To secure a more prosperous future for their citizens, Western Balkan (WB) governments need to address the problems encountered by young people, who hold the key to such a future. Sufficient and transparent budget allocations for youth policy development and the inclusion of young people in the EU accession process are prerequisites for facilitating positive changes and improving the situation of young people in the region.

Ionuţ Sibian, EESC member and rapporteur for the opinion "Youth Policy in the Western Balkans", as part of the Innovation Agenda for the Western Balkans stressed the role of the EU institutions: "The EU institutions have to further support the WBs in improving youth participation. The Youth Guarantee in the WBs should be implemented in partnership between Youth Guarantee providers and relevant stakeholders".

Andrej Zorko, EESC member and co-rapporteur, is calling on all six WB partners to align with key EU youth policy documents and to further invest in evidence-based youth policies addressing youth development challenges.

Turn the region into a place with future prospects

The high level of youth migration from the WBs, which has been a long-standing problem, stems in particular from young people's inability to access quality education, and the limited career opportunities.

Current educational systems and curricula are in desperate need of reform. The entrepreneurial capacities of young people should be encouraged and promoted, while the social infrastructure of the region needs to be further strengthened.

The EU Innovation Agenda for the WBs includes youth and, consequently, encourages WB governments to build up their youth policy framework and proceed with the necessary reforms to turn the place into a region with future prospects for young people. (at)