The 21 st edition of the IYC was held in Krusevo from 5 th to 9 th October 2023 and hosted 62 participants from the SEE region, including North Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, and Germany. The 21 st edition of the conference aimed to obtain a more youth–friendly and “unconference” approach based on the feedback from the previous participants. The conference program was designed so that each day started with an interactive roundtable “Real Talk” - which was moderated conversations between experts and young people – followed by youth-centric sessions (Open Mic, Drop the Mic, and ChitChat with a Special Guest), and it ended with open discussions in the Unconference Space sessions. During the five days of the conference, the participants listened to 16 speakers on 4 sessions that hosted honorable speakers, with a total of over 9 hours of discussions, from which the majority was spent in a conversation between the youth and the experts. Furthermore, following the Unconference Space sessions, two fireside chat sessions were conducted, providing an additional opportunity for young individuals to express their opinions through an interview format. The impact of the conference is distinctly evident in the enriched understanding gained by the young leaders regarding the significant obstacles hindering the EU integration of the region. Exploring European values and the intricacies of regional cooperation, participants developed a nuanced perspective on the ongoing efforts, achievements, or delays in the integration process. Beyond knowledge enhancement, the conference has been pivotal in cultivating a cohort of young leaders characterized by accountability and responsibility as citizens of the region. Moreover, it has instilled a profound sense of European Identity and citizenship among the participants, contributing significantly to the development of individuals who actively recognize, promote, and identify with the shared values of Europe. Furthermore, the conference’s structure and methodology played a direct role in fostering democratic and civic participation among participants, imparting a comprehensive understanding of the decision-making processes surrounding post- recovery policy development in the SEE region. What should also be highlighted is the importance of the conference’s role as a crucial gathering place where the voices of the young people from the SEE region were not only shared but also heard. This collective effort empowered participants to take responsibility for the EU enlargement process by actively enhancing regional cooperation within the SEE region. Participants have not only absorbed these principles but actively implemented them in their own action plan for aiming the leverage the momentum generated at the conference. Focused on empowering positive change, the plan endeavors to translate the vibrant discussions and collaborative energy of the conference into tangible initiatives that address regional challenges and action plans for the following year. The introduction of these new actions and youth visions will revitalize the regional cooperation ecosystem in the Western Balkans and at the EU level. Please find the Action Plan in the upper tab “Resources”.