Within the EU-funded Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe (RYDE) project, the Network of Progressive Initiatives (NPI BiH) successfully organised the Second Regional Policy Lab held in person in Sarajevo and the Third Regional Policy Lab conducted online, both focusing on youth employment and the Youth Guarantee.
The purpose of these policy labs was to connect national and regional perspectives, facilitate the exchange of experiences and good practices, and identify common challenges and priorities related to youth employment policies across the Western Balkans.
Second Regional Policy Lab – Sarajevo
The Second Regional Policy Lab was organised as an in-person event in Sarajevo and brought together 23 participants, including representatives of public institutions, civil society organisations, youth organisations and centres, academia, youth activists and young politicians from Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania.
Discussions focused on:
- challenges related to the adoption and implementation of the Youth Guarantee;
- the need for stronger multi-sectoral coordination;
- the role and capacities of Public Employment Services;
- outreach to young people not in employment, education or training (NEET);
- alignment between employment, education and youth policies.
The in-person format enabled in-depth discussion, peer learning and trust-based exchange among regional stakeholders.
Third Regional Policy Lab – Online
As a continuation of the regional dialogue, the Third Regional Policy Lab was organised in an online format, gathering 31 participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Albania. The online format enabled broader participation and strengthened the regional dimension of the discussion.
The focus of the online policy lab was on:
- synthesising key findings from national and regional policy labs;
- validating and refining shared regional priorities;
- identifying areas where regional cooperation is most urgently needed;
- strengthening political and institutional commitment to the Youth Guarantee.
Continuity and Next Steps
Together, the two regional policy labs formed a coherent and cumulative policy dialogue process, linking national-level discussions with regional policy reflection. The outcomes of these policy labs contribute directly to the development of regional policy recommendations on youth employment and the Youth Guarantee, while also strengthening cooperation among youth organisations, civil society and institutions across the Western Balkans.
The Network of Progressive Initiatives, together with its partners, will continue to build on these findings through further advocacy efforts and regional dialogue activities aimed at improving youth employment policies and opportunities in the region.
