On December 20, 2024, in Tirana, we gathered for the highly anticipated Tirana Youth Summit, a vibrant event dedicated to empowering young individuals and activists. This Summit brought together youth passionate about building peaceful, democratic societies across the globe and especially the Western Balkans as well as eager to exchange knowledge and experience with like-minded peers.
The Summit spanned over three days, from Tuesday, December 17th, to Thursday, December 19th. It served as a platform for collaboration between youth in the region.
A day after the conclusion of the Youth Summit, on Friday, December 20th, the PYN Secretariat convened the General Assembly of the Political Youth Network. A total of 15 youth representatives from political parties in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Kosovo participated, exemplifying the spirit of regional cooperation and dialogue. Representatives from the following parties were present at the Assembly: Free Citizens Movement (Pokret slobodnih građana) from Serbia, Youth Forum (Mladi forum) from Slovenia, Istrian Democratic Youth (Klub mladih IDSa) from Croatia, Democratic party (Demokratska stranka) from Serbia, Lëvizja VETËVENDOSJE! – LVV from Kosovo, Croatian People’s Party (Hrvatska narodna stranka), Youth Forum (Forum mladih SDPa) from Croatia, Green Youth of Serbia, and We can! (Možemo) from Croatia as observers.
During the Assembly, we reflected on the activities and accomplishments of PYN throughout the 2024. This was followed by an engaging presentation by representatives of the Green Youth of Serbia, who were candidate members for this year’s membership entry. Their presentation sparked thoughtful discussions, culminating in a vote by existing members, who decided to welcome them into the Network.
The General Assembly also served as a platform to address pressing challenges faced by the Network’s members. A recurring theme was the lack of acceptance of political party involvement among young people. The Secretariat expressed its full support, offering assistance to members in effectively addressing these challenges and committing to continue the discussion in future meetings.
Another critical issue discussed was the mental health of young people, a topic championed by members of Mladi Forum Slovenia. They highlighted their ongoing campaign, launched on World Mental Health Day in October, aimed at raising awareness and providing support for young individuals struggling with mental health issues. The members collectively agreed that mental health remains a priority and pledged their mutual support for similar initiatives across the region. The Democratic Party of Serbia also introduced their campaign “Vote at 16!” about which you can read more here.
The General Assembly concluded with an inspiring message from the Secretariat, encouraging all members to remain steadfast and courageous in their efforts to build a better future. The Summit not only reinforced the importance of regional cooperation but also emphasized the power of youth in shaping inclusive, democratic, and peaceful societies.
As we bid farewell to the Tirana Youth Summit, we carry forward its energy and optimism, ready to tackle new challenges and foster meaningful change in the year ahead.