28 April 2023
Partnership is crucial when it comes to social development as it enables access to a wider range of expertise and provides opportunities to exchange knowledge and experience that all the involved parties can benefit from. The European Union, through Interreg IPA programmes, brings attention to the importance of building partnerships among neighboring countries and different public authorities, bodies and social partners such NGOs, associations etc.
To discuss the expectations of young people for the EU programs, the Cooperation and Development Institute, in partnership with the European Commission – DG Regio and in collaboration with the National Youth Congress, organized a workshop in Tirana on April 28, in which representatives of youth and local organizations dealing with youth policies were invited.
During the workshop regional cooperation was discussed as an incentive in the creation of youth partnerships and the promotion of youth participation in policy making. The discussion on how the Recommendations of the Youth Manifesto can be reflected in Interreg programs was also important.
A part of these recommendations can be addressed through various projects that are implemented under these programs, including young people not only as beneficiaries of trainings or workshops, but also as collaborators and shapers from the first stages of consulting ideas and writing projects to their implementation.
Two concrete opportunities were presented by the respective programme representatives: the last call of IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme Montenegro – Albania 2014-2020 is open until June 15, while the first Call of ADRION Programme will remain open until June 30.
Ms. Kjara ADHAMI, National IPA Coordinator Support Office highlighted the role of SASPAC to enable the link between the EU priorities and our country priorities. ‘Our country participates in 8 INTERREG IPA and IPA CBC Programmes in the new programming period 2021-2027. Some of the priorities linked with youth participation are innovation, small businesses, environment and competitiveness. We are responsible for making the policies, but we can not have good policies without involvement of young generations. In the revision of Eusair Strategy, which is supported by the ADRION Programme, we are working to add further pillars related to youth and also to increase youth participation. All the countries that are participating in the Eusair Strategy are pushing hard for youth participation.’
Meanwhile Ms. Lira DHERI, Antenna officer of Interreg IPA CBC Greece- Albania mentioned that in the new programing period city of Fier will be added as new eligible area and besides that, with high interest for youth involvement will be the third priority axis, that of promoting sustainable cross border economic and social development.
Ms. HAÇKAJ emphasized during her speech that “Territorial cooperation through Interreg programs and macro-regions plays a key role in addressing the various challenges that young people face, such as access to employment opportunities and improving skills. However, there is still a lot of work to be done to bring many of the opportunities offered by the programs to young people and transform them into real possibilities for professional and personal growth. For these processes to happen, young people and youth organizations must be considered as partners in these programs.’
Head of RYCO Local Branch Office in Belgrade, Ms. Marija BULAT informed the participants that RYCO will launch the fifth call of proposals this summer. Not only will it provide opportunities for NGOs, but also grant schemes for high schools in the region. She pointed out that there is a high potential of cooperation and a strong absorption capacity coming from the field. This is shown by the fact that more than 2000 youth organizations and 300 high schools in the region had the chance to collaborate and build partnerships among them through projects they have implemented.
Meanwhile, Ms. Dafina PECI, Director of NYCA – Tirana EYC 2022, during her intervention added that “Investment in youth capital is an important factor to guarantee the success of inter-regional initiatives and cohesion policies. Within the program of Tirana European Youth Capital 2022, she added, “we dedicated the proper attention to the European values and integration, bringing them into practice closer to young people, due to the environment we have created to strengthen the dialogue between young people and policy makers at the national and European level.”
Strengthening connections, building collaborative relationships, dedicated funding for youth, introducing youth criteria and conducting regular consultation with young people are some of the key takeaways from this workshop. It is the responsibility of all parties to work purposefully to find spaces in which young people can be involved, give their contribution and also be direct beneficiaries of the projects.
Consult here:
Powerpoint Presentation:
INTERREG IPA CBC Greece-Albania
IPA CBC Programme Albania-Kosovo
INTERREG IPA CBC Programme Montenegro-Albania
More information about CDI’s engagement in “Raising awareness on the Youth Manifesto in the Western Balkans” can be found here.
