Written by Ivan Durgutov, Young European Ambassador from North Macedonia
On 8 July 2026, Skopje welcomed the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, as part of a high-level visit focused on the European Union’s continued support for North Macedonia and its young people.
One of the highlights of the visit was the Youth Dialogue, moderated by the WeBalkans Partnerships Coordinator, Ivan Durgutov, held at the Stiv Naumov Student Dormitory in Skopje, one of the country’s most significant student infrastructure projects. The Stiv Naumov dormitory is currently undergoing a comprehensive renovation supported through more than €30 million in financing from the KfW German Development Bank and the EU’s Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) Regional Energy Efficiency Programme for the region (REEP+), funded by the European Union. The dormitory was the place where Commissioner Kos met with Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) and other young people from across the country. The event was attended by the Minister of Education and Science, Vesna Janevska, alongside senior representatives of the European Union Delegation, including EU Ambassador Michalis Rokas.
Reflecting on the visit, Commissioner Kos emphasized the importance of investing in young people: “I visited the Stiv Naumov dormitory in Skopje, a place where more than 1,000 young people will live, learn, meet friends and build memories that stay with them for life. The visit showed what EU support means in practice: better student housing, more energy-efficient buildings and better conditions for young people today. Because students are not only the future. They are the present!”
The Youth Dialogue brought together more than ten Young European Ambassadors, representatives of university student assemblies, and other youth organisations to discuss education, youth participation and North Macedonia’s European future. The conversation provided young people with a unique opportunity to engage directly with the Commissioner and senior decision-makers. A particularly encouraging moment came when Commissioner Kos openly expressed her ambition to hold a future Youth Policy Dialogue in Skopje, following the successful dialogue organised in Moldova earlier this year and in Slovenia the year before. She expressed strong support for bringing such a high-level dialogue to the Western Balkans.
The visit once again demonstrated that the European Union’s support extends beyond infrastructure and investments. It is equally about creating opportunities for dialogue, empowering young people to shape their communities and ensuring that youth remain at the centre of the European integration process in the Western Balkans.
