Young people from the region in Belgrade build a common vision of the future of Europe

Belgrade was the center of regional cooperation and youth dialogue this week. As part of the European project “4Voices”, a two-day regional workshop gathered 40 participants aged 18 to 30 from the entire region — Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Kosovo.

Under the thematic framework “At the Doorstep of the EU”, the workshop provided a unique platform for a critical reflection of the past and the joint shaping of democratic societies. During the intensive two-day program, young leaders and activists, through interactive workshops and creative methods of foresight, had the opportunity to:

• Explore memories and history: They exchanged personal and intergenerational memories of countries in transition and social changes in the region.
• Question the dominant narratives: They analyzed whose stories were told and whose perspectives stayed silenced or invisible.
• Strengthen democratic values: They discussed the topics of gender history, democracy, human rights and equality.
• Visualizing Europe 2040: Together they created visions of the future of Europe and the Western Balkans, based on inclusion, solidarity and the active participation of young people.

The premises where the workshop was held gave a special stamp to the event. The hosts of the meeting were the Palace of Serbia and the Museum of the History of Yugoslavia, whose authentic ambience strongly contributed to the atmosphere, providing a historical context that itself acted as an active participant in the dialogue.

Most of all, thanks to the young people who participated and who refreshed our vision of the future during these two days!

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The “4Voices” project is financed by the European Union through the CERV program (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values), and the regional workshop was realized in cooperation with the organization Volonteurope, which is the project’s host.