Budva, Montenegro, 5 June 2026 — The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) and the European Youth Card Association (EYCA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation and advancing youth-focused initiatives across the Western Balkans. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Vladimir Obradović, Secretary General of RYCO, and Jugoslav Radović, Vice President
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Budva, Montenegro – As part of the Youth Forum 2026, RYCO and the Open Society Foundations Western Balkans co-designed the panel “Youth Leading the Green Transition: Shaping a Sustainable and Stable Region,” bringing together regional voices to discuss how young people can move from environmental activism to meaningful policy influence. The panel highlighted that a
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A more stable, connected, and prosperous Western Balkans cannot be built without young people, mutual trust, and regional cooperation — this was the key message of the opening panel of the Western Balkans Youth Forum 2026, “From Paris to Budva: A Decade of Youth, Dialogue and Change.” Reflecting on the achievements of the past decade
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The Western Balkans Youth Forum 2026, jointly organized by the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) and the Government of Montenegro under the Chairmanship of the Berlin Process, was officially opened today in Budva with a clear message: the future of the region belongs to a generation of young people ready to shape it through their
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Dear participants, Welcome to the Western Balkans Youth Forum 2026, taking place from 04 to 07 June 2026 at Hotel Avala in Budva, Montenegro, under the theme “From Dialogue to Delivery: Youth Shaping Regional Cooperation.” About the WB Youth Forum 2026 The WB Youth Forum brings together young people, decision-makers, partners, civil society representatives, and
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As one of the grantees supported through RYCO’s RYCOgnizing YPS program, funded by the German Development Cooperation, HERA is implementing the project “Youth Connect: Building Inclusive Participation Through Local Partnerships.” The project is carried out in partnership with the Youth Council of Macedonia and in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth,
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Tirana, 26 May 2026 – RYCO held the first meeting of its 3rd Advisory Board cohort, in Tirana, marking an important step in strengthening the organization’s advisory mechanisms and strategic dialogue with experts and partners across the region and beyond. The meeting brought together Advisory Board members to discuss RYCO’s structure, governance, programmatic work, and
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RYCO’s Local Branch Office in North Macedonia, together with UNFPA, UNDP and OSCE Mission, supported the implementation of a three-day capacity building workshop aimed at strengthening the capacities on the Youth, Peace and Security Ageda of the Youth Officers from local-level public institutions, as a joint initiative supported by the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography
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The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), in cooperation with the Regional Anti-Corruption Initiative (RAI), brought together young people, anti-corruption experts, and practitioners in Sarajevo for the workshop “Western Balkans Next Gen: Leading the Fight Against Corruption.” The event focused on strengthening awareness of anti-corruption mechanisms through interactive discussions, case studies, group work, and practical tools
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The Ministry of Social Affairs, Demography and Youth of North Macedonia has officially launched the procedure for the selection of the Youth Representative of North Macedonia to the Governing Board of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO). The Youth Representative plays an important role in RYCO’s governance structure, ensuring that the voice, perspectives and needs
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