From 21 to 23 September 2025, Tirana hosted the high-level forum Youth Engagement and EU Commitment: Exploring Virtual Democracy, bringing together youth from Albania and the European Union, alongside experts and policymakers, to discuss the future of digital democracy, ethical AI, and European citizenship. The event served as a platform for meaningful dialogue on how young people can shape the digital transformation of democratic institutions and processes, ensuring that technology serves the public good.

As co-organizers, ESN Tirana played a key role in localizing this global conversation, ensuring that Albanian youth voices were not only heard but actively shaping the agenda. A highlight of the forum was the keynote address by Jean Arnaud, International Growth Director at CIC Berlin, who emphasized the need for ethical frameworks in AI development and the importance of youth-led innovation in building inclusive digital societies. His insights sparked dynamic discussions on transparency, accountability, and the role of civic tech in strengthening democratic participation.

The forum also underscored Albania’s growing contribution to the European project through youth mobility, intercultural dialogue, and digital rights advocacy. Participants explored how programs like Erasmus+ and initiatives led by youth organizations are already fostering hands-on integration and promoting shared European values. The event reaffirmed the importance of empowering young people not just as beneficiaries, but as co-creators of Europe’s digital and democratic future.

Organized by the Institute of European Democrats (IED), in partnership with ESN Tirana and the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS), the forum concluded with a strong commitment to continued collaboration and action. A full report and roadmap for post-forum initiatives will be published soon, outlining concrete steps to advance ethical AI, digital inclusion, and youth participation across Europe and beyond. Watch the forum highlights here: https://youtu.be/fvsNhenTdbA