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International Youth Conference

EUROPEAN VALUES FOR THE FUTURE OF SOUTHEAST EUROPE - 2010

The Youth Alliance Krusevo (YAK) traditionally organized and facilitated the eight International Youth Conference 'European Values for the Future of Southeastern European Countries-2010'. The conference was held at the Hotel Montana in Krusevo from 3rd. to 7th. September 2010. The conference was attended by 55 participants from: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Monte Negro, Macedonia, (host country), Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey and guests NGO partners from Germany and Poland.

The conference was design to unite young people from SEE in order to establish a platform for dialogue in relation to issues relevance to the youth from SEE and to address the importance of the role of young people in creating the future of SEE. The platform would be a way which would make it easier to communicate a two way dialogue between youth from SEE and national/local authorities. Unity among us young people allows us to positively contribute to our societies.

YAK took the initiative to bring together young active people across SEE to explore ways and mechanisms by which they can contribute to the acceleration of EU integration processes in the region. The conference was attended by 55 participants, active young people and leaders from SEE, regional experts and local/national authorities. The large number of introductory lectures and interactive workshops resulted in a new new Declaration for European Future of the young people from SEE.

This event is of high importance because we young people form SEE proved that values tolerance, mutual respect and understanding are our values. Participants exchanged mutual thoughts, ideas and experience with the aim of establishing new mechanisms to tackle the growing challenges in interpersonal relationships overflowing with stereotypes and prejudices, national values vs. EU values, youth unemployment, crime, education and global challenges faced by societies in SEE. The atmosphere during the conference promoted and built upon positive achievements, while at the same time acknowledged and addressed the obstacles for further success.

Young people - participants actively participated in the conference. They felt that the conference was beneficial to them as it provided an opportunity to:

- Voice their concerns regarding the marginalization of youth in decision-making processes at local/national level in SEE.
- Discuss relevant cultural aspects of life within a multicultural society.
- Demonstrate willingness to actively participate in order to European direction of the SEE region.
- Familiarise themselves with different obstacles faced by young people through conference workshops and personal dialouge.
- Develop a better understanding of the role that the NGO sector can play in the development of their common interest.
- Explore options for further engagement with other likeminded stakeholders.

Conference concept

Guests speakers spoke on the following topics:
Sara Correia - Research Fellow at NTNU University
'The importance of national traditions and values for shaping a common European future'
Mr. Walter Leuchs - Deputy Ambassador of Germany ? Embassy of Germany Skopje
'Germany - France - Example of successful reconciliation'
Mr. Franz Lothar Altmann - Senior Research Fellow, Alexander S.Onassis Foundation, Athens
'Speed of EU enlargement process after verification of Lisboan agreement'
Mr. Islam Jusufi (Representative of the Delegation of the European Union)
'Positive aspects of EU programs'
Mr. Babis Papionaou - European Parliament - Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food safety and the Committee on Development of the Parliament.
'Youth in Action program ? opportunities for cooperation between youth in SEE region'
Mr.Mirza Softic - journalist and columnist
'Possibilities of NGO participation in decision making process'
Ms. Marija Topuzoska - Research assistant in the Centre fro Management and Human Resources Development UKIM
'Possibilities for employment, self-employment and brain drain'
After introductory presentations the participants had the opportunity to discuss with the speaker in order to complete processing of the topic.

The conference included several interactive workshops on specific topics and evaluation workshops. Lively discussion took place during the conference workshops exploring issues important for youth in SEE:
1. National traditions and values in SEE vs. globalization and cyber generation - Internet, Language barriers vs. Internationalisms, Life stiles in different countries.
2. Global challenges and SEE region - Climate changes, Migration, Combating poverty.
3. EU programs - Youth in Action, Cross Border Cooperation, Interreg Program.

The International Youth Conference 'European Values for the Future of Southeastern European countries' resulted in a new Youth Declaration for European Future.

Official site of Conference 2010

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