Banja Luka – ESI at seminar on EU enlargement in the Western Balkans

Adnan joined discussions. Photo: ESI

ESI senior analyst Adnan Ćerimagić participated in the EUROFEDOP seminar “EU enlargement and young workers in the Western Balkans,” held from 19 to 21 February 2026 in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The seminar gathered trade union representatives, policymakers, youth organisations, and experts from across the region to discuss employment, skills, and the role of young people in the EU accession process.

The discussions focused on the employment situation of young people in the Western Balkans, skills development and labour mobility, youth participation in democratic processes, and the broader social dimension of EU enlargement. Participants explored how young workers and their organisations can contribute more actively to reform processes and European integration.

Adnan spoke in the session “Lessons learnt from the EU accession process – what can young people do to influence the integration process?,” presenting ESI’s analysis of enlargement dynamics in the region and the importance of credible EU accession prospects for improving opportunities for young people. He highlighted the link between reforms, labour market prospects, and the engagement of younger generations in shaping the region’s European future.

• ESI proposal: “Preventing violence – transform Kosovo dialogue”
• ESI background: “Scoreboard - The true state of accession - What the Commission assessments reveal”
• ESI proposal: “End the turtle race How the EU can address the crisis of the accession process”
• ESI proposal: “Offer the four freedoms to the Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova For a merit-based EU accession process with a credible goal”
• ESI proposal: “47 again? Russia out, Kosovo in Support Kosovo’s membership in the Council of Europe”
• ESI proposal: “Abandon clichés about Bosnia: Push EU-related reforms instead of arbitrary conditions”
• ESI proposal: “No partition: Why Kosovo and Serbia must not discuss territory”
• ESI report: “Anti-Corruption Report for the West Balkans: Measure corruption in order to fight it”