In the framework of the Berlin Process, one of the Western Balkan countries criticized the EU’s slow process for the integration of the Western Balkans.The slow process of the integration of the countries of the Western Balkans into the structures of the European Union is creating a dangerous gap that may alienate young people not only from the European Union but also from its values. This was one of the findings in one of the many panels that took place these days in Berlin, within the ‘Berlin Process 2.0’. These discussions were organized by the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO).
It was said that the youth of the Balkans are fully aware of the complexity of the challenges they are facing, but they are ready and will work to be involved in political decision-making, thus overcoming the existing generation gap in this field and given a new impetus to the European integration process of the Western Balkans. The representative of the German government for the Western Balkans, Michael Sarazin, said that the European Union must keep its promises. The most vocal in criticizing the EU was the rapporteur for Kosovo in the European Parliament, Viola von Cramon, who “called the non- liberalisation of visas for Kosovo as a failure of the European Union, while Kosovo has fulfilled the conditions already five years ago”.

Joint statement

However, the young people of the Balkans, with a joint statement addressed to the governments of their countries, but also to the European Union, underlined that they are “witnesses to the daily lack of opportunities to effectively reform the societies of the countries they come from”.

“The lack of trust between government and society is our reality and this calls into question social cohesion. The current perception of public institutions is that they are inefficient, one-sided, discriminatory or unfriendly towards young people, especially in the security and justice systems, and will lead to a further erosion of social cohesion and further to the tendency of the younger generation to emigrate”.

Therefore, the young people of the Balkans demand a radical change that leads to the integration of young people and their effective participation in all parts of society and decision-making structures. In this line, the governments of the Western Balkan countries are suggested to take measures for a strategic communication with the youth about the political systems and the initiation of mandatory and honest processes of consultation with the youth regarding the main legislative initiatives.

/Klara Ruci/