placed and clearly labelled for glass, paper, packaging, and other waste, were visible throughout the city. On a whim, I snapped a photo and shared it on my Instagram story. I had no idea this simple act would resonate so widely. 

Within hours, my inbox was inundated with over 100 messages from followers in North Macedonia, all saying, ‘We need this system in our country!’ The enthusiasm and passion of so many was overwhelming. People shared their frustrations about waste management and their desire for a cleaner, more sustainable environment, emphasising how vital it is to raise awareness and inspire action. 

I was moved by how much people in my country genuinely care about living in a cleaner, greener environment. Their heartfelt responses gave me a renewed sense of hope—a belief that small actions, like sharing ideas and examples, can lead to meaningful change.” 

This testimony from Jelena Spendzarska, a North Macedonian influencer, beautifully illustrates that the benefits of EU membership and the values it represents are not abstract, complex notions. They manifest in the tangible details of everyday life—details that improve our communities, inspire us to think differently, and make us believe in the possibility of a better future. 

Made of Us- Hits the Road Again 

Jelena was part of the “Made of Us – An EU Western Balkans Road Trip” campaign, which brought together 12 influencers split into two teams: Team Blue and Team Yellow. While Jelena’s team visited Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy, Team Yellow explored Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria.  

The campaign, launched in Brussels on 20 October, began with intensive training sessions with DG NEAR and a pool of experts. Equipped with this preparation, the influencers embarked on a road trip in minivans, to visit EU-supported projects and capture how EU Membership transforms societies. 

Throughout the journey, the influencers engaged with locals who shared both positive and critical perspectives, painting a balanced narrative of the EU as a community of benefits, responsibilities, and hard work. Across six EU capitals, the teams documented real-life examples and potential solutions that could inspire the Western Balkans, offering hope and actionable ideas.  

As soon as the “Made of Us” campaign launched in collaboration with influencers, it immediately captured audience attention, leading to a noticeable spike in followers on the WeBalkans Instagram account. The influencers’ visits to EU-funded projects sparked increased engagement, with the audience actively interacting with the content, sharing their thoughts, and amplifying the campaign’s reach. 

In Hungary, they highlighted workforce and education mobility, including the freedom of travel within the Schengen Zone. By showcasing Teqball, a sport supported by EU funds, they illustrated how NextGenEU fosters sports innovation, infrastructure, and cross-border collaboration.   

In Slovakia, they explored access to the single market in education and business, meeting with the Slovak Academic Association for International Cooperation and speaking with entrepreneurs and Erasmus students. 

Austria provided a glimpse into the digital future, as the influencers visited digital hubs driving entrepreneurship and innovation. Social enterprises showed how small businesses could grow and thrive with EU-backed support. 

In Croatia, the focus shifted to youth empowerment, as they attended the European Youth Event (EYE) and explored how programmes like Erasmus+ and NextGenEU promote mobility, skill development, and participation. They also uncovered stories of resilience, such as the EU-funded “Safe and Equal in Emergencies” project, which supports people with disabilities during disasters. Visits to health facilities in Varaždin revealed how EU membership has tangibly improved public health services and overall quality of life. 

Opportunities and work behind 

Slovenia posed a physical challenge as the influencers delved into its ambitious Zero Waste hunt following meeting with Ekologi brez meja. They also visited Komunala Kranj, a company and zero waste resort on Bled.  

Even Venice, a jewel of tourism, revealed the extensive efforts needed to ensure sustainability. The influencers witnessed how projects like REEL and TESTEAT, funded by the EU (Interreg Italy-Croatia Programme), blend tradition and innovation to preserve this iconic destination. 

Beyond the hard work, the campaign included engaging quests inspired by EU-supported initiatives, such as SLIDES and the EU Symbol Hunt, which blended fun with cultural and environmental learning. The campaign highlighted simple yet significant improvements that reflect the EU’s core values—better living standards, mutual respect, tolerance, and peace. 

Winners 

Both, Team Yellow: Farah Hadžiabdić BiH, Martin Jakubis Slovakia, Tamas Majer, Hungary Giorgina (Xhorxhina) Roci, Albania, Laura Falquez Austria and Luka Alerić Serbia and Team Blue– with Juš Čop from Slovenia, Jelena Spendzarska North Macedonia, Floreta Hajdaraj, Italy, Tomislav Pancirov Croatia, Luka Bojanović Montenegro, Agnesa Sejdiu Kosovo, made extraordinary results placing hundreds of posts, reels, appearing on the TV programs in their friendly competition during two weeks travel. They engaged millions of people throughout the Western Balkans and the EU, delivering a compelling narrative of how EU membership may transform lives and showing that the EU is not just about policies and programmes but about diversity, opportunity, and the power of ordinary people to create extraordinary change.  

During the ceremony in Zlatibor, WeBalkans announced winners of Made of Us competition. It was a Blue Team for their great contribution and audience engagement. 

“Since joining the EU, Croatia has prospered immensely, and I am especially delighted to have had the opportunity to share our positive examples with the youth of the Western Balkans. For me, the EU is about people, and this is proof that cooperation and unity bring tangible benefits for all of us” said Tomislav Pancirov, an influencer from Croatia at the reward ceremony