ALDA Balkans

05/06/2026

🎈 | Open days Festival caravan arrives in Mostar, a city symbol of reconciliation.

Join us on June 10 for a day of culture, art, and community! The Mostar National Theatre will be a hotspot for art, music, and shared horizons, bringing together the youth who interconnected the Western Balkan region with their creativity and imagination.

We will dive into open discussions, an exhibition of the award‑winning works from the storytelling competition “Bridges That Connect”, and, of course, local artisans and local sevdah.

The Open Days are part of the international project “Shared Horizons”, Component 2, implemented by ALDA - European Association for Local Democracy and supported by Expertise France.

02/06/2026

🎈 International Event 'Bridges That Connect'

The three-day event 'Bridges That Connect', the final conference of the project, will be held in Mostar from 10 to 12 June 2026. Implemented by ALDA and supported by Expertise France, the conference will bring together young people, project partners, experts, local authorities, cultural institutions and community representatives to reflect on the artistic and reconciliation achievements and future legacy.

Organised with the support of Agencija lokalne demokratije Mostar, the conference will present the achievements of the Shared Horizons project, showcase its impact on local communities, and celebrate the contributions of young researchers and artists. Exhibitions, multimedia presentations, and visual storytelling will provide insight into the connections built across the region.

21/05/2026

⭐ CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – THE:PLACE Programme

THE:PLACE is a collaborative exchange programme connecting Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) from EU enlargement countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine Türkiye and the European Union to build lasting partnerships and drive local impact.

Co-managed by ALDA and Mekanda Adalet Derneği and supported by the Mercator Foundation, the programme empowers CSOs and Local Authorities through capacity building, peer learning, and joint projects.

This new edition focuses on participation, collaboration, and co-creation, with a special interest in climate adaptation and digitalisation.

Apply by 5 June 2026!

Read more: https://shorturl.at/YisdP

ALDA - European Association for Local Democracy
Urban Research Institute
Agencija lokalne demokratije Mostar
Local Democracy Agency of Kosovo
Agencija za lokalnu demokratiju Niksic / LDA Montenegro
Local Democracy Agency LDA Subotica

THE:PLACE is a collaborative exchange programme designed to establish enduring networks between Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Türkiye and the European Union. Managed by ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy and MAD – Mekanda Adalet Derneği and supported by the Mercator Founda...

18/05/2026

🇲🇹 :

Three inspiring days under the slogan “Local Democracy that Delivers”, bringing together more than 200 delegates, experts, and local administrators from over 28 countries to strengthen local democracy, participants from all over the world, united around democracy that delivers.

Highlights included exchanges on youth participation, Europe’s next enlargement, and the challenges and opportunities for local governance.

The Western Balkans office, presented and at the Festival. Dragana Karovska, Project Manager at HERA , showcased through activities from the regional project , in collaboration with ACPD Albania and Center for Population policies and sustainable development - IPPF Serbia. The day concluded with the delivery of membership certificates to new members joining the ALDA network, such as HERA further expanding a community that today counts more than 300 members across over 45 countries.

ALDA WB Office tackled the subjects of Local Innovation & Global Action: Youth Participation Methodologies Across Regions, warning of the dangers of institutional apathy in that region while also addressing AI, Democracy and Participation: Challenges and Opportunities for Local Governance, highlighted the importance of ensuring that technological innovation remains human-centred and aligned with democratic values.

The third day of the Assembly, we joined the panel Local Democracy Shaping Europe’s Next Enlargement, bringing together speakers from the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova, and European institutions to discuss how local governance reforms, decentralisation, and multilevel cooperation can strengthen democratic resilience across candidate countries.

The Assembly welcomed Goran Gerasimovski, ALDA Governing Board member and Mayor of Municipality of Centar (Општина Центар - Скопје), and Robert Jankovski, Assistant Manager of the Municipal Development Sector in Municipality of Karposh and Assembly president of ALDA. (Општина Карпош).

ALDA - European Association for Local Democracy

Till next year!

15/05/2026

marathon arrived in Podgorica 🇲🇪 with storytelling presentations, panel discussions on heritage and solidarity economy, and a guided Old Town tour that we enjoyed as part of this cultural puzzle

On the second day, we continued our journey at University Park, which hosted an open‑air fair showcasing traditional products, alongside the youth exhibition Creativity on Stage, lively performances, and an interactive painting workshop.

Expertise France
Ambassade de France au Monténégro / Ambasada Francuske u Crnoj Gori
ALDA - European Association for Local Democracy

15/05/2026

09/05/2026

Strasbourg ◦ Brussels ◦ Vicenza ◦ Skopje ◦ Chișinău ◦ Kyiv

Today, ALDA celebrates Europe Day, May 9th — a moment to honor our shared values, resilience, and the strength of communities working together toward a brighter future ⭐️