SARAJEVO, June 2 (Balkan View) – France’s Minister Delegate for Europe, Benjamin Haddad, met young people from across the Western Balkans in Sarajevo on Monday, stressing that European Union enlargement must deliver concrete benefits for citizens while encouraging greater youth participation in shaping the region’s future.
The meeting, hosted by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) under the EU-funded Western Balkans Youth Lab 2 initiative, brought together students, youth representatives and young European ambassadors for discussions on EU integration, regional cooperation and policymaking.
“EU accession is not a cosmetic change; it is a profound transformation,” Haddad said, adding that the European Union had a responsibility to ensure that citizens could “see and feel” the benefits of reforms required on the path to membership.
The visit comes at a time when the EU is seeking to accelerate enlargement efforts in the Western Balkans amid growing geopolitical competition and renewed attention to the region’s strategic importance.
RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanović said young people should not be treated merely as observers of the accession process but as active participants in shaping the region’s future.
“The Western Balkans does not need young people to only believe in its European future; it needs them to help shape it,” Kapetanović said.
Participants told the French minister that the region should be viewed beyond political disputes and stereotypes, describing the Western Balkans as creative, resilient and ready to contribute to Europe through its people, culture and ideas.
Following the youth dialogue, Haddad and Kapetanović discussed regional cooperation, EU enlargement, the future of the Berlin Process and France’s continued engagement in Southeast Europe. France is a participant in the RCC Board and has supported regional initiatives aimed at strengthening stability, connectivity and European integration.
The Western Balkans Youth Lab programme seeks to promote structured dialogue between young people and decision-makers across the region and increase youth involvement in public policymaking.