Youth engagement and media independence face challenges in the Balkans

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, local media face criticism for their dependency on municipal budgets, which often limits their ability to serve the public interest. Professor Mirza Mehmedović of the University of Tuzla notes that this financing model causes local public media to act as PR platforms for the ruling political parties rather than providing space for youth issues, activism, or decision-making processes.

In Montenegro, the Center for Civic Education (CGO) hosted a youth forum in Cetinje to advocate for active youth participation in community development. Organizers emphasized the need to move beyond treating young people as passive subjects of policy, instead creating spaces where they can engage directly with decision-makers. The initiative aims to empower youth organizations and support individuals facing barriers to education and the labor market through programs like SINERGIJA.