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The Podgorica Declaration

IUSY member organizations from the BRT (Balkan Round Table) Committee gathered in Podgorica from 3 to 5 March 2023, to discuss the topic “Challenges of security in the Western Balkan region“.

Western Balkans are an important partner to all the world and European powers, due to its geostrategic position. Precisely for this reason, as well as because of the specific history that this region has, and the new circumstances caused by the war in Ukraine, the states of WB are facing different influences and security challenges. 

The topic of security have been always, but especially now important for maintaining peace and stability in the region and among the top priorities of our countries. Security policy of Western Balkans has in­creasingly come into focus since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. The war in Ukraine has become a security threat across Europe, including the Western Balkans, where there are still open conflicts that could follow the “Ukrainian scenario” and create problems. 

Bearing in mind that in the long term we should foster all processes of reconciliation, resolving current disputes and forgetting the wounds of the past is a top priority and demands urgent action.

Therefore, it is important to act immediately and to guarantee security in the region, reduce existing tensions (mostly of ethnic or religious character) and promote stability. This process shall include three key stakeholders who play an especially active role: (1) the neighboring countries in the region, (2) the international community and the EU, (3) the young people from the region. 

Youth participation in the prevention and resolution of disputes is essential for building sustainable peace.  As young political leaders closest to the youth in our countries,  we believe that young people have a key role in dealing with conflicts and contributing to solutions, because on the other hand they are the ones most affected by the conflicts themselves. For this reason, the IUSY member organisations of the Balkan Round Table are committing to initiate the process of implementation of political and civic education in the respective educational systems of the Western Balkan countries.  

For us as young leaders, it is very important that people in our region start to feel safe, to trust in the state and its institutions and that the stability of the system is restored. It is important to mention that this is actually one of the main reasons that influence the decisions of young people to stay living here, or to continue their life abroad.

In the 21st century, it must be a priority for all of us to preserve peace and stability, to lead a policy that will bring prosperity and economic development to our countries and meet their goals of advancing on the European path. The EU must stop neglecting the Western Balkans and use the geopolitical moment to accelerate the accession process of the countries of the region.