Skopje, 7 September 2021 (MIA) – North Macedonia has set an example on how to lower youth unemployment in the Western Balkans by being a pioneer in the implementation of the Youth Guarantee Scheme, Majlinda Bregu, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), told the Ministry of Finance’s inaugural annual conference “Economic Recovery and Growth Beyond COVID” on Monday. “Youth unemployment was 35.1% in Western Balkans 6 economies in 2020 compared to 16.8% in the EU. Only by recognizing this as a big problem can we start resolving it. Youth Guarantee Scheme can help in that regard and I congratulate North Macedonia for being a pioneer in its implementation,” Bregu said. She called for support in launching the regional coalition on jobs and skills that will ensure that companies develop and retain the talent pool of the region. “That is one of the concrete examples to make a breakthrough in the regional mobility. This is a tool which will keep our youth in the region,” added Bregu. The Secretary General, the RCC said in a press release, underlined that “there is still high interest of youngsters to stay in the region and this is our advantage.” “They are our greatest asset. They are the engine driving regional cooperation and EU accession because they see the opportunities and they do not carry the historic baggage of conflict from previous generations,” Bregu told the panel.