European Youth Event

Contents

European Youth Event The European Youth Event convenes young people for dialogue, creativity, and policy engagement with institutions such as the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, and civil society actors including European Youth Forum, Council of Europe, United Nations agencies, and regional bodies like the Committee of the Regions. Delegates, activists, artists, and researchers interact with policymakers from entities such as the European Central Bank, the European Investment Bank, the European Ombudsman, and supranational courts like the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union. The event draws participants from member states including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, Greece, and partner countries such as Norway, Iceland, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Overview

The event bridges institutions and networks like the European Parliament Liaison Office, the European Youth Forum, the National Youth Councils of Europe, and NGOs such as Amnesty International, Greenpeace, Transparency International, and Oxfam. Programming brings together representatives from political groups including the European People's Party, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, the Renew Europe Group, the European Greens–European Free Alliance, and the Identity and Democracy Party. Sessions involve speakers from think tanks and universities such as the European University Institute, London School of Economics, Sciences Po, Universität Heidelberg, and research institutes like the European Council on Foreign Relations and the Bertelsmann Stiftung.

Founded after consultations with youth organisations including European Youth Forum and initiatives from Members of the European Parliament such as delegates associated with the Committee on Culture and Education and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, the event emerged in the context of earlier youth projects like the Erasmus Programme, the Youth in Action programme, and campaigns linked to the European Year of Youth. Its editions have responded to crises involving institutions such as the Schengen Area debates, the Eurozone crisis, the refugee crisis, and geopolitical events like the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation. Notable interlocutors have included leaders from European Commission President offices, rapporteurs from the European Parliament Committee on Constitutional Affairs, and representatives of the Fédération internationale des ligues des droits de l'homme.

Governance draws on structures within the European Parliament and consultative input from the European Youth Forum, national ministries such as the French Ministry of National Education, municipal partners in Strasbourg, and expert bodies like the European Court of Auditors. Programmes are developed with partners including the Council of Europe Youth Department, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and professional networks like the European Network of Political Foundations. Funding and logistical coordination have involved the European Commission Directorate-General for Education and Culture, sponsors from the European Investment Bank, and cultural institutions such as the Musée du Louvre and the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra.

Activities include workshops co-hosted by organisations such as European Youth Parliament, debates with delegations from political groups like the European Conservatives and Reformists, hackathons supported by tech partners like European Digital SME Alliance and research collaborations with institutes such as Max Planck Society, Fraunhofer Society, and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Cultural showcases feature artists linked to venues such as the Opéra National du Rhin and collaborations with festivals like European Film Awards events. Educational strands reference mobility initiatives like Erasmus+ and entrepreneurial schemes tied to the European Innovation Council and Startup Europe. Civic engagement formats include petitions presented to committees such as the Committee on Petitions (European Parliament) and youth-led policy briefings addressed to rapporteurs and commissioners.

Participants comprise members of national youth councils, student unions from universities like University of Oxford, University of Bologna, University of Warsaw, University of Barcelona, and representatives from youth wings of parties such as Junge Union (Germany), Young European Socialists, and Federation of Young European Greens. The event has influenced policy dialogues involving the European Green Deal, the Digital Services Act, the European Climate Law, and initiatives related to the European Disability Strategy and the New European Bauhaus. Outcomes have been cited in communications by the European Commission President office, parliamentary resolutions from the European Parliament, and joint statements with bodies such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Notable outcomes include youth manifestos presented to committees like the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, policy recommendations influencing directives such as the Directive on Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions, and campaigns feeding into campaigns by European Youth Forum and advocacy by groups like Save the Children. High-profile panels have featured speakers from institutions including the European Central Bank President office, the President of the European Parliament, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and civil society leaders from Human Rights Watch and Médecins Sans Frontières. The event has also catalysed collaborations with cultural institutions like the European Capitals of Culture programme and research partnerships with centres such as the Carnegie Europe and Chatham House.

Category:European cultural events