ADVOCACY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN KOSOVO
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN KOSOVO


Brussels, 8th March 2012 - ThinkYoung, the first think tank concerned with young Europeans, hosted a conference to empower young Kosovars: “Sustainable Kosovo - advocacy for young people”. The event took place only a few days after Serbia gained candidate status to join the EU, and one month and a half after Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for Home Affairs, launched a visa liberalization dialogue with Kosovo.

The conference focused on the obstacles that Kosovo’s youth faces as a consequence of visa restrictions and the lack of the country’s independence recognition.

In reference to the latter, MEP Ulrike Lunacek, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on Kosovo, stated that the problem is “a lack of knowledge about Kosovo.” The argument of Spain, Slovakia, Cyprus, Romania, and Greece, the 5 EU members that do not recognize Kosovo fearing the reaction of their own minorities “is not valid” from her perspective, because “their minorities are not the same Kosovo was for Serbia.”

As for the EU’s involvement, Lunacek agreed with a participant that “the EU has not done enough to pressure Serbia to recognize Kosovo.” But regreted that EULEX, the EU’s mission in the country, is blamed for the lack of visa liberalization “when that has nothing to do with them.”

Alexandra Stiglmeyer, secretary general of the European Stability Initiative, emphasized the need of a collaboration between Serbia and Kosovo by stating that “it is important for both sides to walk towards Europe.”

Looking back at the improvements since ThinkYoung’s first conference on the topic last year, Lunacek and Stiglmeyer emphasized the steps given towards visa liberalization, while Kosovo’s first Ambassador to Belgium, H.E. Illir Dugolli, regretted the immobilism from the EU countries that do not recognize Kosovo, as well as the “permanent entanglements with Serbia.”

MEP Doris Pack (EPP) shared her first hand experience in the Balkans and addressed the topic of the youth by saying that “not to be able to leave your country and return freely is humiliating.” In reference to the latest developments in the area, she added: “Serbia should never become part of the EU without resolving the problems with its neighbours beforehand.”

The event was also used to present ThinkYoung’s latest documentary, “This Summer in Kosovo” (available here) as well as the results of the think tank’s latest survey in the country: “Political Involvement of the youth in Kosovo”.

The answers show that, while 61% of those interviewed consider Kosovo to be a democratic country, 71% also declare that the current political institutions and representatives do not inspire confidence; 32% pointed to corruption of government official as the main reason for this.

The conference was part of ThinkYoung’s ongoing project in the country, “Advocacy for young people in Kosovo”, which started in July 2009 sparked by the idea to bridge the gap between youngsters from Eastern and Western European countries and reduce regional disparities.

For a full picture of ThinkYoung’s activities and the “Sustainable Kosovo” project in particular, please click here.

SEE THE VIDEOS OF THE CONFERENCE  (FIRST PART / SECOND PART)

See the pictures of the conference.