14 March 2023

Balkans Group started the first training of the year for the Executive Program “Youth in Politics: Governance and Political Systems”. In the upcoming days, thirty-eight young participants from different backgrounds and political parties will follow lectures and engage in discussions on the topics of the Rule of Law, Good Governance, Economic Development and Social Policies, Educational Policies, and Regional Cooperation.

We were honored to have the Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Prishtina as a keynote speaker. H.E Jens Erik Grøndahl emphasised the importance of this training organized by Balkans Group and took pride in its impact in strengthening the next generation of policy-makers in Kosovo.

As part of this important activity, Balkans Group organised two study visits to the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo.

During the first visit, the participants had the opportunity to visit the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, where they met with the Minister, Arbërie Nagavci, and the Chief of the Minister’s Cabinet, Bora Shpuza. The Minister gave a presentation on the latest developments in pre-education, professional education, and higher education. The visit provided valuable insights into the education system of Kosovo.

The second visit was to the Kosovo Judicial Council, where the youth participants met with the Chairman, Mr. Albert Zogaj. He presented the mission, vision, and organogram of the KJC, and discussed the challenges of the judicial system in Kosovo. This visit provided an excellent opportunity for the participants to gain a deeper understanding of the functioning of the judicial system in Kosovo.

Overall, the study visits were a great success and provided the participants with valuable knowledge and insights that will help them in their future careers.

The “Youth in Politics” component is part of the multi-pillar project “Elevate peace & state-building agenda and advancing European agenda”. The objective of this program is to offer young individuals and members of political parties throughout Kosovo a chance to develop a practical toolkit to help them overcome some of the most critical hurdles to their progressing career.

The project is funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Pristina.