Mar 7, 2023
Education institutions and local communities are one of the main beneficiaries of the INTERREG IPA Programmes as they can be an important actor in sharing innovative and sustainable solutions to regional development challenges.
To easily approach youngsters, raise awareness on Youth Manifesto and all the opportunities that cooperation programmes offer, a seminar was held at the St. Clement Ohridski University in Bitola. The event was organised by the Cooperation and Development Institute in partnership with the European Commission and in cooperation with the National Authority of the INTERREG IPA Programme Greece–North Macedonia, the Ministry of Local Self-Government, and the National Youth Council of Macedonia.
“What better opportunity like the revision of the EUSAIR and the launch of the new IPA INTERREG programmes 2021-2027 for testing those commitments? Territorial cooperation through Interreg and the macro-regions plays a crucial role in addressing various youth challenges such as access to employment opportunities and improvement of skills,” said Ms Krisela Hackaj, the Executive Director of the Cooperation and Development Institute while kicking off the event.
Ms Jasmina Bunevska – Talevska, Vice Rector of this University emphasised on her opening remark: “We must put pressure in the fact that this project and these programmes have an impact on young people and students who are eager to gain new international experiences through volunteering in different initiatives”
On his Intervention, Mr Gilles Kittel, representative from the European Commission, tried to give another insight in what the EU is about. He mentioned that a reflection started years ago among the member states to mobilise more young people. “We asked young people to carry out a study and then to make recommendations, its outcome was the Youth Manifesto”. He encouraged the students to read the document by concluding that: “The idea is that you are the actor of the changes that we want to bring to you”
As one of the Youth Manifesto fields of action is boosting citizen engagement in policy making and Implementation, Ms Ivana Atanasovska, President of the Local Youth Council of Bitola was invited to give recommendations on how INTERREG programmes can support young people in Bitola to be more engaged in policy-making. She mentioned that currently there are many needs that youth need to meet but they have no information on how. “ For sure projects are important for us but young people and institutions or NGOs must be partners to achieve good results, but not in short terms.”
To share with the audience a successful example, Mr. Nikola DIMKOVSKI, representative from the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia – Regional Chamber Bitola one of the implementing partners of the GE.M.S project was part of the panel discussion.
During his presentation, Mr Dimkovski said that “More than 100 participants in both countries will be trained in cutting-edge technologies, providing them with the necessary ‘green’ high skills and innovative vision. Thus, by giving graduates the necessary know-how, GEMS will turn them into competitive candidates in the job market, but also opens up their way of thinking to create job opportunities for self-employment.”
CDI in cooperation with DG Regio and local stakeholders will organize a series of events throughout the WB6 to better inform youth on EUSAIR, INTERREG IPA and Youth Manifesto with the aim of increasing youth participation in EU territorial programmes.
Consult here:
More information about CDI’s engagement in “Raising awareness on the Youth Manifesto in the Western Balkans” can be found here.
