Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Dialogue Southeast Europe

Across Southeast Europe, fair pay and safe working conditions are increasingly treated as unrealistic demands, even as a burden on the economy.

But the numbers tell a harder story. In Kosovo, only one in five wages counts as a living wage. Full-time work and still not enough to live on.

The truth is simple: workers' rights aren't a side issue. They're part of the foundation democracy stands on. And what's actually radical is accepting that dignity at work has become too much to ask.

Visar Ymeri, executive director of Musine Kokalari Institute for Social Policy, lays out what this means for the region and what has to change 🔗 https://soe.fes.de/news/when-did-dignified-work-become-radical.html

Solidarity, equality and simply caring for one another.

The most human things we know, and somehow, they've started to sound radical to some.

So tell us, what does it look like from where you stand? What do you believe in that's now called radical?

Grab the template in our story highlights. 👆

We looked at the data on what young people in Southeast Europe actually believe.

Across 12 countries and a thousand of young voices within our Youth Study Southeast Europe 2024, the findings are honest: many of their worries are real but so is their hope.

They worry about work, about corruption and about whether to stay or go.
But one belief holds steady - everyone deserves to be looked after and that a fairer society is still worth building. Around 79% still believe their government should make sure no one is left behind.

Swipe through to meet a generation across Southeast Europe that's concerned but, somehow, hasn't stopped believing in fairness.

Which one surprises you most❓

🇲🇪 Can Montenegro’s critical raw materials support Europe’s green transition while protecting people and nature?

Our latest publication explores the opportunities and risks surrounding the extraction of bauxite, copper, and zinc in Montenegro.

The findings point to serious governance, environmental, and social challenges: from regulatory gaps and legacy pollution to public resistance and concerns over transparency.

The publication highlights key policy recommendations:
✔️ Stronger governance and oversight
✔️ Protection of sensitive ecosystems
✔️ Greater focus on recycling and circularity
✔️ Fair benefits for local communities

The green transition should not come at the expense of environmental protection and social justice.

📖 Read more: https://collections.fes.de/publikationen/content/titleinfo/1982757

During the week of the EU–Western Balkans Summit in Tivat, the ninth Friends of the Western Balkans meeting in Podgorica placed regional cooperation and EU enlargement back at the center of discussion.

Together with partners, members of the European Parliament, national parliaments, and experts, we reflected on:

🌍 the future of regional cooperation
⚖️ the credibility of EU enlargement
🔄 Montenegro’s EU path towards 2028
🌱 and the Just Transition in the Western Balkans

The message is clear: enlargement is not only about methodology – it is about political will, credible reforms, and shared responsibility between the EU and candidate countries.

📍 Now is the time to act.

Read the full joint statement by the Friends of the Western Balkans: https://feps-europe.eu/news/friends-of-the-western-balkans-joint-statement-2/

📸 Nikola Scekic

🎮 OPEN CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Can young people still have agency in a fragmented world?

FES Dialogue Southeast Europe is inviting agencies, companies, and creative studios to design an interactive game, scenario, or immersive product exploring exactly that question.

We are looking for innovative formats that help participants engage with complex dilemmas around:
🌍 cooperation vs. separation
⚖️ power politics and structural constraints
🔄 resilience after disruption
🧭 and the role of agency in a rapidly changing world, including critical raw materials and global competition

The aim is to create an interactive, adaptable and thought-provoking experience for young participants in an international workshop setting.

💡 Board games, digital simulations, role-play exercises or other creative formats are all welcome.

📅 Deadline: June 19th (noon)
📩 Submit your proposal: [email protected] and [email protected]

🔗 More info:https://soe.fes.de/news/open-call-for-proposals.html

📢 Call for Experts: Critical Raw Materials (CRM) in Kosovo

We are looking for an expert to prepare a policy-oriented analysis on the Critical Raw Materials (CRM) landscape in Kosovo, focusing on its legal, political, environmental, and geopolitical dimensions.

The publication will be aimed at policymakers and political stakeholders in Brussels, Berlin, and Geneva.

Interested applicants should submit:
✔️ Methodological concept (1–2 pages)
✔️ Proposed timeline
✔️ Financial offer (EUR, net amount)
✔️ Short CV highlighting relevant experience

📅 Deadline: June 25, 2026 (12:00 noon)

For full details and application instructions, see the call for proposals: https://soe.fes.de/news/call-for-experts.html

We invite you to join a feminist initiative that stands against patriarchal violence, exploitation, and authoritarianism, while promoting collective care and solidarity.

FEM FEStival 2026 is a traveling Balkan feminist festival, first held in Skopje in 2025. Sofia will host the second edition, which will bring together art and activism to promote gender equality and provide a platform for marginalized groups.

The call for applications is open to both artists and activists working on issues related to gender equality and social justice.

If these topics excite and inspire you, don’t hesitate to submit an artistic project or work. The deadline is May 25.

Check out FES Bulgria website for more details on the application process: https://bulgaria.fes.de/news/fem-festival-2026.html