A panel discussion on the topic "Socio-Economic Perspectives of the Youth in the Municipality of Prilep and Pelagonia Region" was organized by the European Movement of Macedonia, in Prilep on the 22nd of February 2019.

The panel was opened by the Mayor of the Municipality of Prilep, Ilija Jovanoski and Prof. Dr. Mileva Gjurovska from EDRM, who were focusing on the young people, their challenges and opportunities. The speakers addressed the young people, emphasizing the importance of hearing their voice and gave them advices on how to influence the policies in the municipality that apply to them.

The youth who were part of the panel expressed their opinions about the lack of quality of life in the municipality, irregularities in certain procedures related to youth exchanges as well as the general shortcomings of the educational system. They stressed that while they try to become more visible to society, they encounter closed doors. They asked to be given a fair chance and to reduce employment via connections.

The speakers and the yougsters agreed that such panels have a great opportunity to connect the local self-government with the citizens, especially the young people.

The panel was organized within the framework of the project "CSOs making local democracy work", implemented by the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) Skopje, the Association of Financial Workers in Local Self-Government and Public Enterprises (PFD) and the European Movement. The project is financially supported by the European Union within the IPA 2 program.