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 just green transition in the Western Balkans is not only about replacing coal with renewable energy, but about transforming economies, communities, and institutions in a way that is environmentally sustainable, socially fair, and democratically accountable.
Speaking from the perspective of Open Society Foundations Western Balkans, Ms. Adea Kondirolli, Project Manager, underlined that young people across the region are already active through environmental initiatives, clean-up efforts, anti-pollution campaigns, and advocacy for cleaner energy. However, she emphasized that the real challenge is creating genuine pathways for this youth energy to influence decision-making.
Her message focused on the need to connect local activism with institutional processes, from municipal consultations and regional civil society networks to EU accession and Green Agenda mechanisms. She also stressed that young people should not be treated as passive beneficiaries of reforms, but as partners who can help shape, implement, and monitor policies.
The discussion also touched upon the importance of a coordinated regional approach to green industrial policy, especially as the Western Balkans becomes increasingly connected to European climate and market standards. Panelists emphasized that green transition is not only an environmental priority, but also a question of competitiveness, jobs, education, and social fairness.
The panel was also joined by Ms. Franceska Korance, EIT Community Officer, Albania; Mr. Emil Balavac, Minister of Trade, Tourism and Environmental Protection of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Ms. Tijana Ljubenović, Project Coordinator at Young Researchers of Serbia. The discussion was moderated by Ms. Teodora Stolevska, RYCO Head of Programs.
The session concluded with a strong message: the Western Balkans has no shortage of passionate young environmental advocates. What is needed are stronger institutional bridges between young people and decision-makers, ensuring that youth are not only consulted after decisions are made, but included from the very beginning in designing a more sustainable, fair, and resilient future for the region. 
