Publications
ALTERNATIVE REPORT ON THE POSITION AND NEEDS OF YOUTH IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA - 2025
The Alternative report on the position and needs of young people in the Republic of Serbia is the largest annual research on young people in our country. Since 2017, the National Youth Council of Serbia (KOMS) has been conducting this research and based its advocacy activities on its results.
The research was conducted in the period between April 25 and May 5, 2025, on a representative sample of 1,259 young people aged 15 to 30, using both qualitative and quantitative research and data collection methods.
Appeal to the European Union: Stand Against Repression and Violation of Fundamental Rights in Serbia
The National Youth Council of Serbia (KOMS), together with youth organizations from the region and across Europe, is issuing a clear call to European Union institutions to take concrete steps in response to the growing repression, violence, and violations of youth rights in Serbia—through the European Youth Forum, the largest representative body of young people in Europe.
In a joint statement signed by the national youth councils of Albania (KRK), Belgium (FJ), Belarus (RADA), Bulgaria (NYF), Croatia (MMH), Catalonia (CNJC), Cyprus (CYC), Moldova (CNTM), Portugal (CNJ), North Macedonia (NYCNM), Malta (KNZ), Slovenia (MSS), Spain (CJE), Ukraine (NYCU), and the Young European Federalists (JEF), it is emphasized that Serbia is entering a dangerous phase of systemic repression targeting its citizens—particularly youth and civil society.
Manifesto of the Youth Sector of Serbia: Always on the Side of Youth
The National Youth Council of Serbia (KOMS), with the support of the National Association of Youth Work Practitioners (NAPOR), has created the Manifesto of the Youth Sector of Serbia, warning of the systematic violation of young people’s rights, the increasing presence of violence, and the institutional exclusion of young people from decision-making processes.
We demand:
- The urgent fulfillment of students’ demands,
- Respect for constitutionally guaranteed human rights,
- A state that actively and equally includes young people in decision-making processes,
- An enabling environment for the development of young people as active citizens.
Through this document, signed by 116 organizations and individuals, KOMS aims to highlight the concrete needs and demands of young people in Serbia and to encourage institutions to respond adequately in line with the real challenges young people face.
Analysis of the UN Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda in the Context of Serbia
Here is the research that provides an overview and analysis of the current public policies, public policy instruments (strategies, action plans, etc.), and institutions responsible for youth and security in the Republic of Serbia that encompass the specific goals of the UN Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda.
The research aims to determine whether and how the goals of the Agenda have been implemented in Serbia’s current public policies, in order to define the areas that require more attention for their implementation at the national level. The research was conducted from July to September 2023 and took into account the public policies in force in the Republic of Serbia during that period.
ALTERNATIVE REPORT ON THE POSITION AND NEEDS OF YOUTH IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA - 2024
The Alternative report on the position and needs of young people in the Republic of Serbia is the largest annual research on young people in our country. Since 2017, the National Youth Council of Serbia (KOMS) has been conducting this research and based its advocacy activities on its results.
The research was conducted in the period from April to May 2024. Based on the methodological approach and data collection method, the research was both qualitative and quantitative, i.e. both of the research and data collection methods were used.
EUROPEAN YOUTH VOICES
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF NATIONAL YOUTH POLICIES IN CONTEXT OF EU YOUTH STRATEGY AND OVERVIEW OF 11 YOUTH GOALS.
ALTERNATIVE REPORT ON THE POSITION AND NEEDS OF YOUTH IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA - 2023
The Alternative report on the position and needs of young people in the Republic of Serbia is the largest annual research on young people in our country. Since 2017, the National Youth Council of Serbia (KOMS) has been conducting this research and based its advocacy activities on its results.
The research was conducted in the period from April to July 2023. Based on the methodological approach and data collection method, the research was both qualitative and quantitative, i.e. both of the research and data collection methods were used.
YOUTH IN THE 2022 CAMPAIGN
During the election campaign, more than 50 young people actively monitored and observed the election campaign. Young researchers, observers and the entire KOMS team focused their work on data collection activities on communication between political actors (electoral lists and presidential candidates) to and about young people. Direct party addresses, views, promises, messages of politicians/candidates were monitored. It was recorded how politicians and election actors communicated about young people.
ALTERNATIVE REPORT ON THE POSITION AND NEEDS OF YOUTH IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA - 2022
The Alternative report on the position and needs of young people in the Republic of Serbia is the largest annual research on young people in our country. Since 2017, the National Youth Council of Serbia (KOMS) has been conducting this research and based its advocacy activities on its results.
The research was conducted in the period from May to July 2022. Based on the methodological approach and data collection method, the research was both qualitative and quantitative, i.e. both of the research and data collection methods were used.
What′s in for youth in the Economic and Investment Plan for the WB6?
In October 2020, the European Commission adopted the Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) for the Western Balkans which aims to foster the post-pandemic recovery of the region, its economic development, and convergence with the European Union. Six themes with ten flagship projects within this plan have been designed to support human capital development, sustainable connectivity, competitiveness, and inclusive growth, and the twin energy and digital transition. While the EIP is still in the phase of planning and preparation, there is a lack of information on the ground from all involved stakeholders. As such Connecting Youth (CY) platform has initiated the assessment of the EIP from the perspective of youth, thus aiming to encourage youth active involvement in such sectoral policy-making processes from their initiation to implementation, under the emphasis that rather than just being a beneficiary, youth should be an actor of change throughout the whole process.
ALTERNATIVE REPORT ON THE POSITION AND NEEDS OF YOUTH IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA - 2021
The research was conducted in the period from May to July 2021. Based on the methodological approach and data collection method, the research was both qualitative and quantitative, i.e. both of the research and data collection methods were used.
The Life of Young People in Serbia: The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic Research Summary
The current crisis has brought to the surface the existing barriers that young people face on the path to the full realization of their right to autonomy, but also deepened inequalities, especially in regards to their right to work and right to education, which consequently reflects on their mental health. Additionally, youth and for youth organizations face serious challenges in implementing their programs and working in our society.
Despite this, youth and organized youth were at the forefront of the pandemic response, supporting and initiating numerous volunteering activities of support and solidarity.
The document in front of you represents the summary of the research, Life of Youth in Serbia – Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic, conducted by the National Youth Council of Serbia with the support of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, which highlights the position and attitudes of young people in Serbia in the context of the pandemic. The research indicates impairment of Youth rights and offers recommendations for intersectoral and solidarity response to the crisis.
ALTERNATIVE REPORT about the position and needs of the youth in Republic of Serbia 2020
This research was conducted from May to July of 2020. Based on the methodology of the research and the way in which the data was collected, this research is both qualitative and quantative. This means that both methods of research and data collecting were used. This research included several different techniques of data collection:
- Document analysis (desk analysis)
- Focus groups
- Online questionnaire for the youth
BLUEPRINT ON YOUTH DIALOGUE IN THE SEE6 - National Youth Councils and their role in the Youth Dialogue
A joint research conducted last year by the partners of the Western Balkans Youth Cooperation Platform highlighted how the low engagement of young people from the SEE62 in the public debate, in local and central governance, or school and university reform processes, has negatively impacted the way towards addressing youth issues related to education, employment and reform processes in general. At EU level, the EU Youth Dialogue is the standard mechanism engaging the youngsters and making sure that their opinion, views and needs are taken into account when EU defines youth policies. The Dialogue has its cycles, with each of them focusing on a different theme set by the Council of Youth Ministers from Member States. The National Youth Councils play a crucial role in this process. This Paper reflects on the current map of National Youth umbrella organizations in the SEE6, analyzes their role in the process of creation of national youth policies, as well as provides useful insights on the supportive or inhibitive features of existing frameworks that enable Youth Dialogue standards implementation in practice.