The Third Regional Online Policy Lab on Employment and the Youth Guarantee was held on 18 December 2025 as part of the EU-funded Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe (RYDE) project, coordinated by the Network of Progressive Initiatives (NPI BiH) in cooperation with partner organisations across the Western Balkans.
The online policy lab gathered 31 participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Albania, representing youth organisations, civil society organisations, public institutions, youth activists and policy experts. The online format enabled broader participation and ensured the continuity of the regional policy dialogue initiated through national policy labs and the second regional policy lab held in Sarajevo.
The discussion focused on consolidating key findings from national and regional policy labs on youth employment and the Youth Guarantee, validating shared regional priorities and identifying areas where regional cooperation is most urgently needed. Particular attention was given to challenges related to the implementation of the Youth Guarantee, institutional coordination, the role of Public Employment Services, outreach to young people outside employment, education or training, and the alignment of employment, education and youth policies.
Participants actively contributed to a structured discussion aimed at refining and agreeing on five to seven regional priorities that will guide future advocacy and policy dialogue efforts within the RYDE framework. The outcomes of the online policy lab build directly on previous in-person and national-level discussions, further strengthening the link between national experiences and regional policy reflection.
The Third Regional Online Policy Lab represents an important step in advancing a coherent and inclusive regional dialogue on youth employment and the Youth Guarantee in the Western Balkans. The findings and agreed priorities will feed into the development of regional policy recommendations and inform upcoming advocacy and dialogue activities under the RYDE project.
