The Regional Fireside Talks with High-Level Officials provide a platform for youth from the Western Balkans to engage directly with high-ranking government officials in meaningful dialogue. Designed to foster transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance, these talks empower young people to share their ideas, concerns, and solutions in a youth-friendly setting. Fostering dialogue contributes to sustainable practice of youth engagement through dynamic fireside talk that empowers young people to have a meaningful voice in shaping policies and practices that affect their lives.
The first Fireside Talk was held in Tirana during the presentation of the Balkan Barometer, where young people had the opportunity to hear data on youth for the first time, share their views, and engage in discussions with RCC Secretary General Majlinda Bregu and Head of the European Union Delegation to Albania Silvio Gonzato.
The second Fireside Talk was held at the margins of the ESG Adria Summit in Tivat. The event will gather over 30 young participants from across the Western Balkans, who will engage in an open and informal exchange with top-level officials including Johann Sattler, EU Ambassador to Montenegro; Biljana Braithwaite, CEO of Sustineri Partners; Maida Gorčević, Minister of European Affairs of Montenegro; and RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanović. The Fireside Talks will serve as an open platform to discuss green policies, EU integration, and the role of youth in decision-making, reaffirming RCC’s commitment to inclusive dialogue and future-oriented cooperation.
The third Fireside Talk was organized as the continuation of the Second International Conference on “Dialogue for the Future”, in Mostar. Beside Amer Kapetanović, RCC Secretary General and Elmedin Konaković, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Fireside Talk featured Luigi Soreca, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU Special Representative; Daniela Kortoci, Young European Ambassador from Tirana; Elif Cakmak, Young European Ambassador from Podgorica; and Petar Shipinkarovski, Student from North Macedonia and RCC Scholarship Holder at the College of Europe Tirana Campus.
The fourth Fireside Talk titled “The Growth Plan & Common Regional Market: Where Does Youth Fit In?” organised in cooperation with Young Professional Network gathered Danijela Gačević, Head of Programme Department at the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC); Ritva Heikkinen, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Albania; Niklas Ström, Ambassador of Sweden to Albania; Lira Pipa, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; and Kreshnik Loka, Deputy Secretary General of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO).
The fifth Fireside Talk was held within the framework of the Adria Future Summit 2026 in Tivat. The event titled “Shaping the Future: Youth Cooperation and EU Integration” gathered high-level speakers including Amer Kapetanović, RCC Secretary General; Filip Ivanović, Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro for Foreign and European Affairs; Kevin Colgan, Ambassador of Ireland to Serbia and to Montenegro; Johann Sattler, Ambassador of the European Union to Montenegro; and Biljana Braithwaite, Founder of Sustineri Partners and the Adria Future Summit.
The sixth Fireside Talk hosted in RCC heaheadquarter welcomed French Minister Delegate for Europe Benjamin Haddad and RCC Secretary General Amer Kapetanović to a dynamic talk with young people, including Young European Ambassadors, representatives of the Youth Council of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and students from the University of Sarajevo’s Faculty of Political Sciences, on EU accession process.
