As part of ongoing efforts to enhance regional cooperation and exchange best practices in the field of youth policy, Ajka Rovčanin, Executive Director of the Institute for Youth Development KULT, visited Zagreb for a meeting with Josip Miličević, Secretary General of the Croatian Youth Network (Mreža mladih Hrvatske – MMH).
The meeting marked another step in the long-standing partnership and friendship between the two organizations, which share a common vision: improving the position of young people through stronger public policies, institutional dialogue, and active youth participation in social processes.
For more than 23 years, KULT and MMH have been recognised as key actors in youth policy development and implementation in their respective countries and across the region. Both organizations are committed to strengthening civil society and creating space for youth participation, grounded in institutional cooperation, evidence-based policymaking, and advocacy for young people’s rights and needs.
A central focus of the meeting was the exchange of experiences between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia on the topic of European integration. Since Croatia joined the EU in 2013, the MMH has played an active role in shaping and monitoring EU youth policy. At the same time, Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to develop its legal and institutional frameworks in line with European standards.
“As an organization committed to systemic solutions in youth policy, we see immense value in learning from Croatia’s experience, particularly in the context of EU accession. MMH has demonstrated that youth organizations can be strategic partners to institutions, and that’s precisely the kind of approach we aim to strengthen in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well,” said Ajka Rovčanin, Executive Director of the Institute.
The MMH emphasized the importance of its partnership with KULT, especially in areas such as local youth policy development, non-formal education, and institutional advocacy.
“The Institute is one of the most experienced organizations in the region when it comes to youth policy development. We believe that together we can further strengthen regional cooperation and offer quality models that truly reflect the needs of young people,” said Josip Miličević, General Secretary of the MMH.
The discussion also included plans for future regional initiatives, such as expert exchanges, joint research, and the development of regional mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of youth policies.
Both organizations remain committed to building stronger regional ties and working together to shape more inclusive, sustainable, and European-oriented youth policies that recognize the potential of young people as drivers of social change.
