\u201cThe EU is a complex construct encompassing many different identities, pasts, histories, and cultures, and yet everyone lives together, connected by a sense of belonging to Europe and a shared desire for peace and a good life. I can’t think of a better way to live,\u201d said \u017daklina, one of the artists who took part in the activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"EU](\"http:\/\/webalkans.a3ia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/EU-in-Albania-1-2.jpg\")
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To mark Europe Day in Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/strong>, secondary school students in four cities took part in workshops where they assumed roles such as EU leaders, diplomats, representatives of EU member and candidate countries, activists, and journalists, engaging in processes of negotiation and decision-making. Through active debate and teamwork, they explored the complexity of these processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ambassador Luigi Soreca, Head of the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU Special Representative in the country, stated on the occasion that young people are not mere observers in the EU accession process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey are already shaping the conversation, and their voices will shape the future,\u201d said Soreca. The EU Delegation noted that the young participants \u201cdemonstrated an impressive level of diplomacy, public speaking, critical thinking, and mutual respect and understanding in overcoming differences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the participants commented that it was not easy: \u201cIt\u2019s really hard to always have solid arguments for what you want, and sometimes you need to let go of ideas that seem brilliant. But we need to learn how to act, because the EU is about compromise\u2014and that is our future. The idea of human rights and travelling without borders, with the chance to live, study, and work in such a vast space, is very appealing,\u201d said Amna from Mostar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Europe Day is an official holiday in Kosovo<\/strong>, and to mark the occasion, citizens enjoyed a variety of events: creative workshops for children, traditional food from various EU member states, classical music and children’s choir concerts, films from European countries. In North Mitrovica, the student dormitory was decorated with a mural celebrating EU values, and participants said there was plenty of laughter, joy, and cheer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Montenegro<\/strong>, Europe Day celebrations included the Ministry of European Integration, in cooperation with local municipalities and with EU support through the EU4ME project, organising the European Tour \u2013 Games Without Borders<\/em> from 9 to 20 May. The events took place in six cities (Nik\u0161i\u0107, \u017dabljak, Pljevlja, Berane, Petnjica and Bar), featuring competitions for upper primary school pupils to showcase their knowledge of the EU. They were enthusiastically supported by parents, representatives of the Montenegrin Government, the EU Delegation and EU embassies, as well as famous athletes from the host cities. The EU emphasised that Europe Day celebrations serve as a reminder of the Union\u2019s founding principles and values, including stability, prosperity, and unity across Europe. In Serbia<\/strong>, the main celebration was held in Belgrade on the banks of the Danube. It featured exhibitions, singing workshops, visits to a pollinator garden, children\u2019s performances, and cooking sessions with recipes from different EU member states. One of the silos was transformed into an artwork by NeSpoon, a Polish artist, who painted it with lace motifs traditionally handmade by Serbian women. Europe Day is marked on 9 May in remembrance of the year 1950, when Robert Schuman, then French Foreign Minister, proposed the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community, stating that this would make war \u201cnot only unthinkable but materially impossible.\u201d On that day, he proposed the Declaration on a United Europe, which is considered the beginning of the formation of the European Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEurope will not be made all at once. It will be built through concrete achievements,\u201d he said at the time. This year, 75 years later, the message Together we are stronger<\/em> echoed through numerous events.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" All EU membership candidates in the Western Balkans region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia) celebrated Europe Day with various festivities. Across the cities, concerts, exhibitions, theatre performances, interactive workshops, and quizzes took place, involving participants of all generations\u2014primarily young people\u2014as well as artists from the region and EU member states. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3162197,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[694],"tags":[],"area-of-cooperation":[],"country":[245,246,247,248,249,250],"opportunity-type":[],"class_list":["post-3162190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories","country-albania","country-bosnia-and-herzegovina","country-kosovo","country-montenegro","country-north-macedonia","country-serbia"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"EU](\"http:\/\/webalkans.a3ia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/EU-day-in-Kosovo-6-2.jpg\")
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In general, the whole month of May in Montenegro was devoted to the EU through art, culture, education, games, and environmental activities across the country. Events also included a concert by the group Perper and performances by a symphony orchestra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"EU](\"http:\/\/webalkans.a3ia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/EU-day-in-Montenegro-2.jpg\")
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Michalis Rokas, Head of the EU Mission in North Macedonia<\/strong>, stated at the Europe Day celebration there that \u201cthe EU has always been built by those who dared to think and act boldly.\u201d
\u201cBold action is still needed from all of us, including future member states. Let us continue to build a Europe that stands for peace, democracy, solidarity and shared values,\u201d said Rokas, during an event where secondary school students from several towns played ElectionVille<\/em> and demonstrated strong understanding of democratic principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"EU](\"http:\/\/webalkans.a3ia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/eu-day-in-NMK-01-2.jpg\")
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\u201cWe had such a great time today. The EU seems even more beautiful and appealing now\u2014perhaps not the perfect solution, but there\u2019s no better one now,\u201d said Dejan, whom we met along the Danube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"EU](\"http:\/\/webalkans.a3ia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/eu-day-srbija-2.jpeg\")
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