By Patrick McGrath

In February 2020 a delegation of young experts from our joint initiative “Young Generations for the New Balkans” visited Tirana, where they met representatives from the Albanian government, civil society, the media, and non-governmental organizations to share ideas and discuss current challenges in the region. As a capstone to the visit, the delegation hosted a public panel discussion on the final policy proposal “Vision 2030,” which outlines concrete ideas for the region’s future. Discussions during the trip focused on issues such as EU integration and the recently announced accession methodology, the state of the media, regional cooperation across the six Western Balkan states, and youth engagement in decision-making. Aulonë Memeti, Anja Jokić, Stefani Spirovska, Maja Bjeloš, and Dafina Peçi composed the delegation for this trip. “Young Generations for the New Balkans” is coordinated by the IIP, the Karl-Renner-Institut, and the Austrian Institute for International Affairs (oiip).

After the delegation arrived on Wednesday, Thursday kicked off with a meeting with EU Ambassador to Albania Luigi Soreca, who spoke on the strong support for EU accession across Albania and the EU’s efforts in the areas of judicial reform and the vetting of judges, youth engagement, and the fight against organized crime. The delegation asked questions regarding the role of civil society in youth empowerment, the need for enhanced engagement in the integration process, the challenge of emigration from the region, and the potential for further interregional coordination.

Next on the agenda was a meeting with Speaker of the Parliament of Albania Gramoz Ruçi, who underscored Albania’s continued commitment to EU accession, the need for domestic reforms, and hope for positive news from EU-Western Balkans summit in Zagreb in May 2020. President of the IIP Hannes Swoboda reiterated that the place for Albania and the rest of the Western Balkans is firmly within the EU and underscored the significant changes in Albania since the 1990s. Spirovska asked about how to better include young people engaged in the integration process, and Ruçi cited the introduction of quotas for age and gender representation within political parties and government bodies.

The delegation then moved to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to meet with Deputy Foreign Minister Etien Xhafaj, who discussed the interregional debate over the Mini-Schengen initiative, relations between Albania and Kosovo, foreign influence in the region, and educational reform. He noted that after major strides in building cooperation in the region, relations have turned more negative in recent times. The Mini-Schengen initiative would, however, enhance dialogue and communication in the region, provide additional opportunities for young people to connect, and expand economic opportunities by overcoming regional barriers. Xhafaj underscored that the EU will not be the ultimate solution, but rather a part of the solution for the region. Lunch was hosted with representatives from the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Tirana.

*Meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Etien Xhafaj*

In the afternoon, the delegation met with an Albanian journalist to discuss the state of the media in Albania, including the recent passage of a controversial anti-defamation law. The journalist noted concerns around self-censorship, the politicization of the media, and a lack of focus on youth and social issues, such as emigration. Afterwards, the delegation met with the Western Balkans Fund, which aims to boost cooperation in the region through grants that focus on sustainable development, cultural cooperation, and scientific exchange. Through support by the six contracting parties, the Fund is regionally owned and managed, and it aims to bring together local civil society organizations.

The last meeting of the day was with the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), which was founded by the six Western Balkan states to bring young people across the region together. RYCO, which resulted from the Berlin Process, supports youth exchanges, volunteer activities, and entrepreneurship across the region and includes young people in its governing structure. The delegation raised questions for RYCO about accountability mechanisms, legitimacy, publicity, and a missing focus on issues such as brain drain, reconciliation, and weak education systems. The day concluded with a dinner with Elone Xhepa of the Berlin Center for Integrative Mediation (CSSP).

*Meeting with the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO)*

The public panel event on Friday was moderated by Executive Director of European Movement in Albania Gledis Gjipali, and the panel featured Aulonë Memeti (ADMOVERE), Anja Jokić (National Youth Council of Serbia), Stefani Spirovska (Youth Educational Forum), Maja Bjeloš (Belgrade Centre for Security Policy), and Dafina Peçi (RYCO). Swoboda introduced the “Young Generations for the New Balkans” initiative and the “Vision 2030” policy paper. He emphasized the need to give a voice to the younger generation and bring these voices to EU politicians to ensure that the interests of young people are considered throughout the integration process.

First on the panel, Memeti discussed Kosovo-Albania relations, highlighting disagreements over the Mini-Schengen initiative and ongoing border issues in the region. Peçi spoke about the role of young people in European integration in the Western Balkans and the need to promote a more comprehensive understanding of the process. She emphasized the need for interaction in economic, social, and political sectors to create a more prosperous and resilient society in the region, citing the role of RYCO in such projects, but noted the continued weakness of democratic systems in the region and the need to develop a coherent, shared vision for the future.

*Anja Jokić speaks at the public panel discussion*

Spirovska discussed educational reform in the Western Balkans, highlighting weak education systems, emigration, and brain drain as the key challenges that young people currently face. As a means of redress, she noted the responsibility of the media to cover more positive, youth-oriented stories, the need to encourage young people to participate more actively in politics, and the guarantee of EU accession as a means to deter brain drain. Jokić focused on the inclusion of young people in decision-making processes, underlining the need to change current narratives and the democratic necessaity of youth participation. As good practices, she cited the ongoing EU youth dialogue, projects by the National Youth Council of Serbia, online platforms for structured dialogue, and conversations held by Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić with young people.

*Dafina Peçi speaks at the public panel discussion*

Bjeloš spoke broadly about geopolitics in the region, focusing on competition between China and the US, the rise and fall of the global human rights agenda, the impact of technological change, and the rise of right-wing governments in the Western Balkans. She also discussed the role of foreign actors in the region, noting in particular the difference the EU and the influence of actors such as Turkey, China, Russia, and the Gulf States, which have differing priorities on the rule of law, human rights, gender, and youth inclusion. There is no clear vision among the Western Balkan governments beyond their current mandates, and thus young people do not see a future in their own countries. She concluded that a new style of leadership with a new vision alongside a renewed emphasis on the rule of law, improved security, an independent judiciary, and accountability to the citizenry are required.

Questions after the presentations focused on Serbia-Kosovo relations and the recent announcement of a direct flight between Belgrade and Priština, the challenges of emigration, the role of history in the region, and the need for transitional justice.

For an analysis of Albania’s history and its path to European integration by President of the IIP Hannes Swoboda, see here.