First steps in EU for young Europeans
Growing up during a decade of violence and its resulting aftereffects, the youngest generations in the Western Balkans have felt the brunt of the consequences. Unlike many of their parents, particularly those in the former Yugoslavia who benefited from the now legendary passports that allowed travel in both the capitalist West and communist East, young people today have had little opportunity to leave their home countries. Freedom of movement is something most of them have never known. Imposed visa restrictions and a severe lack of financial resources for the majority of young people are serious barriers to foreign travel. But this is a problem with additional consequences. Without the ability to experience other countries and the varied cultures, societies, and political realities to be found there, young Balkan citizens are hindered in gaining the knowledge and insight necessary to help bring about the reform efforts so essential in their home countries.
To address these issues, in 2005, European Movement in Serbia began a very successful initiative enabling 100 Serbian students in its first year, and 200 students in 2006 to travel to the EU countries of their choice. They are given Eurail passes, one-month Schengen visas, and pocket money: a simple checklist, but one so valuable for these young people. For the first time this summer students from throughout the region will participate in the Student Travel to Europe project. Prominent pro-European organizations from the Balkan countries with the strictest visa regimes: Albania (Mjaft!), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Centres for Civic Initiatives), Macedonia (Citizens’ Association Most), Montenegro (European Movement in Montenegro), and Serbia (European Movement in Serbia), including Kosovo (Youth Initiative for Human Rights – Kosovo) have partnered together with the support of the Robert Bosch Foundation and the Balkan Trust for Democracy to send about 450 top students on what is, for many, the trip of their lives.
The competition to earn a place on the trip is merit-based, with preference given to those who have never traveled abroad. An extensive media campaign informed students of the competition, while also drawing the general public’s attention to the important issues the project addresses, such as visa liberalization.
While the students travel, they acquaint themselves with everyday life in the European Union, but they can also gain insight into the steps necessary in their own country to secure and accelerate their countries’ European Union accession path, the true value of freedom of movement, and greater awareness of their country’s place in Europe. EU citizens will also meet these student ambassadors, who then help to dispel all-too-common misperceptions and misinformation about their country and the Balkan region.
Another added benefit to this year’s project is that students from different countries in the region have the rare opportunity to meet each other. The student groups from Macedonia and Montenegro traveled to Belgrade, where they were greeted at a reception at city hall that included deputy prime minister Bozidar Djelic, deputy mayor of Belgrade,Radmila Hrustanovic, Austrian ambassador to Serbia Gerhard Gandl, and my colleague Jovan Jovanovic from BTD, but also where they had the opportunity to meet the students from Serbia. The whole group then met again in Vienna, where they were greeted by government officials. The groups from Kosovo, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina will meet in Berlin in mid-August. These group meetings allow the students to get to know each other, helping to re-establish positive relations between young people in the region.