From Discourse to Practice: A Case Study from the Western Balkans on the Transferability of Franco-German Experiences

Since the end of the wars during the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Franco-German reconciliation and cooperation have often been presented as an example to follow both in and for the Western Balkans. However, while there have been many discourses on the “Franco-German model,” they have rarely led to a concrete transfer of experiences. One of the rare exceptions relates to the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), created in 2016 by the six governments of the Western Balkans. The Franco-German Youth Office played a significant role in the process of establishing this new institution, not only as a point of reference, but also as a facilitator and coordinator, with the political support of the German and French governments. This chapter offers a more precise analysis of the role of the Franco-German actors involved in the establishment of RYCO and examines how the question of transferring experiences was handled in practical terms and discussed during this process.