The research “Plan B(alkan): Youth for Reform” analyses the role and significance of the new EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans on young people, as well as their role in shaping the reform processes in the region.
As the Western Balkan countries move closer to integration into the European Union, the inclusion and participation of young people are becoming crucial for achieving sustainable growth, social cohesion and democratic resilience.
The Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, launched by the European Commission in 2023, aims to accelerate the socio-economic convergence of the Western Balkan countries with the EU, by providing access to parts of the single market and increased financial support in exchange for concrete reform commitments.
Young people in the Western Balkans face many common challenges: high unemployment, a lack of green and digital skills, limited or almost non-existent political participation (depending on the country), as well as a constant outflow of young people across Europe and the world. But at the same time, they are one of the most dynamic forces of change in the region.
Focusing on North Macedonia, Serbia and Albania, this research analyses the reform priorities and financial mechanisms of the Growth Plan, and how they can create new opportunities for young people, strengthen regional cooperation and support the transition to an inclusive, innovative and sustainable economy.
Finally, Plan B(alkan) aims to contribute to the policy discussions by identifying concrete recommendations for governments, EU institutions and youth organisations, in order to make the Growth Plan truly beneficial for young people, understandable for them and strengthening their role in the European Union integration process.
The research was conducted by an informal group of young researchers from North Macedonia, Serbia and Albania, called GenWB, within the framework of the RYDE project’s Active Achievement Fund for Regional Informal Groups.
Read the full analysis Plan B(alkan): Youth for Reform.
The text of the analysis is also available in Macedonian, Serbian and Albanian:
Alb – Plan B(alkan) Youth for Reform
Srb – Plan B(alkan) Youth for Reform
Mkd – Plan B(alkan) Youth for Reform
The Active Achievement Fund is a sub-granting activity of the three-year regional project “Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe” (RYDE), funded by the European Union in the period 2023-2026 through EU Civil Society Facility and Media Programme in favour of the Western Balkans and Turkey for 2021-2023 (IPA III). The RYDE project is being implemented by the Center for Democracy Foundation from Serbia as a lead partner in cooperation with the partnering civil society organizations from the Western Balkans: Academy of European Integrations and Negotiations (Albania), Youth Act Center (Albania), Kosovar Stability Initiative (Kosovo*), Network of Progressive Initiatives (Bosnia and Herzegovina), NGO Info-centre r Foundation (North Macedonia) and Regional Academy for Democratic Development (Serbia).
