Photo by Amit Lahav on Unsplash
Around 10,000 young people from the EU and beyond last weekend discussed Europe’s future, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and the 2024 European elections.
On Friday 9 June and Saturday 10 June, the European Youth Event 2023 (EYE2023) featured more than 300 in-person and hybrid activities – debates, discussions, networking opportunities, artistic performances, sports activities and interactive workshops.
The event was hosted by the European Parliament in Strasbourg, with part of the programme taking place outdoors at the EYE Village.
EP President Roberta Metsola opened the EYE2023 on Friday in Parliament’s hemicycle.
With the European elections taking place on 6-9 June 2024, participants discussed key priorities for the EU such as climate justice, global warming and the EU’s biodiversity strategy, as well as the European Year of Skills. They also debated the need to adapt for the green and technology transitions, the lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic, and how to tackle social inequalities and exclusion in Europe.
Also on the agenda were discussions about the protection of EU values, the role of Europe in a changing world –marked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine – migration policy and the importance of youth engagement and participation.
After the closing session on Saturday the ideas, expectations and concerns of young people have been summarised and brought together in a “Youth Ideas Report”, to be distributed to all MEPs.
