Deadline: 15-Oct-21
The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) has announced the applications for EU-Balkan Youth Forum.
Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) is an independently functioning institutional mechanism, founded by the Western Balkans 6 participants (WB 6): Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, aiming to promote the spirit of reconciliation and cooperation between the youth in the region through youth exchange programs.
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation is proud to convene the EU-Balkan Youth Forum next 22-26 November in Rome, gathering students from all over Europe to discuss the common challenges of the future of Europe and full membership of Balkan countries.
Organized with the lead of the Regional Cooperation Council (Sarajevo), together with the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (Tirana), the Centro Studi Politica Internazionale (Rome) and Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (Trento), the Forum will unite 78 students, 10 mentors and a number of policy makers from across Europe, in order to gather new inputs and ideas and chart a common path for further action. Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio will attend the final session himself, in order to report the results to the Conference on the Future of Europe.
Topics
- The New EU between governmental cooperation and democracy from below
- How to couple deepening and enlargement?
- What role can the Balkans play in this?
- “United in diversity, beyond past wars”
- How to build a shared memory of the past and facilitate cooperation among peoples and countries?
- Is reconciliation in the Balkans possible?
- One continent, one environment
- How to organize environmental protection and the fight against climate change at continental level?
- What role for the Balkans? Is it a complementary or competitive approach?
- One market, many challenges
- How to build economic integration and take into account people flows inside and outside the area both of local workers and foreign immigrants?
- Is it better to create stepping stones for further economic integration with the Balkans or to go for a “Big Bang” approach?
- Many societies, one virtual space
- Is the Internet helping or hindering the creation of common society at EU level?
- How to use new technologies in this field?
- Is democracy threatened or strengthened by the new tools?
Eligibility Criteria
Applications are welcome from University students of any major from all EU and non-EU Balkan countries, with a proven interest in EU issues and preferably with an active participation in youth networks/associations to increase awareness on issues of EU integration. Ability and preparedness to act on transnational projects in the main areas discussed by the Forum is appreciated.
For more information, visit https://www.rycowb.org/?p=11653