The WB2EU 3rd Ideas go public Lab will serve the following purpose:
- To have an intensive debate about the situation and future of young people in Kosovo and the Western Balkans region, and the social dimension of EU enlargement, etc.
- To discuss the Policy Briefs of phase II social dimension
- To have an exchange with political stakeholders and further establish an academia-policy-politics alliance around the project
Day 1 (17 February)
15.30–17.00: WB2EU Network meeting (closed session)
Discussion of the Policy Brief drafts by the WB2EU Network partners from Albania, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.
17.00-17.30: Coffee break
17.30–19.00: WB2EU Network meeting (closed session)
Discussion of the Policy Brief drafts by the WB2EU Network partners from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Serbia.
20.00: Dinner
- Venue: Swiss Diamond Hotel, Sheshi Nëna Terezë p.n, Prishtinë 10000
In cooperation with:
Day 2 (18 February)
09.00–10.30: WB2EU Network meeting (closed session)
Discussion of the first Policy Brief drafts by the WB2EU Network partners from France, Germany, Italy, Kosovo, and Slovenia.
10.30–11.00: Coffee break
11.00–12.30: Public event (hybrid format)
“Succeeding despite…” – the challenges of “young Europeans” in Western Balkan countries
The panel will explore the challenges and prospects of “young Europeans” in Kosovo (and similarities across the Western Balkans region) in the current socio-economic context, the existing education system, limited freedom of movement, and the COVID-19 pandemic impact. The recent breakthroughs of young Kosovars in the international arena will paradoxically be used to illustrate their (bumpy) road to success, helping us unveil the main challenges encountered.
A short clip of an internationally awarded Kosovo short movie screening is followed by a discussion around the following questions:
- What mechanisms exist for the participation of young people in Kosovo? What about in other Western Balkan countries? Any best practices? How can they be improved, and how can decision-making be made more inclusive for young people?
- How can institutions provide a more favourable environment for young people in Kosovo and support them to achieve their maximum potential?
- What are the top three priority areas that can be improved with immediately available resources? What is the longer-term strategy?
- What role should civil society have? Advocacy? Or direct interventions?
- How can the EU contribute to empowering youth in the Western Balkans beyond promises of enlargement and demands of youth-friendly strategies?
Discussants:
Mimoza Kusari-Lila, Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Kosovo, The Alternative
Besa Luci, Editor-in-chief, Kosovo 2.0
Eroll Bilibani, Producer/Head, Dokufest, Kosovo
Jehona Gjurgjela, Executive Director, Youth Development Foundation – TOKA, Kosovo
Moderated by Vedran Džihić, Senior Researcher, Austrian Institute for International Affairs (oiip), WB2EU Network
- Venue: Swiss Diamond Hotel, Sheshi Nëna Terezë p.n, Prishtinë 10000
- Live Streaming via YouTube and Facebook
- On-site participants are required to pre-register, wear a mask and display a negative corona certificate (vaccinated, valid PCR test, recovered). Checks will be made upon the entrance.
12.30–14.00h: Lunch
In cooperation with:
Picture gallery 3rd Ideas go public Lab: 3 closed sessions of the WB2EU Network to discuss the Policy Briefs of project phase II social dimension (17 – 18 February)
Picture gallery 3rd Ideas go public Lab: “Succeeding despite…” – the challenges of “young Europeans” in Western Balkan countries (Public debate in hybrid format with livestreaming, 18 February)
Panel from left to right: Vedran Džihić, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, Besa Luci, Eroll Bilibani, Jehona Gjurgjela
© WB2EU / Photos: Susan Milford-Faber
