What happens when democratic standards are strong on paper, but experienced differently in everyday life?

Across four ENGAGEUROPE training sessions, 115 young people from EU Member States and the Western Balkans reflected on EU values, enlargement, rule of law and digital governance, and on the gap between formal alignment and lived reality.

📌 Their discussions pointed to one shared message: democratic progress matters when rights, equality and accountable institutions are felt in practice and this is highly relevant today across the region.

🔜 In September 2026, the ENGAGEUROPE community moves to the Engagement Lab Workshop, followed by structured mentoring as members prepare for citizen consultation work ahead.

ℹ️ ENGAGEUROPE is led by SCiDEV (Albania), and implemented in partnership with @universiteti.luigj.gurakuqi (Albania), @youropia_asociacion (Spain), @ccis_albania, @umhcg_aydm (Montenegro), @solucija_bckp (North Macedonia), @yihr_cro (Croatia), @youtheducationalforum (North Macedonia), and @inicijativa (Serbia). The project is funded by the European Union under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) Programme.