Youth support and institutional development in the Balkans

Regional efforts to support youth in the Balkans have included both government-led financial initiatives and humanitarian social programs. In Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, government measures were introduced to provide direct aid to young people. The Tuzla Canton in Bosnia and Herzegovina allocated 200,000 KM in scholarships for students from returnee communities. Concurrently, the Croatian government adopted a €1 million rural housing scheme aimed at helping young families and farmers settle in smaller villages to encourage demographic renewal. Complementing these financial supports, Red Cross organizations have facilitated summer programs for youth and vulnerable children. In West Herzegovina Canton, the Red Cross organized a summer trip to Croatia for children aged 10 to 18. Building on these social welfare efforts, Milica Đurđević Stamenkovski, Serbia’s Minister for Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, visited children from socially vulnerable and foster families at a Red Cross resort in Baošići, Montenegro. Further educational support has been announced for the 2026/2027 academic year. In Travnik and Novi Travnik, the Hastor Foundation signed contracts with 91 scholarship recipients, increasing award amounts by 20 percent. In Zadar, Croatia, the General Hospital Zadar opened applications for 43 scholarships for medical and culinary students. Recent developments have expanded focus toward institutional and cross-border cooperation. Dragan Čović, Chairman of the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, met with Zadar Mayor Šim Erlić to discuss strengthening cross-border partnerships through economic and cultural connections. Additionally, in the Brčko District, Assembly President Damir Bulčević met with experts to support the Brčko Youth Center in its efforts to obtain a Council of Europe quality label, an initiative intended to improve legislative and institutional support for youth.