REMZIE SHAHINI-HOXHAJ: THE EU NEEDS TO SUPPORT YOUTH IN THE WESTERN BALKAN

Interview with Professor Remzie Shahini-Hoxhaj: The EU must support youth in the Western Balkans

Interviewed by: Lorik Idrizi
BIRC Institute

Remzie Shahini-Hoxhaj is a Professor of Communication in the Department of Journalism at the University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina.” She is the founder and director of the Media Institute at the same university. She has been a lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences in Salzburg, Austria (2019–2021).

In this interview for the BIRC Institute, she discusses the role of youth in the Europeanization process, the obstacles they face, and the opportunities for deeper interregional cooperation.

BIRC: Do young people have sufficient information about the European integration process?

Remzie Shahini-Hoxhaj:Based on my perception, I think that young people in Kosovo do not have enough information about the European integration process. In general, young people are not very interested in political issues and are not active in civic engagement. I believe that the political situation in the country, populism, and extreme polarization have caused most of them not to identify with political activity, and even less so with EU-related matters.

BIRC: What are the main obstacles that prevent young people from participating in Europeanization and democratization processes?

Remzie Shahini-Hoxhaj: The main obstacle for a long time has been Kosovo’s isolation and lack of liberalization. Young people have not seen themselves as part of the EU, and this has discouraged their interest in integration processes.

BIRC: How can interregional cooperation among youth be improved in the context of European integration?

Remzie Shahini-Hoxhaj:I believe that joint projects with shared interests among youth can contribute to this issue. For example, more joint projects in education, science, and technology, especially now with the presence of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

BIRC: Are current EU programs for youth (such as Erasmus+) sufficient to promote Europeanization in the Balkans?

Remzie Shahini-Hoxhaj: I believe that the EU, more than ever, should focus on supporting youth to attract them to European processes, especially now when American funding has been reduced.

BIRC: How can we effectively respond to disinformation and anti-EU propaganda affecting young people?

Remzie Shahini-Hoxhaj: Through programs that strengthen media literacy for youth in the Balkans, as well as networking them with other young people from the EU.

BIRC: Do you think euroscepticism exists among young people, and what drives it?

Remzie Shahini-Hoxhaj: Based on my observations, I do not think there is significant euroscepticism, as young people in Kosovo are very poorly informed about the EU and European integration. The EU should organize workshops in primary and secondary schools on these topics so that young people can better understand the EU’s system and structure.

This interview was prepared within the framework of the project “Youth Engagement for the Europeanization of the Balkans,” implemented by BIRC Institute from North Macedonia, NGO GLAS from Montenegro, and CFID from Kosovo, with support from the Western Balkans Fund and co-financing by the European Union.

This interview was prepared with the financial support of the European Union. The content is the sole responsibility of the authors and in no way reflects the views of the European Union.