Written by YEA Ivan Durgutov, Young European Ambassador from North Macedonia
Young European Ambassadors Ivan Durgutov and Uros Sestović joined the regional closing conference of the joint European Union and Council of Europe Horizontal Facility Programme III for the Western Balkans and Türkiye III, held on 7 October in Tirana. The conference marked a decade of cooperation and progress in supporting reforms across the region, with a focus on strengthening the rule of law, democracy and human rights.
The event opened with remarks by Christophe Galand, Deputy Director of the Western Balkans Directorate at the European Commission’s DG ENEST and Claus Neukirch, Director of Programme Co-ordination at the Council of Europe. They both underlined that over the past decade, the partnership between the EU, the Council of Europe, the Western Balkans beneficiaries and Türkiye has helped turn shared commitments into concrete action, supporting institutions, professionals and citizens in advancing democratic reforms.
The conference brought together key stakeholders to reflect on the programme’s achievements and discuss the impact of regional cooperation. YEAs actively contributed to the event by moderating two sessions – “Driving Reforms Forward”, moderated by Ivan Durgutov and “Voices of Change”, moderated by Uros Sestovic. Their involvement highlighted the importance of youth participation in discussions on democratic governance, human rights and the future of the region.
The engagement of YEAs with the Horizontal Facility also builds on years of involvement in initiatives promoting equality and respect. Through the anti-discrimination and anti-hate speech initiative ”Block the Hatred, Share the Love”, several YEAs participated in local activities and contributed to the initiative’s final event in Venice, Italy in March 2026. These efforts reflect the network’s commitment to fostering inclusive societies, challenging discrimination and encouraging young people to stand up for European values.
Looking ahead, the conference concluded with a discussion on the main priorities of the programme’s fourth phase, expected to begin in early 2027. The next phase is set to provide a renewed framework for cooperation and further support reforms across the region, continuing the work towards stronger institutions, greater respect for fundamental rights and more democratic societies.
For YEAs, taking part in such high-level regional events is an opportunity to bring young people’s perspectives into important policy discussions and contribute to shaping a more democratic, inclusive and European future for the Western Balkans.
