Proceedings of The 6th World Conference on Social Sciences
Year: 2023
DOI:
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Youth Engagement in Decision-Making: European Approaches to Inclusive Participation and Albanian Perspective
Dr. Marsela Sako
ABSTRACT:
Integration in the European Union remains one of the key objectives of the foreign policy of Albania and the other Western Balkans countries. To achieve this goal the countries have to carries many challenges, but one of the most significant of them is still getting as many young people involved in dialogue and decision-making. Their involvement in these procedures need to represent more than just a political wish to put the past behind them; it ought to also be an indication that policy goals are being sought to prevent their exclusion from the decision-making processes. In order to create a European perspective for countries seeking to join the EU and a sense of citizenship for countries that are already members of the union, the strategic involvement of young people in the integration process is being viewed by EU institutions as a priority policy. It is important to note that also the Berlin Process, which was launched concurrently with European initiatives, emphasizes the value of working with young people to speed up the integration process, particularly in relation to significant decision-making issues that directly affect young people. This article seeks to examine how European Union policies for young people are implemented and how they are modified in countries like Albania, whose integration into the EU is one of its top priorities, in light of these developments. This research also examines the perceptions of young people in Albania, with a focus on identifying the variables that can increase their participation in decision-making during this process.
keywords: European Union politics, young people, empowerment, perceptions, integration process