Staying, not leaving
Youth emigration is the region's quietest crisis. We trade what works on jobs, housing and returning talent, so young people have a reason to build a life at home.
Young elected representatives from the Adriatic to the Black Sea, working across borders that older politics kept closed.
About the network
The Balkans' youngest legislators came of age in a region still settling its past. They share more than their parliaments often admit: the same brain drain, the same road to Europe, the same voters asking why so many friends have left.
The Balkan Young Parliamentary Network brings those representatives together. It is a peer network for members of parliament, assembly members and local councillors aged 35 and under, across parties and across borders, built on the simple idea that the next Balkans will be negotiated by people who actually talk to each other.
The network is newly founded. Member profiles are being confirmed and some content on this site is illustrative.
The region
* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
Our work
Youth emigration is the region's quietest crisis. We trade what works on jobs, housing and returning talent, so young people have a reason to build a life at home.
Accession is a legislative marathon. Members share how reforms were drafted, passed and implemented, and hold each other to the pace.
Cross-party, cross-border friendships between young MPs are the region's cheapest peace dividend. We make them routine instead of rare.
Transparent budgets, honest procurement and parliaments that answer to citizens, championed by the members who will inherit them.
The people
Founding members are being announced one at a time. Open seats are shown below.
Founding member
Born in 1991, Edita Velić was elected President of the Assembly of Bosnian-Podrinje Canton Goražde, making her one of the youngest people in Bosnia and Herzegovina to lead a legislature. She has spoken widely about women's place in politics and encourages young women to stand, and to keep standing.
Source: UN Women Europe and Central Asia
What members receive
Practical support for young legislators who have already won office and now need the tools to govern, communicate and stay effective. Delivered in phases by the Centre for Youth Policy, the network's secretariat.
A digital constituency office: a professional member website, verified profile, communications templates, contact forms, and newsletter and broadcast tools.
A research support desk, a speech and question bank, monthly policy briefings, and model motions and committee questions.
A casework and issue tracker, constituency surveys, town-hall templates and annual report templates.
A re-election and career toolkit, peer advisory circles, and staff, intern and fellow matching for small offices.
Member profiles, op-eds and podcast slots, regional spotlights, and a formal membership certificate and digital badge.
Digital security audits, misinformation response, crisis communications support and online-harassment guidance.
Expert office hours, fellowship and opportunity alerts, and access to EU, Council of Europe, UN and regional forums across South East Europe.
Most services roll out through 2027 and are available to all active members.
Become a memberSecretariat & fiscal sponsor
The Centre for Youth Policy runs the network's secretariat and delivers member services, as it does for sister networks of young parliamentarians around the world.
Save the date
The network's first annual gathering. Young legislators from across the region set a shared agenda, compare notes off the record and welcome the next intake of members.
Request an invitationGet involved
If you serve as an elected representative aged 35 or under anywhere in the region, national or local, register your interest and we will be in touch as the network grows.
Partners, youth organisations and supporters are welcome too.