Recap of PYN Secretariat’s Consultations: Feedback from Serbia and Croatia

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The PYN Secretariat recently held consultative meetings with member parties from Serbia and Croatia to discuss various issues and gather feedback. We are now looking forward to new meetings from the rest of the political parties from the rest PYN members! In the meantime, let’s go over the topics we discussed at recent meetings!

The PYN Secretariat held a consultative in-person meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, with four representatives of two PYN member parties (Free Citizens Movement and 1 in 5 Million). We discussed the political situation in Serbia, specifically focusing on past general and local elections which revealed significant electoral irregularities. We also discussed the Resolution on Srebrenica and its socio-political ramifications for the country and the region. We gathered feedback from the members about past webinars and the Youth Summit, asked them about topics and events they would be interested in, and knowledge or skills they would like to gain from future PYN events. The members emphasized that they would like to have the opportunity to meet more often in person, both with youth from different parties in Serbia and from other countries in the region. They also proposed organizing study trips and in-person trainings or workshops. When it comes to online educational webinars, they liked the idea of a series of webinars covering topics related to, for example, transitional justice and reconciliation in the region, EU enlargement and youth participation, and the rise of the political right in Europe. 

PYN members from Serbia expressed their interest in the idea of formulating a regional working group or a committee within PYN which would specifically work on topics related to responsible dealing with our region’s violent past, interethnic cooperation, inter-party dialogue about the past, and memorialization efforts.

Three member parties of the Croatian PYN, the Social Democratic Party, the Istrian Democratic Youth and Youth Organization and University Organization of the Croatian Peasant Party, met with the PYN Secretariat.

During the meeting, participants discussed PYNs Secretariat suggestion on organizing a series of interconnected webinars. The representatives suggested that this format would be impactful, particularly for providing practical training for local and presidential elections equiping participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to engage effectively in the electoral process. 

Another important topic was on the emphasis on inclusive memorialization practices for politicians. The discussion covered best practices and methods for conducting commemorative events that are inclusive and respectful to all communities. Members also indicated a strong desire for more in-person encounters, perceiving these as essential for fostering stronger bonds and enhancing collaboration. Additionally, there was a willingness to help connect with potential new members from Slovenia, aiming to expand the network and foster greater inclusivity within the organization for which we are very grateful for!

We sincerely thank the representatives from Serbia and Croatia who participated in our consultations! Those representatives who could not attend the in-person meeting were updated on the meeting’s outcomes via email and offered individual online consultations. The consultation meetings have also been planned for August and September, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro (in-person) as well as for members in North Macedonia, Slovenia and Kosovo (online). Until then The PYN Secretariat will be working on implementing already discussed topics for the PYN future!

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