This week, we celebrated five years of the Western Balkans Fellowship Programme at the Austrian Parliament, at a jubilee event in Vienna. Over two days, Fellows of all generations and institutional partners came together for discussions, exchanges, and a look ahead to the programme’s future.
The event opened with welcoming remarks by Secretary General Harald Dossi, followed by a keynote from Hedvig Morvai, Executive Director Europe and Democracy at Erste Stiftung and member of the EFB Steering Committee. The subsequent panel discussion on the future of the Western Balkans within the European Union brought together the Secretaries-General of the parliaments of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. The discussion was moderated by the EFB director, Veton Zekolli, who guided an engaging exchange on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
A special highlight was the meeting with National Council President Walter Rosenkranz and members of key parliamentary committees, offering Fellows a unique opportunity to engage directly with Austrian decision-makers.
On the second day, the Austrian Parliament officially launched the Western Balkans Fellowship Alumni Network. With remarks from Secretary General Harald Dossi and thoughtful contributions from Fellows, the programme took an important step toward building a strong and lasting community. As Veton Zekolli reminded the group, “what you have created among yourselves is a community” that will support their professional journeys in the years ahead.
It was a memorable anniversary moment that highlighted how far the fellowship has come and how much promise lies ahead.
Copyright Parliamentary Administration (Parlamentsdirektion)/Michael Buchner
