In 1999, the DFJW sponsored a trilateral exchange between young people from Germany, France and Slovakia. The encounter was marked by solidarity and dialogue with the countries of South-Eastern Europe (SEE). Under the direction of Milan Sladek and the patronage of UNICEF, this project supported Kosovar refugee children in North Macedonia. The Centre national des arts du cirque in Châlons-en-Champagne, the Gustav Stresemann Institute in Bonn, the Centre national des arts du cirque in Châlons-en-Champagne, the Children's Theatre Centre, the Soros Centre and the Mala Stanica Multimedia Centre in Skopje were involved in its implementation.
On the occasion of the 75th Franco-German Summit on 9 June 2000 in Mainz, the French and German governments commissioned the FGYO to launch exchange programmes with the countries of South-Eastern Europe. The aim was to support civil societies in the region, build bridges to France and Germany, promote encounters between young people and strengthen dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation through intercultural exchange.
In 2025, a SEE network meeting took place in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The event was supported by the Peuple et Culture (Paris, France), Centre Français de Berlin (Berlin, Germany) and FOTON (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina). Stakeholders in international youth work met there and adopted a joint declaration. The key demands were for more support from the respective governments, recognition of the work done and the shared values of the SOE network.
Would you like to organise a socio-political project with one or more partner countries in the SOE network?
Please consult the list partners below to get in touch with the network’s organisations.
The FGYO team, in particular the ‘Regions, Europe and Neighbourhood’ (REN) unit, will be happy to advise you: trilateral@ofaj.org
Our SEE regional advisor is also available to provide practical tips and information: Nermina Trbonja, Peuple et Culture: trbonja@peuple-et-culture.org