by Rea Gashi, Club Alpbach Kosovo

A Kosovo scholarship holder, Rea Gashi, reflects on EFA from a non-EU perspective: what “equal footing” looks like in practice, how Western Balkans clubs create safe, cross-border spaces and why moving from personal advocacy to regional action is the next step.

This summer, I had the honor of joining the European Forum Alpbach (EFA) as a scholarship holder from Kosovo. Hearing so much about EFA through the years, I was curious to see what this platform is really about and if the rumors about it being a “one of a kind” experience are true. They were. EFA is not your average conference where you sit in a roundtable, listen passively to the speakers and have a rushed coffee break with others. It is a space designed to create genuine dialogue; where debates with fellows can both challenge and humble your opinions; and where you can voice your opinion in an open environment. Connections are built over coffee, morning hikes, shared meals – all of which make it less of a conference and more of a community.

Between the Seat and the Menu

It is an interesting lens to observe and experience EFA as a non-EU citizen. Coming from a country often spoken about in Europe, but not always present at the table, I was curious to see how major discussions in today’s shifting geopolitical environment connect to the Western Balkans, and how our voice resonates in that space. A particular striking moment came during a simulation exercise, where one person presenting an argument against EU overreach said: “If you’re not on the seat, you’re on the menu.” For those of us from the Western Balkans, this sentiment rings the bell.

The first seminar days felt like a rush of knowledge, where you find yourself fully immersed into the program and take whatever you can from every lecture, informal chat or connection. Sometimes, it creates a sense of individualism, with everyone striving to share what they know, what they do, and how they do it. For non-EU nationals like me, this feeling was slightly sharper, since you often find yourself advocating for the Western Balkans agenda on your own. It was encouraging to see that some discussions touched on our region, but the conversation only really widened once “Europe in the World Days” started.

My morning seminar explored Europe’s position in a fractured international order, touching on security, trade, human rights, and strategic rivalry. I was struck by how differently we view and react to the same set of issues. You would often have climate change vs. post-conflict stability debated back and forth like a ping pong, with pressing security and political issues usually taking priority.

I spent afternoons attending a seminar on how to make smart decisions in uncertain times, and the discussions were more about self-discovery than policy. On a personal level, it soon became a highlight since it forced us to see beyond black-and-white thinking and helped us identify our driving forces and core values, as well as all the ways in which polarization manifests itself in our lives. Even if we weren’t able to resolve them, we at least named them – which are the kinds of insights that typically only surface when journaling.

The limits of equal footing

Meeting peers from across Europe and the rest of the world is always inspiring, as well as sobering. During connections, discussions frequently shift to prospects that appear unattainable to many of us in the Balkans. The reality is that we do not all start from the same place. In fact, opportunities are more difficult to obtain and rejections frequently occur due to status rather than lack of merit. While EFA offers a powerful platform for empowerment, it can also be a testing ground and remind you of these persistent imbalances. “Alpbach is what you make of it,” we often said, and it proved true.

The best part is that each day is having the freedom to choose what kind of day you want to have at EFA; whether it’s networking, taking a backseat role and listening, or speaking up for your region. But in the larger international agenda, our issues can feel like a drop in the ocean. What seems to work is when regional leaders are invited, and structured conversations place the Western Balkans firmly on the agenda. What is still missing is a consistent European lens that sees the region not as an afterthought, but as an integral part of the continent’s stability and future.

Although cooperation and trust are not always simple, we, as peers in the Western Balkans, have more in common than we think. I was reminded by EFA that we ought to leverage these similarities to enhance regional collaboration. Already, clubs from all over the Balkans are crucial. They create safe spaces where scholarship holders can be their authentic selves, interact with others across borders, and speak up – even at risk of being politically incorrect. Supporting efforts to strengthen these networks’ sustainability, impact and reach could make EFA even more relevant not just for the Western Balkans, but all countries in general.

Looking forward

In a time of global fragmentation and democratic challenges, upholding core values becomes all the more urgent. As one speaker remarked during a panel, the challenges Europe faces today do not simply indicate that democracy is sliding backward; these are new phenomena. And when new phenomena emerge, you cannot tackle them with the old thinking patterns. You need new solutions – solutions that we, individually and collectively, choose to create in order to preserve and uphold democratic values that are non-negotiable and not subject to political shakeups. These are values that many countries like Kosovo, and the wider Western Balkans region, have spent a longtime building, through great effort and oftentimes a bumpy road.

A week after returning to Prishtina, as I reset into my daily routine and commitments, I realize Alpbach has left me with more questions than answers. But perhaps that is the point. How can we make sure that young people from the Western Balkans can actually influence the discussions in Europe? What is the process for transitioning from individual advocacy to regional action?

These questions, and the many answers EFA planted in my head, are what I carry forward.

The insights expressed in this Op-ed are drawn from my participation and experience at the European Forum Alpbach 2025 and reflect solely my personal opinions and takeaways.

About EFA:

The European Forum Alpbach (EFA) is a unique meeting place for reflection and action. Each year, it brings together young people from across Europe and around the world with leading thinkers and practitioners from politics, business, civil society, culture, and science. Through its diverse, intergenerational, and interdisciplinary community, the Forum sparks new ideas, fosters collaboration, and influences decision-makers across the continent, working towards a strong, inclusive, and democratic Europe.

In our Voices from EFA series, we highlight how young leaders from the Western Balkans are shaping ideas, building networks and influencing Europe’s future.