Building Europe through Youth: 25 Years of Commitment in Southeast Europe

This appeal resonates particularly in a context where several Western Balkan countries are experiencing a reduction in international support, especially from the United States, and and German and French non-governmental organisations are also facing financial constraints. But beyond these budgetary shifts, the signatories also raise concerns about a growing climate of distrust toward political institutions, the rise of nationalism, and the shrinking of civic space. In response to these trends, they emphasize the need for the European Union and governments of its member states or non-member states to assume their political responsibility by investing sustainably in citizenship education, intercultural dialogue, and youth structures.

Launched in 2000 at the 75th Franco-German Summit in Mainz, the SEE Initiative aims to promote exchanges among young people from Germany, France, and the countries of Southeast Europe: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and occasionally Croatia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Greece. This dynamic is based on strong partnerships with grassroots actors and institutions from all participating countries and regions.