The conference, which took place on September 16 in Prague, brought together members of the European Economic and Social Committee, representatives of the civil sector of the Western Balkans, as well as Czech government officials.

The event represents a new aspect of the EU’s work with civil society from the Western Balkans, which is reflected in the organization of the Western Balkans Civil Society Forum every two years since 2006.

The main points of the agenda concerned the contribution of the civil sector of our region in the development of youth policy, mapping challenges and opportunities for more intensive joint work in this field, as well as building human capital in the Western Balkans, challenges in the field of youth employability and the role of young people in the further process of European integration.

As a result of the conference, conclusions were adopted that will be submitted to national authorities and European institutions.

A recording of the entire conference is also available, which can be found here:

KOMS advocated that national umbrella alliances be found among the conclusions as a link between European institutions and the civil sector in the field of youth policy, as well as that the EU calls for a more intensive inclusion of the economies of the Western Balkans in mechanisms for the active participation of young people at the European level, such as the EU dialogue mechanism with young people.