The Common Regional Market (CRM) 2021-2024 Action Plan and the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans Action Plan (2021-2030) received endorsement from the leaders of the Western Balkans Six — Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia — during the Berlin Process Summit held in Sofia on November 10, 2020.
The CRM Action Plan is made up of targeted actions in four key areas: Regional trade area: free movement of goods, services, capital and people, including crosscutting measures, such as the Green Lanes, to align with EU-compliant rules and standards and provide opportunities for companies and citizens; Regional investment area, to align investment policies with the EU standards and best international practices and promote the region to foreign investors; Regional digital area, to integrate the Western Balkans into the pan-European digital market; and Regional industrial and innovation area, to transform the industrial sectors, shape value chains they belong to, and prepare them for the realities of today and challenges of tomorrow.
The GAWB Action Plan focuses on five key areas: Decarbonization: climate, energy, mobility Circular economy Depollution: air, water & soil Sustainable food systems & rural areas Biodiversity: protection & restoration of ecosystems
The second monitoring report focuses on the progress made in the implementation of two critical areas: the Regional Digital Area from the Common Regional Market Action Plan and the Decarbonization area from the Green Agenda Action Plan in Bosnia and Herzegovina up to May 2024.
The desk research takes into account the information from the official institutional websites and correspondence with the representatives of the relevant institutions from the state and entity levels.
About project: This project will contribute to the overall efforts to preserve democratic principles of check and balances as well as to promote and advance democracy in the region through enhanced regional cooperation. It further contributes to the principles of the Belin Process, which has been working to strengthen and accelerate regional integration since 2014, as well as hasten the region’s overall alignment with the EU principles. In this framework, the project focuses on Berlin Process area such as infrastructure development, and connectivity, regional exchange at parliamentary level and the green agenda. However, it is through multi-level commitment that BP commitments can be taken further, and local ownership can be created. Thus, this project is expected to strengthen the involvement of the parliaments in pushing forward the regional agenda.
The inclusion of parliament in the BP commitments will be of added value for the Berlin process, and it will also strengthen parliament’s role in the EU integration process in each of the Western Balkan countries. By developing the capacity of parliamentarians and staff to conduct the oversight function of parliaments, the project will strengthen the system of checks and balances between the legislature and executive thus prompting greater coordination between the two branches regarding important national decisions and laws in the process of EU legislative harmonization. Therefore, the overall aim of the project is to enhance multi-level regional cooperation to consolidate and maintain the dynamics of the EU integration process.
Partners
The project is going to be implemented by six project partners in each of the six Western Balkans countries. The lead partner is the Institute for Democracy (IDSCS) – North Macedonia. The other project partners are Institute Alternativa (IA) – Montenegro, Institute for Political Studies (ISP) – Albania, CRTA – Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability – Serbia, Kosova Democratic Institute (KDI)– Kosovo, and the Network of Progressive Initiatives (NPI) – Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Proces evropskih integracija podstiče razvoj i transformaciju svih društvenih sfera i sa sobom nosi brojne političke, socijalne i ekonomske benefite za građane i građanke našeg regiona. Evropska unija je istovremeno i najvažniji politički partner zemalja Zapadnog Balkana i najveći donator i investitor u regionu, stoga često nije moguće napraviti jasnu distinkciju između političkih, ekonomskih i socijalnih benefita, jer su politički benefiti često i socijalni i ekonomski, dok su ekonomski benefiti uvek i politički. Ipak, imajući u vidu da je EU prvenstveno nastala kao ekonomska unija, očekivano je da najveće benefite EU integracija pronalazimo upravo u sferi ekonomije. Pogledajmo šta sve građani i građanke našeg regiona dobijaju zahvaljujući procesu EU integracija:
POLITIČKI BENEFITI
Politička stabilnost: Stvaranjem Evropske zajednice za ugalj i čelik 1951. godine institucionalizovan je mir u Evropi sklopljen 1945. godine. Evropska unija je 2012. godine postala dobitnica Nobelove nagrade za mir, odnosno za unapređenje mira, demokratije i ljudskih prava na evropskom kontinentu. U saopštenju Nobelovog komiteta naglašeno je da je odluka bila zasnovana na „stabilizacionoj ulozi koju je EU odigrala u procesu transformacije najvećeg dela Evrope od kontinenta rata do kontinenta mira“.[1] Stoga je politička stabilnost jedan od najvažnijih političkih benefita procesa evropskih integracija za zemlje Zapadnog Balkana, jer je članstvo u EU garancija mira i stabilnosti za države članice, što je od izuzetnog značaja za zemlje našeg regiona koje još uvek nose teret ne tako daleke ratne prošlosti iz 90-ih godina prošlog veka.
Regionalna saradnja: Imajući u vidu prethodno navedeno, potrebno je istaći i benefit regionalne saradnje jer je pomirenje i rešavanje bilateralnih sporova između zemalja Zapadnog Balkana jedan od preduslova za ulazak u EU, što posledično doprinosi stabilnosti i miru u regionu. Ipak, regionom i dalje dominiraju nacionalistički narativi koji održavaju tenzije, a politički lideri svih zemalja u regionu ih zloupotrebljavaju u cilju dobijanja političkih poena na domaćem terenu, sprečavajući time građane i građanke da u potpunosti budu svesni benefita regionalne saradnje. Ipak, regionalna saradnja najbolje rezultate ostvaruje na polju ekonomskih integracija, o čemu će više reči biti u nastavku teksta.
Demokratske reforme, vladavina prava i funkcionalne institucije: Proces evropskih integracija zahteva sprovođenje temeljnih reformi koje podrazumevaju usklađivanje pravnog i političkog sistema zemalja Zapadnog Balkana sa sistemom Evropske unije u cilju jačanja demokratije i funkcionalnih i odgovornih institucija koje su u službi građana i građanki. Zemlje Zapadnog Balkana moraju uskladiti svoje pravne sisteme sa evropskim pravnim tekovinama, što podrazumeva jačanje vladavine prava, nezavisnosti pravosuđa, slobodu medija, zaštitu ljudskih i manjinskih prava, borbu protiv korupcije i druge važne oblasti.
SOCIJALNI BENEFITI
Sloboda građana i građanki da putuju, žive, rade i studiraju u EU: Punopravno članstvo u EU omogućilo bi slobodno kretanje građana i građanki zemalja Zapadnog Balkana unutar Šengenskog prostora, što olakšava putovanja i pruža bolje poslovne i obrazovne prilike. Evropski obrazovni programi poput Erasmus+ omogućavaju studentima, mladima i nastavnicima iz zemalja Zapadnog Balkana da studiraju, stiču iskustvo ili se obučavaju u bilo kojoj od EU zemalja. Zahvaljujući EU integracijama Zapadnog Balkana i Berlinskom procesu, u novembru 2022. godine lideri Zapadnog Balkana potpisali su u Berlinu tri sporazuma o slobodi kretanja sa ličnim kartama, profesionalnim kvalifikacijama za doktore medicine, stomatologije i arhitekte i priznavanju kvalifikacija u obrazovanju na Zapadnom Balkanu. Ovim se zemlje regiona pripremaju za uključivanje u mnogo veće evropsko tržište.
Bolji životni standard: Članstvo u EU sa sobom nosi i zaštitu radnih prava, bolje radne uslove, veće plate, zaštitu prava potrošača, kao i zaštitu životne sredine. Takođe, kroz harmonizaciju standarda sa EU regulativama imali bismo bolju socijalnu politiku i pristup kvalitetnijoj zdravstvenoj zaštiti. EU je, takođe, značajno unapredila medicinske tretmane za pacijente njenih država članica.
Kulturna raznolikost: Integracija različitih nacionalnosti u EU doprinosi kulturnoj raznolikosti i jačanju interkulturalnog dijaloga, što dalje razvija tolerantnu političku kulturu u društvu. EU podstiče očuvanje i promociju kulturne baštine svojih članica, što uključuje očuvanje kulturnih spomenika, tradicionalnih običaja, jezika i slično. Tako bi članstvom u EU i zemlje regiona dobile priliku da unaprede zaštitu i promociju svoje izuzetno bogate kulturne baštine.
EKONOMSKI BENEFITI
Jedinstveno tržište: S obzirom na to da je Evropska unija inicijalno formirana kao ekonomska unija, najveći benefiti procesa EU integracija nalaze se upravo u oblasti ekonomije. Glavni pokretač Evropske unije je jedinstveno tržište u kom se slobodno kreću roba, usluge, ljudi i novac. Proces EU integracija omogućava kompanijama iz zemalja Zapadnog Balkana pristup jedinstvenom tržištu i lakši izvoz robe i usluga, što podstiče ekonomski rast. Spoljno-trgovinska razmena između zemalja Zapadnog Balkana i Evropske unije na godišnjem nivou iznosi oko 50 milijardi evra. Proces EU integracija Zapadnog Balkana za sada je doveo do uspostavljanja zajedničkog regionalnog tržišta, koje predstavlja okosnicu dublje regionalne integracije i korak ka jedinstvenom tržištu EU. Na Samitu Zapadnog Balkana koji je održan 10. novembra 2020. godine u Sofiji u okviru Berlinskog procesa, politički lideri zemalja Zapadnog Balkana podržali su kreiranje Zajedničkog regionalnog tržišta koje omogućava slobodno kretanje robe, usluga, kapitala i ljudi u regionu.
Investicije i finansijska stabilnost: Reforme koje su zemlje Zapadnog Balkana dužne da sprovedu kako bi postale članice EU podrazumevaju i usklađivanje sa ekonomskim politikama EU, što nacionalne ekonomije čini relativno stabilnim i smanjuje makroekonomske rizike. Ekonomska stabilnost, zajedno sa političkom, privlači strane direktne investicije koje doprinose ekonomskom rastu i razvoju privrede.
Pristup fondovima Evropske unije: Pridruživanjem Evropskoj uniji dobijamo pristup fondovima čija su sredstva usmerena ka realizaciji projekata koji su ključni za ekonomski razvoj regiona, kao što je razvoj infrastrukture (izgradnja puteva, železnica, telekomunikacione i energetske mreže), zatim ka razvoju poljoprivrede, zaštiti životne sredine i drugim sektorima. Ovakvi projekti sa sobom nose i socijalne i političke benefite kao što je unapređenje regionalne saradnje kroz umrežavanje i bolju povezanost građana i građanki regiona zbog lakšeg transporta i slično.
Telefonske usluge bez rominga: Zahvaljujući ukidanju rominga sada možemo da koristimo telefonske usluge bez dodatnih troškova širom EU. U okviru Berlinskog procesa sprovodi se Sporazum o romingu, na osnovu kog su usluge rominga smanjene za 86% do 96% na celokupnoj teritoriji Zapadnog Balkana.[2]
Plan rasta za Zapadni Balkan – sprovedi reforme i dobij nagradu
Kada kažem da su ekonomski benefiti EU integracija uvek i politički, mislim i na Plan rasta za Zapadni Balkan za period 2024-2027, koji je Evropska komisija usvojila u novembru 2023. godine, kako bi se Zapadnom Balkanu omogućilo da uživa određene benefite članstva u EU i pre formalnog stupanja u članstvo. Ako bismo Plan rasta mogli ukratko opisati, to bi bilo sledeće: Ko sprovede zadate reforme – taj dobije finansijsku nagradu.
Suštinski, cilj Plana rasta je da se zemlje regiona podrže za sprovođenje reformi putem novog finansijskog instrumenta u iznosu od 6 milijardi evra sa posebnim fokusom na Zajedničko regionalno tržište. Posledično, izgradnja Zajedničkog regionalnog tržišta može dovesti do uspostavljanja trajnog mira u regionu. Novi finansijski instrument biće naročito fokusiran na sektore od izuzetne važnosti za društveno-ekonomski razvoj, kao što je energetika, zelena agenda, digitalna tranzicija, transport, obrazovanje i razvoj veština, gde će posebna pažnja biti posvećena mladima.
Plan rasta se sastoji od četiri stuba:
Približavanje Zapadnog Balkana jedinstvenom tržištu EU
U okviru ovog stuba podrazumevano je da EU pre formalnog stupanja u članstvo omogući pristup određenim područjima jedinstvenog tržišta za zemlje Zapadnog Balkana, ukoliko zemlje regiona ispune svoje obaveze u okviru Zajedničkog regionalnog tržišta sa fokusom na sedam prioritetnih oblasti:
Slobodno kretanje robe
Slobodno kretanje usluga i radnika
Plaćanje u eurima
Olakšavanje drumskog transporta
Integracija i dekarbonizacija energetskih tržišta
Jedinstveno digitalno tržište
Integracija u industrijske lance nabavke
Jačanje ekonomske integracije u okviru Zapadnog Balkana kroz Zajedničko regionalno tržište
Jačanje Zajedničkog regionalnog tržišta predstavlja odskočnu dasku ka jedinstvenom evropskom tržištu ukoliko se usvoje i implementiraju evropska pravila i standardi jedinstvenog tržišta, što će potencijalno dovesti do povećanja bruto društvenog proizvoda ekonomija Zapadnog Balkana za 10%.
Ubrzavanje temeljnih reformi
Da bi zemlje regiona stekle uslove za dobijanje finansijske podrške za reforme, neophono je da pripreme tzv. Reformsku agendu, odnosno plan reformi koje nastoje da sprovedu kako bi ostvarile postavljene ciljeve. Akcenat je na poštovanju demokratskih procedura, uključujući slobodne, fer i poštene izbore, višestranački parlamentarni sistem, slobodne medije, nezavisno pravosuđe, te poštovanje ljudskih i manjinskih prava. Očekuje se da će sprovođenje reformi dovesti do ekonomskog rasta kroz privlačenje investicija, ojačati regionalnu saradnju i pomoći zemljama regiona da postanu nekoliko koraka bliže članstvu u EU.
Povećanje finansijske pomoći za podršku reformama kroz Instrument za reforme i rast za Zapadni Balkan 2024-2027
Plan rasta predviđa dodatna sredstva u odnosu na ona koja već dobijamo u okviru IPA III pretpristupnih fondova. Instrument za reforme i rast obuhvata 6 milijardi evra, od čega 2 milijarde evra u grantovima i 4 milijarde evra u kreditima po povoljnim uslovima, koji podrazumevaju otplatu u maksimalnom periodu od 40 godina. Korisnici sredstava će dva puta godišnje upućivati zahtev za isplatu Evropskoj komisiji, koja će procenjivati da li su ispunjeni ciljevi i mere definisani tzv. Reformskom agendom, te će tek nakon ispunjenosti vršiti isplate.
Iako postoje brojni izazovi procesa evropskih integracija Zapadnog Balkana, uključujući potrebu za reformama same Evropske unije i nedostatak političke volje lidera zemalja regiona za ubrzavanjem i sprovođenjem reformi, EU integracije ostaju glavni pokretači razvoja i stabilnosti u regionu. Sve zemlje članice imale su impozantan ekonomski rast nakon pristupanja EU zahvaljujući pristupu jedinstvenom evropskom tržištu sa velikim povećanjem bruto društvenog proizvoda, čime je kvalitet života građana izuzetno unapređen. Ne smemo izgubiti nadu da će jednog dana i građani i građanke Zapadnog Balkana osetiti sve benefite koje sa sobom nosi punopravno članstvo u EU. Možda nije idealna, ali je najrazvijenija političko-ekonomska unija na svetu.
Autor: Marko Pantić, advokat
* Izrada ove publikacije finansirana je od strane Evropske unije. Njen sadržaj je isključiva odgovornost Fondacije Centar za demokratiju i ne odražava nužno stavove Evropske unije.
Održana međuparlamentarnoj konferenciji pod nazivom „Prednosti Berlinskog procesa: poseban fokus na zajedničkom regionalnom tržištu”, u Petrovcu (Crna Gora) u sklopu regionalnog projekta “Parliamentary Diplomacy: Regional Cooperation through Enhanced Parliamentary Dialogue”.
Zastupnica u Zastupničkom domu Parlamentarne skupštine Bosne i Hercegovine (PSBiH) i predsjedateljica Zajedničkog povjerenstva za ekonomske reforme i razvoj PSBiH Ermina Salkičević – Dizdarević i zastupnici u Zastupničkom domu PSBiH Jasmin Emrić i Šemsudin Mehmedović, te predsjednik Odbora za evropske integracije i regionalnu saradnju u NSRS, Siniša Marković su učestvovali u konferenciji, zajedno sa predstavnicima partnerske organizacije projekta iz BiH, Mreže progresivnih inicijativa.
U okviru panela “Zajedničko regionalno tržište 2.0 – šta je to što je ranije funkcioniralo i izazovi Akcijskog plana 2.0”, sudjelovala je i predsjedateljica Zajedničkog povjerenstva za ekonomske reforme i razvoj PSBiH Ermina Salkičević – Dizdarević, koja je u svom izlaganju posebno predstavila rad ovog parlamentarnog tijela, kao i planirane aktivnosti Zajedničkog povjerenstva u narednom razdoblju. Naglasila je važnost i uključenost poslovne zajednice u promoviranju koristi koje Berlinski proces donosi za zemlje Zapadnog Balkana, kao i konekcije i suradnje sa trgovinskim komorama, nevladinom sektorom, te akademskom zajednicom.
Sudionici konferencije tijekom diskusija uputili su i nekoliko zajedničkih poruka, od kojih je posebno važna ta da bez sigurnosne i političke stabilnosti regije ni rezultati nacionalnih ekonomija neće biti u punom kapacitetu.
Istaknuto je da će pitanja konkurentnosti gospodarstva, ljudskog kapitala i digitalizacije sigurno biti u fokusu Berlinskog procesa, te ukazano na mogućnosti unaprjeđenja ovih pitanja u okviru zajedničkog regionalnog tržišta.
Konstatirano je da sam Berlinski proces i koristi koje donosi nisu dovoljno predstavljene javnosti, posebno poslovnoj zajednici, te da treba pojačati aktivnosti na promidžbi ove regionalne inicijative.
Također je ukazano na činjenicu da su članovi poslovne zajednice, pored parlamenata i drugih institucija, sudionici Berlinskog procesa, te da je izbor pravih partnera koji će biti dio rješenja, a ne dio problema, od velike važnosti za brzinu provedbe obveza iz Berlinskog procesa.
S tim u svezi, istaknut je značaj izgradnje povjerenja između pojedinaca i institucija, te rada na razvoju demokracije, dobrog poslovnog okruženja, borbe protiv korupcije, kao i značaj brzog usvajanja najboljih europskih praksi u svim zonama poslovanja.
Ponovo je aktualizirano pitanje slobodnog kretanja ljudi i u tom smislu ratifikacija preostalih sporazuma u okviru Berlinskog procesa od strane BiH.
Naglašena je važnost uloge parlamenata, potreba za većim dijalogom unutar parlamentarnih struktura, kao i kreiranje društva zajedničkih vrijednosti u kojem bi benefiti zajedničkog regionalnog tržišta bili cilj političkog djelovanja, a nikako sredstvo za udaljavanje političkih stavova.
Bilo je riječi i o sredstvima koja su, kroz Plan rasta, rezervirana za zemlje Zapadnog Balkana, te upozoreno na činjenicu da je korištenje tih sredstava uvjetovano izvršavanjem preuzetih obveza. (kraj)
‘People often say with pride, I’m not interested in politics. They might as well say, I’m not interested in my standard of living, my health, my job, my rights, my freedoms, my future or any future. If we mean to keep any control over our world and lives, we must be interested in politics.’’ Martha Gelhorn,
American Novelist, Writer, and Journalist
Introduction
While I was exploring the significance of the European elections, I came across this inspiring ‘call to action’ quote, which serves as a reminder that engagement in political processes is not merely an option but a necessity for those who wish to influence the decisions that affect our daily existence. Being one day away from the European Elections which will take place in 27 member states between 6-9 June 2024, it is crucial to recall the importance of political awareness and active participation for maintaining and enhancing the people’s spirit to stand up for the issues that affect their lives and their role in election processes.
In a recent interview for The Economist, President Macron warned that Europe faces immediate threats deriving from external and internal factors. Because these elections come at a time when the Union is battling multiple challenges, including the conflict in Ukraine, rising inflation, defense and security and the enlargement project, we have our eyes wide open to see what the future holds for Europe. Reflecting on the lessons from the previous elections, understanding European political groups’ key priorities and manifestos, exploring the engagement of youth in the next European Parliament, and assessing the impact social media is playing in increasing youth voter turnout, are the main topics this blog aims to cover.
Lessons from the previous European Elections
After declining ever since the first European elections in 1979, the voter turnout for the 2019 European elections was marked at 50.6%, the highest since 1994 and a significant rise from 42.6% in 2014 Eurobarometer. This increase occurred in 19 Member States, with notable rises in Poland, Romania, Spain, Austria, Hungary, and Germany, as well as significant increases in Slovakia and Czech Republic, where turnout had previously been low. Despite this overall increase, turnout dropped slightly (by no more than 3%) in eight countries. As per the youth participation in the 2019 elections, the post-election Eurobarometer showed also that the boost in participation was predominantly driven by younger voters, particularly those under 25 and those aged 25 to 39 years old. This phenomenon came as a result of effective engagement strategies such as local volunteering and partnerships entered into with organizations like the European Youth Parliament and the Federation of Young European Greenswhich used non-formal education methods to increase awareness and participation of young people in those elections. Building on this, it is important to highlight that the voters in 2019 were better informed compared to 2014, and both voters and non-voters expressed a higher level of political interest, suggesting a solid foundation for further increasing voter turnout in future elections. Social media platforms were also considered as an essential tool that contributed to this increase. Specifically, this surge is attributed to parliamentary campaigns on platforms such as Snapchat. Given TikTok’s significant Gen-Z users, it could also play a crucial role in future elections. Recently, Ifop poll conducted in April, indicated that around one-third of young people use a specific application to keep up with election campaigns.
Also, the 2019 elections taught us that Eastern and Western Europe are significantly divided, raising concerns for the future of Europe. While Western Europe largely voted for change, the strong support for right-wing populists in Eastern countries like Hungary and Poland suggested these nations have a different vision of Europe compared to other EU members. This divergence could slow down the progress in European integration across various critical areas, including security cooperation, coping with mass migration, enlargement & institutional reforms of the EU. Moreover, the topics of the Eastern Partnership and enlargement to the Western Balkans were notably absent from the election campaigns. Probably, the lack of campaign discussion on these issues might stem from their low appeal to voters or a strategic choice to avoid empowering far-right populist factions.
In terms of promoting democratic elections, the 2019 European Parliament elections marked a significant moment, signaling a demand from voters for greater transparency and influence. The elections saw a slight dominance of Liberals and Greens, suggesting that if these groups can promote more accountable governance and greater public engagement, Europe could navigate through its current challenges more robustly(Heinrich Boll Stiftung)However, as in the previous two European elections, all eyes will be on the far right, which is expected to be the big winner this year. According to the poll’s projections, far-right parties are topping the polls in key European countries like France, Italy, Hungary, Netherlands, and Poland, and influencing EU politics even from their national perspectives.(Politico)
How are European Parliamentary group’s manifestos attracting young people to vote?
Political parties are also recognizing the importance of appealing to younger voters and integrating young candidates into their ranks. Many parliamentary groups push for improvements on issues young people find the most urgent, such as climate change, working conditions, democracy, and representation of marginalized groups. For instance, many parties with anti-immigrant agendas are receiving noticeable support from first-time young voters in the upcoming European Parliament elections.
Recent analyses on political preferences indicate that in several EU member states (Belgium, France, Portugal, Germany, and Finland) young people are supporting anti-immigration and anti-establishment parties as much as, or even more than, older voters. In the Netherlands, the far-right Freedom Party secured victory in the 2023 election by orienting the focus towards affordable housing to immigration restrictions, issues that help them resonate strongly with young voters. (Politico). One of the young voters, Gerald, 24, was clear about his decision in the last weeks of the Dutch election stating for The Guardian:
“I voted for Wilders, and many of my friends did too,” he said. “I don’t want to live with my parents for ever. I want my own home, and to be able to provide for my family later. Wilders wants to figure out the housing crisis and make our healthcare better. Those are the most important topics for me.’’
Similarly, in Portugal, the far-right party Chega took advantage of the frustrations of young people regarding the housing crisis and other quality of life issues. André Azevedo Alves, a political scientist at the Catholic University of Portugal and St Mary’s University in London, explained for Politico that Chega, has successfully tapped into the frustrations of Portuguese youth regarding quality of life issues such as the housing crisis and lack of well-paying jobs. This dissatisfaction is further fueled by anger towards mainstream parties that have failed to address these challenges. “Chega’s leader, André Ventura, leveraged this discontent, portraying the Socialist Party and the center-right Social Democratic Party as the cause of the country’s problems and the stagnation that has driven many young Portuguese to emigrate,” he said. “He has attracted many supporters by presenting Chega as an anti-establishment party ready to challenge the system.”
If extremist or far-right groups were to gain significant influence in the upcoming elections, in the long run, it could have profound implications for candidate countries (including Albania), potentially affecting their EU integration prospects and their standing within the broader European political landscape. The stance of these groups on issues like immigration, national sovereignty, the European Enlargement project, and EU regulations could significantly negatively impact Western Balkan’s Integration Process. Most Radical Parties view enlargement critically, considering it costly and potentially leading to increased migration. In addition to their general skepticism toward enlargement, radical-right parties often endorse raising historical grievances and identity issues during EU accession negotiations. Their attempts to use EU enlargement to extract concessions from candidate countries have become one of the biggest obstacles to advancing the process. Even though far rights lack an essential schism over enlargement, the mainstrem parties must buy into the enlargement discourse and preach it with conviction to their citizens while supporting a merit-based enlargement process.(Balkaninsights)
Youth Quota
Political parties have been the primary vehicle for political engagement and representation in Europe for over a hundred years. However, there’s an increasing disconnect between political parties and the youth, highlighted by a significant decrease in party membership over the past two decades in Europe, only about 2% of young people are members of any political party.
A study of the European Parliament suggests that this growing skepticism towards parties stems from their failure to facilitate young people’s political involvement. Such low membership rates among youth now indicate too that party affiliation is no longer a reliable measure of political engagement. Today, the average age of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) is 50, with national averages ranging from 44 to 60. Denmark boasts the youngest MEP, who was 21 at the time of the election, whereas in other countries, the youngest MEP is at least 30 years old. This noticeable disparity between the proportion of MEPs under 35 and the general population of Europeans in the same age group suggests a lack of descriptive representation, which carries significant implications for policymaking.
Just one day ahead from the next European elections, only two Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are still under 30 which comprises only 0.28% of all MEPs. For the 2024 European Parliament elections, there are several young candidates actively participating, although exact numbers are not specified, as Euronews reports. European Greens are prioritizing young candidates under the age of 35, by placing them in electable positions to ensure their representation in the 2024 European Parliament.
On one hand The European Parliament through its Resolution 2015/2035(INL)has urged EU member states to take proactive steps to improve the representation of underrepresented groups at the supranational level. A proposed solution to ensure young people’s interests are better represented in European political arenas is the introduction of youth quotas in the European Parliament. These quotas address the underrepresentation of the younger generation by setting a flexible target percentage for MEPs under the age of 35. On the other hand, such an initiative is also requested from various groups, including the Youth for European people’s Party (YEPP). YEPP, along with other youth organizations and political groups, have been actively advocating for these quotas to address the underrepresentation of young people in the Parliament.
There is no doubt that to meet the challenges young people are facing today, we need to see more young candidates and youth representation in electoral lists which should not be a symbolic effort of filling a quota. Addressing the underrepresentation of young Europeans through the adoption of youth quotas and lowering the age to stand as a candidate may be a key impediment to young people’s participation. Instead, many European member states have lowered the age of voting. For the first time, German and Belgian 16 year olds will join young people from Malta and Austria to vote in the upcoming elections. This is great news for youth participation, but it results in discrimination for other 16-year-old Europeans who are not allowed to vote. This leads to decreased involvement of young people due to a lack of ownership over decisions and the decision-making process.
Social media as a mean to boost youth engagement in European Elections
In recent years, foreign governments have increasingly utilized social media and the internet to influence elections worldwide. A 2023 study by the European Parliament found that young people remain actively engaged in politics, often through diverse methods, with social media being their preferred medium. This platform allows them to quickly mobilize large numbers of people across borders and stay informed about political and current events relevant to them.
For the 2024 elections, the European Parliament is adopting various strategies to engage young voters, emphasizing the importance of digital platforms. The ‘Play your part, Europe’ campaign is streamed via Spotify to notify and remind all users over 18 about the EU election. Spotify has previously launched voting campaigns before elections. The Swedish company issued similar notifications for local elections in the United Kingdom, as well as for elections in Sweden, the Netherlands, and the United States.
According to Eurostat, TikTok has become popular in Europe, often serving as a constant news source against its competitors like X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat. The European far-right effectively utilizes platforms like TikTok to reach out to young voters, engaging content and utilising the platforms’ algorithms to maximize reach, especially among those who may feel disillusioned with traditional politics (Politico).
Renew Europe group, heavily utilizes Instagram and Snapchat to connect with young voters. They focus on liberal values like individual freedom, digital transformation, and European integration, using engaging visuals and quick, impactful stories. The European People’s Party also employs robust strategies, particularly in digital campaigning and educational content.
The Greens/European Free Alliance often stands out in effectively engaging young voters through Instagram and X. Their focus on pressing global issues including climate change, environmental sustainability, and social justice, are the issues that resonate strongly with many young Europeans today.
Being aware of the hard efforts needed to enhance youth participation in electoral politics, it is crucial to remember that young people are the key to bridging this gap. As a Young European Ambassador from the Western Balkans, I am well aware of the consequences of undermining the political systems’ representativeness and the resistance of young people to vote. I believe that one way to approach youngsters in political life is by encouraging youth activism which is less practiced by them, such as signing petitions, participating in legal demonstrations, and engaging in unofficial strikes. Additionally, advocating for the implementation of youth quotas in political institutions, like parliaments, is another strategy that young people should persistently pursue in their countries to increase their visibility and influence in decision-making bodies.
In the spirit of Martha Gelhorn’s call to action, I would prefer to embrace the European Parliament’s compelling appeal from the video, “Use your vote.” and encourage Young Europeans to voice the concerns of the European Youth generation, thus determining the direction of Europe by voting!
About the Author
Xhuljana Mucaj graduated from the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom, obtaining a Master of Laws as a recipient of the prestigious Chevening Scholarship. This achievement adds to her previous successes, including a Law Degree from the University of Tirana and a degree in Business Administration from the Canadian Institute of Technology. As a Young European Ambassador, Xhuljana has considered this platform to champion EU values and advocate for the rule of law, democracy, and the integrity of public institutions. Noteworthy among her initiatives is the #IDECIDE awareness campaign, which aimed to raise awareness about the importance of free and fair elections while constantly opposing the culture of the vote-buying phenomenon. Xhuljana is eagerly committed to supporting vulnerable youth in rural areas and proposing substantial instruments that secure their presence in decision-making bodies.
*This publication was funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the Academy of European Integrations and Negotiations and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
POLITEIA Thematic Session, held on June 19-21 in Tirana, brought together 12 dynamic young professionals from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Serbia.
Over two intensive days they were trained about these key topics like:
“Digitalization Impact on Western Balkans Youth”
“Safeguarding Human Rights in WB6 Economies Amidst Digital Transformation”
“Youth and Digital Agenda: The Role of Different Actors and the Importance of Participation in Policy Making”
A highlight of POLITEIA Thematic Session is the group work, when after online mentoring sessions the participants will produce policy briefs.
This Politeia Thematic Session is organised under the Project “Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe”, financially supported by European Union and being implemented by Center for Democracy Foundation in collaboration with Academy of European Integration and Negotiations (AIEN), Youth Act, Network of Progressive Initiatives , Academy fo Democratic Development, Kosovar Stability initiative and Mreža Progresivnih Inicijativa.
Zvanično je otvoren Poziv za prijedloge projekata u okviru Active Achievement Fonda za regionalne neformalne grupe, kao dio projekta Regionalni dijalog mladih za Evropu, koji finanasira Evropska Unija.
Osnovni cilj Poziva je da jača kreativne grupe na Zapadnom Balkanu, naročito neformalne, tako što će omogućiti finansijsku podršku za inicijative koje za cilj imaju:
Povećanje aktivizma mladih u lokalnim zajednicama i učešće u strukturnom dijalogu sa donosiocima odluka o politikama koje se tiču mladih
Zagovaranje usvajanja evropskih vrijednosti i jačanje demokratskih i odgovornih institucija
Promovisanje regionalne saradnje i političkih, ekonomskih i socijalnih benefita od evrointegracija za zemlje Zapadnog Balkana.
Ukupan dostupan budžet Active Achievement Fonda je 30.000 EUR. Regionalne neformalne grupe mogu da konkurišu za finansijsku podršku za projekte u iznosu:
minimalan budžet: 2.000 EUR
maksimalan budžet: 4.000 EUR
Samo neformalne grupe mogu da konkurišu za ovaj Poziv za prijedloge projekata. Ove grupe nisu formalno registrovane, imaju nizak nivo formalnosti i slabe tehničke i upravljačke kapacitete. Poziv je otvoren za neformalne grupe koje su spontano okupljene radi rješavanja problema u lokalnim zajednicama, a prioritet imaju učesnici projekta Regionalni dijalog mladih za Evropu, odnosno aktivnosti: Regionalna Politeia škola mladih, Politeia tematske sesije, omladinske radionice za javne politike i pripravnička praksa.
Regionalna grupa treba da bude sastavljena od najmanje 5 mladih ljudi od 16-30 godina, od kojih najmanje tri člana/članice žive na različitim područjima Zapadnog Balkana na kojima se sprovodi projekat Regionalni dijalog mladih za Evropu: Albaniji, Bosni i Herzegovini, Kosovu, Sjevernoj Makedoniji i Srbiji. Najmanje jedan član/članica neformalne grupe mora biti punoljetan/punoljetna zbog potpisivanja Ugovora o sprovodjenju projekta.
Podrška će biti omogućena kroz direktna plaćanja aktivnosti projekata od strane partnerskih organizacija u okviru Projekta Regionalni dijalog mladih za Evropu, a koji će biti posrednici za sprovođenje projekata neformalnih groupa. Uz svaki podnijeti projekat, podnosioci projekta će odrediti zemlju odnosno primarno područje djelovanja, što će odrediti i partnersku organizaciju koja će biti posrednik u procesu sprovođenja projekta. Partnerska organizacija će obavljati plaćanja za projektne troškove u skladu sa odobrenim budžetom ovih projekata.
Active Achievement Fond za regionalne neformalne groupe je FSTP aktivnost (finansijska podrška trećim stranama), odnosno predstavlja dio paketa grantiranja u okviru trogodišnjeg projekta Regionalni dijalog mladih za Evropu, koji financira Evropska Unija u period 2023-2026 kroz EU Civil Society Facility and Media Programme za Zapadni Balkan i Tursku za 2021-2023 (IPA III). Projekat sprovodi Fondacija Centar za demokratiju iz Srbije u saradnji sa partnerskim organizacijama iz regiona: Academy of European Integrations and Negotiations (Albanija), Youth Act Center (Albanija), Kosovar Stability Initiative (Kosovo), Network of Progressive Initiatives (Bosna i Hercegovina), NGO Info Center Foundation (Sjeverna Makedonija) and Regional Academy for Democratic Development (Srbija).
“Digitalization Impact on Western Balkans Youth”
This Politeia Thematic Session is organised under the Project “Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe”, financially supported by European Union and being implemented by Center for Democracy Foundation in collaboration with Academy of European Integration and Negotiations (AIEN), Youth Act, Network of Progressive Initiatives , Academy fo Democratic Development, Kosovar Stability initiative and Mreža Progresivnih Inicijativa.
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