In the vibrant city of Lublin, over 300 enthusiastic young participants from nearly 40 countries gathered from 2 to 5 March 2025, for the EU Youth Conference. This event underscored the vital need for young Europeans to be informed and engaged citizens. Eurodesk was thrilled to be represented at the conference. As part of the EU Youth Dialogue, the EU Youth Conference stands out as one of the most essential tools for youth participation in the EU.
Key Highlights
Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, praised the spirit of young Europeans and strongly condemned the Russian invasion.
Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, Undersecretary of State in the European Union Affairs Division, the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, welcomed participants. She discussed the Polish presidency’s motto, 'Security, Europe' and the impact of social media and AI on mental health.
Rareș Voicu, President of the European Youth Forum, called for increased funding for Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps.
Throughout the conference, participants were divided into 10 parallel working groups to discuss and shape their recommendations on 5 thematic areas. These workshops aimed to tackle significant issues affecting youth in the EU and beyond, focusing on how they could actively shape policies and promote unity.
Eurodesk Brussels Link participated in the You and EU Values working group, discussing how universal the EU values are, and how they can shape a shared European identity for young people. The group also explored the obstacles in promoting these values.
We also attended a consultation on intergenerational fairness, facilitated by the European Commission. The European Commission is in the process of drafting its Intergenerational Fairness strategy. Through this workshop, participants shared and discussed different stories and opinions on what intergenerational fairness means to them.
From left to right: Andreas Kyprianides, Diamanto Zisimopoulou, Antonia Papantoniou from the Cyprus Youth Council, Stefanos Agathokleous from Eurodesk Brussels Link.
We believe the EU Youth Conference is a critical platform where young people can voice their ambitions and concerns and drive meaningful change. A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in the preparation of the conference and the many young volunteers who assisted all the participants.
The conference concluded with a call to action to support and realise the visions of young Europeans. The next EU Youth Conference will be in Copenhagen from 21 to 23 September 2025. Stay tuned for the conference report on the European Youth Portal.
Check out our recap article, which is available on the European Youth Portal!
