Figure 1. Frank Hantke, Country Director, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Kosovo PREFACE Kosovo is the youngest country in Europe. Nevertheless this extraordinary potential is lied wasted and even worse left alone in a neo-liberal environment which doesn't provide even the elementary public offers for the young generation, which are needed to develop the country with this next generation. Youngsters are not prepared for the recent and future labor market, only very little tought about democratic rules or regulations and left alone with their special cultural and social needs. Therefore the support of the young generation alsois a key issue for supporting the countries' path into the European Union. The Friedrich­Ebert-Stiftung(FES) is working in Kosovo now since 18 years always supporting economic and social developments. Therefore it became a clear duty for us to support all efforts of youngsters and their organisations to develop a common strategy and one voice for their interests. Too long they were split and not really supported – only with useless words. The first National Youth Congress showed the competences, the wishes and dreams of youth to be an important part of the country's development – despite the fact that they still are more or less neglected. Training, supporting and helping them seems to be much more important than only working with politicians and the recently leading generation which still is not taking care on its own future to be developed by the recent youth generation. The FES will continue and even strengthen the support as facilitator and moderator but not as donor or instructor. The youth is more than able to develop its path into the future alone. The national Youth Congress Therefore could become the most important source of changes and better future conditions. The whole FES staff is wishing the best! Frank Hantke Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Kosovo Country director 5