Qendra Youthact
“Politeia Regional School for Youth Participation 2025” , which is implemented within the project “Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe – RYDE” (2023–2026), with the support of the European Commission , was held from 21 to 27 September 2025 in Belgrade.
Politeia is more than just a school – it is a space for learning, exchanging ideas, building connections and strengthening European values , is the joint conclusion of the young people of the Western Balkans during a seven-day gathering and discussion on key topics , such as regional cooperation, European integration, reforms, challenges of democracy, rule of law, fight against corruption, youth participation in decision-making, shared values and cohesion, civic activism, benefits of EU integration, artificial intelligence and the labor market, gender equality.
This year, Politeia School brought together young people from the entire Western Balkans region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo*, North Macedonia), creating a space for the exchange of ideas, cooperation and joint initiatives, with the aim of strengthening youth participation, regional solidarity and European values .
At the official opening of the school, the young people were addressed by the Secretary General of the Center for Democracy Foundation, Nataša Vučković , the Head of the Political Department of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Črtomir Peter Fišinger , the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković , and the Coordinator of the Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe, Dajana Ostojić .
During seven days of lectures, creative workshops and interactive discussions, knowledge and experiences on key topics of Politeia School were discussed with young people by: Gordana Đurović , professor at the Faculty of Economics and Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Montenegro, Podgorica; Eralda Cani , professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Tirana, Albania; Benjamin Couteau , researcher specialized in European Union enlargement policy (with a focus on the Western Balkans and Turkey), “Grande Europe” Center of the Jacques Delors Institute, Paris, France; Nataša Vučković , general secretary of the Center for Democracy Foundation, Serbia; Žarko Šunderić , director of the Center for Social Policy, Serbia; Branka Anđelković , co-founder and program director of the Center for Public Policy Research, Serbia; Predrag Voštinić , founder of the Local Front, councilor in the Assembly of the City of Kraljevo, social and political activist, Serbia; Ognjen Marković , head of the “Western Balkan Youth Lab” Team, Council for Regional Cooperation, Sarajevo, BiH; Dušan Spasojević , professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Belgrade, Serbia; Ognen Janeski , ambassador of the Council of Europe and the EU for the fight against hate speech for WB6 and president of the Council of Honor of AJM, North Macedonia; Miloš Đajić and Igor Jojkić , Center for Modern Skills, Serbia.
Politeia is known as a school with a long tradition (since 1997), but always innovative and progressive . Thanks to the quality curriculum, dedicated lecturers, interactive work methods and carefully selected participants, POLITEIA has grown into one of the most respected informal educational programs in the region – with more than 2,000 participants to date!
POLITEIA school 2025 is organized within the Regional Youth Dialogue for Europe (RYDE) project, which is implemented with the support of the European Union. The project is implemented by the Center for Democracy Foundation, Belgrade (as project coordinator) and partner organizations: Academy for European Integration and Negotiations from Tirana (AIEN); Kosovo Initiative for Stability from Pristina (IKS); Network of Progressive Initiatives from Sarajevo (NPI); NGO Info Center from Skopje (NGO IC); Regional Academy for Democratic Development from Novi Sad (ADD); Youth Act Center from Tirana (YA). The project is financed by the European Union.
