On 2 July 2026, a delegation of 14 young people from across Bosnia and Herzegovina formally presented the Joint Youth Declaration to EU High Representative Kaja Kallas in Sarajevo. The document, co-authored by 80 young participants through a process launched at the Future is the EU Youth Summit in May 2026, calls for a credible, merit-based EU enlargement process that rewards accountability and rejects corruption, ethnic divisions, and political stagnation. The declaration spans five thematic areas: Democracy, Rule of Law and Public Policies; Social Cohesion and Peacebuilding; Education and Jobs of the Future; Just Energy Transition; and Media and Information Literacy.
Luigi Soreca, Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, stated: "From the very beginning, our goal was to create the space for them to think freely, speak honestly, and challenge us all. This Declaration is powerful because it is entirely their own." The meeting underscored the EU's commitment to placing young people at the centre of the enlargement process. Young participants shared personal experiences of civic initiatives, watchdog platforms, peacebuilding programmes, and intercommunity projects, illustrating how the next generation is already acting where institutions have failed.
"We drafted this document, together with our peers from all around the country, to show that there is a new generation in BiH that is ready to cooperate, work and jointly build better future for all its citizens, but we can't do it alone." Nikola Rozic, a member of the EU in BiH Youth Advisory Board from Mostar, added: "The Declaration we presented today is our answer to those who say young people in BiH are apathetic. We are not apathetic, we are exhausted by the constant political turmoil and the EU integration process being stuck."
The drafting process was led by members of the EU in BiH Youth Advisory Board and supported by thematic experts who ensured alignment with the European Commission Opinion and key reform priorities, while the content remained entirely youth-driven. The declaration is available online.
The initiative impacts several stakeholders. For Bosnian youth, it provides a platform to voice demands for a merit-based EU path and accountability, potentially increasing their influence in the enlargement process. For EU institutions, it reinforces the need to engage with civil society and maintain credibility in the accession process. For Bosnia's political elites, the declaration pressures them to address corruption and ethnic divisions. For EU member states, it highlights the importance of supporting youth-led reforms in candidate countries.