2025-09-27

Regional Youth Cooperation for the European Future of the Western Balkans

POLITEIA Regional School for Youth Participation 2025

The “Politeia Regional School for Youth Participation 2025”, implemented within the project “Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE” (2023–2026), with the support of the European Commission, was held from September 21 to 27, 2025, in Belgrade.

Politeia is more than just a school – it is a space for learning, exchanging ideas, building connections, and strengthening European values. This was the common conclusion of young people from the Western Balkans during seven days of fellowship and discussions on key topics such as regional cooperation, European integration, reforms, challenges of democracy, rule of law, fight against corruption, youth participation in decision-making, shared values and cohesion, civic activism, the benefits of EU integration, artificial intelligence and the labor market, gender equality...

This year as well, the Politeia School brought together young people from across the Western Balkans region (Albania, BiH, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo*, North Macedonia), creating a space for the exchange of ideas, cooperation, and joint initiatives, with the goal of strengthening youth participation, regional solidarity, and European values.

At the official opening ceremony, participants were addressed by: Nataša Vučković, Secretary General of the Center for Democracy Foundation; Črtomir Peter Fišinger, Head of the Political Section of the EU Delegation to Serbia; Brankica Janković, Commissioner for the Protection of Equality; and Dajana Ostojić, Coordinator of the Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe.

During seven days of lectures, creative workshops, and interactive discussions, young participants exchanged knowledge and experiences with: Gordana Đurović, Professor at the Faculty of Economics and the Faculty of Political Science, University of Montenegro, Podgorica; Eralda Cani, Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Tirana, Albania; Benjamin Couteau, Research Fellow specializing in the European Union enlargement policy (with focus on the Western Balkans and Turkey), “Grande Europe” Centre of the Jacques Delors Institute, Paris, France; Nataša Vučković, Secretary General of the Center for Democracy Foundation, Serbia; Žarko Šunderić, Director of the Center for Social Policy, Serbia; Branka Anđelković, Co-founder and Programme Director of the Public Policy Research Centre, Serbia; Predrag Voštinić, Founder of the Local Front, City Councilor in the Assembly of Kraljevo, social and political activist, Serbia; Ognjen Marković, Team Leader of the Western Balkan Youth Lab, Regional Cooperation Council, Sarajevo, BiH; Dušan Spasojević, Professor at the Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade, Serbia; Ognen Janeski, CoE and EU’s No Hate Speech Ambassador for WB6 and President of AJM’s Council of Honor, North Macedonia; Miloš Đajić and Igor Jojkić, Center of Modern Skills, Serbia.

Politeia is known as a school with a long tradition (since 1997), yet always innovative and progressive. Thanks to its quality curriculum, dedicated lecturers, interactive working methods, and carefully selected participants, POLITEIA has grown into one of the most respected non-formal educational programs in the region – with more than 2,000 alumni to date!

The POLITEIA School 2025 was organized within the framework of the Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe (RYDE) project, implemented with the support of the European Union. The project is carried out by the Center for Democracy Foundation, Belgrade (as project coordinator), and partner organizations: Academy for European Integration and Negotiations from Tirana (AIEN); Kosovar Stability Initiative from Pristina (IKS); Network of Progressive Initiatives from Sarajevo (NPI); NGO Info Center from Skopje (NGO IC); Regional Academy for Democratic Development from Novi Sad (ADD); and Youth Act Center from Tirana (YA). The project is funded by the European Union.