Senior Volunteering in the EU Context: Bridging Generations and Strengthening Communities

Photo of the conference “Bridges of Experience: Boosting Senior Volunteering for Sustainable Development across the Balkans”, 24-25 November 2025

On 24-25 November 2025, the European Centre of Excellence (ECE Brussels) took part and contributed in the regional and EU-level conference “Bridges of Experience: Boosting Senior Volunteering for Sustainable Development across the Balkans”. The conference was held in Skopje nd brought together European institutions, national authorities, civil society organisations, academia, and practitioners to explore the role of senior volunteering in strengthening social cohesion, intergenerational dialogue, and sustainable development across the region of the Western Balkans.

The conference was organised by the Association for Sport and Volunteering (ASV) in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Economy of North Macedonia, with the support of the Institute for Good Governance and Euro-Atlantic Perspectives (IDUEP) and European partners including the Centre for European Volunteering (CEV) and the Confederation of European Senior Expert Services (CESES). The event was held in the context of the United Nations’ proclamation of 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026).

High-level opening and European context

The opening of the conference highlighted the growing relevance of volunteering policies at both national and European levels. Opening remarks and media statements on 24 November were delivered by H.E. Michalis Rokas, EU Ambassador to North Macedonia, Besar Durmishi, Minister of Labour and Economy of North Macedonia, Delina Ibrahimaj, Minister of Economy and Innovation of Albania, and Gabriella Civico, Director of the Centre for European Volunteering (CEV).

The official opening on 25 November featured addresses by Orhan Murtezani, Minister for European Affairs of North Macedonia, and Ismael Páez Civico, Executive Director of CESES Brussels. Speakers underlined the importance of senior volunteering as a resource for democratic resilience, knowledge transfer, and stronger regional cooperation.

Photo of the conference “Bridges of Experience: Boosting Senior Volunteering for Sustainable Development across the Balkans”, 24-25 November 2025

ECE Brussels panel contribution

As part of the conference programme, ECE Brussels was directly engaged in the second day of discussions through the panel “From Events to Everyday: Volunteer Roles in Sport that Bridge Generations”. The panel was moderated by Bojan Kordalov, Director of Policy and Communications at the European Centre of Excellence (ECE Brussels) and a Senior EU expert in strategic communication, EU visibility, digital transformation and AI literacy, who is also very experienced and skilled in events management and moderation.

The session featured a keynote intervention by Prof. Dr. Niki Koutrou, University of Sunderland (London, UK), followed by contributions from: Gordana Cvetkovska Boshevska, Special Advisor, Ministry of Sport of North Macedonia as well as Nada Rochevska, President of the Association for Sport and Volunteering, Dr. Liza Pantekovska, Sport Club “Solaris”, Struga Dr. Ilina Arsova, artist, athlete, and activist.

From policy frameworks to everyday impact

Moderating the discussion, Bojan Kordalov emphasised that volunteering policies must move beyond project-based approaches and be translated into everyday practices that connect generations, particularly through sport and community-based initiatives. The panel explored how senior volunteers can play a meaningful role not only during major events, but also in daily local activities, mentoring, and community engagement.

Discussions focused on the need for clearer institutional support, recognition of senior volunteers’ expertise, and better communication between public authorities, civil society, and local communities. Particular attention was given to how sport can serve as a practical platform for intergenerational cooperation, social inclusion, and the transfer of values and experience.

Towards regional cooperation and sustainable volunteering policies

The conference reaffirmed the importance of regional cooperation and EU-level support in strengthening volunteering ecosystems across the Balkans. By linking senior volunteering to broader policy goals such as social cohesion, active ageing, and sustainable development, the event contributed to ongoing discussions related to IVY 2026 and future national and regional policy frameworks.

ECE Brussels’ engagement in the conference reflects its broader mission to support inclusive governance, intergenerational dialogue, and evidence-based policy development, while strengthening the link between European priorities and local realities in EU candidate countries.