Immediately after the opening remarks of the #LeadBalkans – Regional Leaders of Diaspora Conference, the first panel of the evening focused on “Diaspora as a Strategic Partner in Regional Cooperation and Development”.
Moderated by Ognen Janeski, the discussion brought together institutional representatives and experts from across the Western Balkans and the diaspora community to explore how governments and regional mechanisms can move from ad-hoc engagement toward long-term, structured partnership.
The panel featured:
Ms. Miriam Shyti, Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania
Mr. Mihailo Papazogulu, Deputy Assistant Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia
Ms. Biljana Kostova, Agency for Emigration of North Macedonia
Mr. Ruzvelt Frrokaj, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo
Mr. Fadil Zenejlagić, Acting General Director for International Cooperation and IPA Projects, Montenegro
Mr. Klement Camaj, University of the West of Scotland
From plans on paper to policies that work in practice
A recurring point across the discussion was the gap between ambition and implementation. Ms. Biljana Kostova noted that, due to limited resources, many diaspora-related plans remain “on paper”, stressing the need for practical instruments that enable real engagement. She highlighted that North Macedonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing a new strategy for diaspora cooperation, involving relevant institutions, with a stronger focus on creating opportunities for diaspora members to return and transfer knowledge.
Deputy Minister Miriam Shyti underlined that many countries in the region face the same structural problem: diaspora engagement remains fragmented and often driven by events or isolated projects rather than sustained policy. She emphasized that diaspora communities are diverse, requiring differentiated approaches, and noted that Albania has worked to build dedicated institutions and tools, while still seeking stronger coordination and a “common ground” across institutions.
A key question raised during the panel was whether institutions should build the platforms for engagement—or whether diaspora networks themselves should be enabled to structure and lead parts of this process, with institutional support.
Mr. Mihailo Papazogulu highlighted how mobility and multiple citizenships have changed the traditional “minority” framing, arguing that many diaspora members are also citizens of their countries of origin and should be treated through a modern public-service and development lens. He referenced Serbia’s project-oriented approach, including an annual grant framework supporting hundreds of initiatives, and noted that the COVID period created new patterns of temporary return and remote contribution, especially among professionals able to work from abroad while remaining connected to the region.
Mr. Klement Camaj brought a critical angle to the discussion: the region still lacks consistent, inclusive definitions of diaspora, which undermines policy design and measurement. He pointed to the complexity of multi-ethnic societies in the Western Balkans and questioned definitions that exclude citizens born and raised in the region with different ethnic identities, or that apply narrow, politicized criteria. His point was direct: without clarity on who counts as diaspora, states struggle to build credible strategies, databases, and tailored engagement models.
Another major thread was the shift from policies centered on permanent return toward models that enable diaspora to contribute without relocating. The panel highlighted a growing recognition that investment, knowledge transfer, mentorship, professional networks, and institutional partnerships can be activated from abroad—if the region builds the right channels. Digitalisation and credible platforms were raised as essential enablers for this type of engagement, particularly for younger generations and highly mobile professionals.
Key takeaways from the panel
Speakers converged around several practical directions:
Move from event-based engagement to long-term policy frameworks and measurable instruments.
Strengthen regional coordination so diaspora engagement is not fragmented across institutions and countries.
Clarify and modernize definitions of diaspora to make strategies inclusive and workable.
Build models for contribution from abroad, not only return—through platforms, networks, and digital tools.
Invest in trust and service delivery, treating diaspora as partners in development and integration.
