Culture and sport as bridges of cooperation for the youth of the Balkans

PODGORICA — The Ministerial Meeting of Western Balkans Youth took place in Podgorica, Montenegro, where the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports was represented by Deputy Minister Lira Pipa.

The meeting brought together representatives of ministries and regional and international partners to discuss further steps in strengthening youth cooperation and young people’s participation in decision-making processes. The activity is organised by RYCO and Montenegro’s Ministry of Sport and Youth, as part of Montenegro’s 2026 chairmanship of the Berlin Process.

The activity brought to the decision-makers’ table the recommendations drafted by the young people themselves during the Western Balkans Youth Forum in Budva.

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports stressed that supporting young people and creating more opportunities for mobility, cultural exchange and cross-border cooperation are a direct investment in a more open and more connected region.

“Culture and sport remain among the strongest bridges to bring young people closer, to get to know each other better and to build trust across borders,” the ministry said.

On RYCO’s 10th anniversary (the Regional Youth Cooperation Office), the meeting also marked a step forward for RYCOncile — the RYCO Youth Trust Fund, a new mechanism aimed at supporting youth initiatives and strengthening regional cooperation, mobility, inclusiveness and trust-building.