Young people in North Macedonia express strong interest in democratic values and European ideals but remain largely excluded from formal decision-making structures. This is one of the key findings of the study “The Engagement of the New Generation: Youth Inclusion in North Macedonia’s EU Integration”, conducted by the BIRC Institute.
According to the report, youth engagement is often limited to consultative or temporary roles without meaningful impact on public policy development. “The main barriers to youth participation in the processes of Europeanization and democratization include distrust in institutions, lack of transparency, limited resources, and the instrumentalization of youth structures,” the study states.
Despite a favorable legal framework—including the Law on Youth Participation and Youth Policies (2020) and the National Youth Strategy 2023–2027—youth involvement remains mostly symbolic, fragmented, and project-based, lacking a systematic and transformative approach.
The research highlights institutional, political, societal, and economic obstacles that hinder the effective participation of youth in the EU-driven reform agenda. It calls for redefining the role of young people—from passive beneficiaries to active co-creators of the country’s European future.
Fewer than half of North Macedonia’s municipalities have established Local Youth Councils, and where they exist, they often lack autonomy, operational capacity, or influence over local policymaking. The data show that politically unaffiliated youth report high levels of distrust toward institutions and perceive many youth structures as politically controlled or co-opted.
Youth-led civil society organizations are identified as key actors in promoting civic engagement and democratic values. However, these organizations face funding shortages, limited access to decision-making processes, and a lack of institutional recognition. Furthermore, there is no centralized digital infrastructure enabling continuous youth engagement in EU integration processes, reform monitoring, or institutional accountability.
To address these issues, the report recommends full implementation of the Youth Participation Law across all municipalities, monitored by independent mechanisms to ensure transparency and prevent political manipulation. It also proposes the allocation of sustainable youth budgets at both local and national levels, the development of an inclusive digital platform, and the appointment of youth representatives with full decision-making rights in EU accession negotiation groups—particularly in areas affecting youth directly, such as education, employment, rule of law, and governance.
Another recommendation is to increase youth participation in regional programs such as RYCO, Erasmus+, and other EU initiatives that foster cross-border cooperation, intercultural exchange, and a sense of European belonging.
The study concludes that young people feel excluded from key political processes, including EU accession reforms, with their participation often reduced to one-off consultations or formal events lacking real impact.
“To ensure the success of North Macedonia’s EU path, youth inclusion must become a central pillar of reform—not a peripheral topic,” the report states. “The country cannot achieve sustainable democratization or credible EU membership without empowering the new generation as co-authors of its future.” According to the authors, the core challenge is no longer whether to include youth, but how to ensure their authentic, systematic, and large-scale involvement.
The study was conducted as part of the project “Youth Inclusion for the Europeanization of the Balkans,” implemented by the BIRC Institute from North Macedonia, NGO GLAS from Montenegro, and CFID from Kosovo, with support from the Western Balkans Fund and co-financing from the European Union.