This message was conveyed at the Western Balkan Youth Forum, held on October 13 and 14 in Berlin, Germany.

As part of the Berlin Process Summit, the Youth Forum was organized by the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), the Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ DFJW), and the non-profit association Bürger Europas

The Youth Forum gathered over 100 participants, including representatives from regional governments, EU member states, and EU institutions, as well as young people from the Western Balkans and European countries. This year’s forum particularly focused on marking the tenth anniversary of the Berlin Process, providing participants with an opportunity to reflect on the achievements made so far and consider the next steps to further enhance youth cooperation in the region.

Participating in the forum was the Minister of State for Youth and Children and member of the RYCO Steering Board, Bora Muzhaqi. In her remarks, she elaborated on initiatives aimed at creating greater opportunities for Albanian youth by involving them in decision-making at both local and central levels.

She focused on various employment programs, including internships and the Youth Guarantee program, as well as ambitious efforts to internationalize universities and improve academic offers in Albania.

“We have made significant strides in empowering young people in decision-making because we believe their voices should be heard and translated into concrete policies that address their needs,” said Minister Muzhaqi.

In his remarks, the Secretary General of RYCO, Albert Hani, emphasized that the Berlin Process, as a platform, has contributed greatly to regional cooperation over the past decade, but in fact, young people are the driving force behind this process.

He emphasized that the establishment of RYCO within the framework of the Berlin Process sent a strong political message that the governments in the region want to cooperate, but that the existence of RYCO is based not on interests but on values.

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