The overall goal was to empower and motivate young leaders to participate actively in democratic life and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a special focus on the green transition. Specific aims were: (1) to create a cooperative, cross-border educational and networking programme that promotes active citizenship and European values while linking democratic participation to climate and environmental challenges; (2) to provide in-depth knowledge, practical skills and sustained mentoring so that participants can research, develop and advocate evidence-based green public policies; (3) to establish a durable, transnational network of young civic leaders for long-term exchange, mutual learning and joint initiatives. Planned outputs included a tested joint curriculum and digital learning materials, an active alumni community and a set of innovative policy proposals developed, publicly presented and ready to inform decision-makers at local, national and European levels.
Young people in Croatia, North Macedonia, and Serbia often feel distant from politics due to low trust in institutions and limited opportunities for structured political education. Yet, they are highly motivated by climate and green policy issues, which transcend borders and align with EU priorities. The partners, therefore, designed the Regional School for Political Development (RSPD) to bridge this gap. Building on their long experience in civic education and the Council of Europe’s network of political schools, they set out to create a regional programme that would connect democratic participation with the green transition. RSPD combines intensive seminars, mentoring, and cross-border networking to help emerging leaders understand democratic processes, design evidence-based green policies, and advocate for their adoption. The curriculum was shaped by a needs analysis, application data, and baseline questionnaires, ensuring that the content addressed participants’ real learning needs and broader democratic and environmental challenges in the three countries.