Co-Authoring Digital Policy in the Western Balkans
In 2024-2025, I participated in SCiDEV, an EU-funded Erasmus+ program focused on digital rights, cybersecurity, and youth advocacy in the Western Balkans. It was one of the most eye-opening experiences I've had.
What SCiDEV Does
The program brought together young people from Albania, Montenegro, and other Balkan countries to work on policy recommendations around digital democracy and cybersecurity. The goal: help shape the digital future of Southeast Europe by giving young voices a seat at the table.
The International Workshop in Spain
The program culminated in a workshop in Oviedo, Spain, where we collaborated with peers from across Europe. We learned about EU digital regulations like the Digital Services Act and GDPR, discussed challenges unique to the Balkans, and co-authored policy recommendations.
It wasn't glamorous, policy writing is slow, consensus-driven work. But it was meaningful. We focused on three areas:
- Cybersecurity capacity building: How can Balkan countries strengthen their cybersecurity infrastructure?
- Digital rights protection: What does data privacy enforcement look like in practice?
- Youth engagement: How do we get young people involved in tech policy discussions?
Albania's Digital Landscape
My research focused on Albania's progress and challenges. We've made strides with platforms like e-Albania, but there are gaps, limited cybersecurity readiness, low public awareness of data protection laws, and minimal youth participation in policy discussions.
Why This Matters
The Balkans are at a crossroads. As the region works toward EU integration, how we handle digital transformation will shape everything, from economic opportunities to democratic participation. Programs like SCiDEV ensure that young people have a voice in these conversations.
It was rewarding to contribute to something bigger than myself and work with people who genuinely care about making the digital world fairer and safer.