Western Balkan economies
Countries in Central and Eastern Europe are currently facing the challenge of devising policy instruments that can help them address the challenge of young people not in employment, education or training (so called NEETs). In October 2020, the European Commission (EC) announced a comprehensive Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans (EIP), with a focus on long-term economic recovery, a green and digital transition, regional integration, and convergence with the European Union. The EIP introduced Flagship initiative #10, suggesting that WB-6 governments should establish a youth guarantee in line with the EU Youth Guarantee.
On 8 July 2021, at the second EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Meeting on Employment and Social Affairs, ministers responsible for employment issues endorsed a Declaration on ensuring sustainable labour market integration of young people. The Declaration recognizes the disproportionate impact of the ongoing crisis on young people and spells out the commitment to gradually implement and enhance youth guarantee schemes in the region, taking inspiration from the EU Council Recommendation of 30 October 2020 on A Bridge to Jobs – Reinforcing the Youth Guarantee.
*All references to Kosovo should be understood in the context of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999)