Sant Josep Obrer Sixth Form student Nayara Rodríguez joined in September the local session of the European Youth Parliament (EYP), an initiative dedicated to fostering civic engagement, intercultural understanding, and political participation among young people across Europe.
The EUAMI project, in which the Spanish school is a partner, aims to promote European values, including the active participation of citizens in the democratic life of the European Union.
After excelling at the local level, Nayara was selected to represent her school at the national Spanish session in Valencia and will soon serve as an international delegate in a third European country. Her journey is a testament to the EYP’s role in promoting participatory democracy and empowering young voices within the European Union.
The European Youth Parliament, founded in 1987, is one of Europe’s most prominent youth-led platforms that encourages young people to engage in meaningful debate on issues affecting the continent. With activities across 40 national committees, the EYP serves as an educational platform bringing together young people from diverse backgrounds, creating a space where they can discuss, deliberate, and form opinions on contemporary issues within the EU and beyond.
These sessions simulate the workings of the European Parliament, with participants debating policy issues, drafting resolutions, and gaining a hands-on understanding of democratic processes. The issues discussed range widely, and committees focus on topics that span environmental sustainability, social justice, economic policy, and human rights—all areas where youth perspectives are invaluable for future policymaking.
In recent years, participatory democracy has gained attention as a vital complement to representative democracy, aiming to involve citizens more actively in decision-making processes.
The Conference on the Future of Europe, launched in 2019 but de facto started in 2021, played a key role in promoting participatory democracy by creating a direct forum for EU citizens to share their ideas and concerns on Europe’s future.
The three main EU institutions – European Parliament, European Commission and European Council – invited people from all backgrounds to discuss critical topics like climate change, migration, and digital transformation. Through citizen panels, public consultations, and digital platforms, the Conference encouraged open dialogue and collective problem-solving, making EU decision-making more inclusive.
The outcomes directly influenced EU policy recommendations, marking a significant step toward a more engaged and responsive European Union.
Youth Participation in European Politics
Youth involvement in European politics is crucial, especially as the EU grapples with issues like climate change, economic inequality, and social inclusion. Young Europeans are increasingly vocal about these challenges, yet they often lack formal political representation.
In 2014, for the first time, the European Parliament organized at its venue in Strasbourg the European Youth Event, which is a biennial gathering that brings together thousands of young people aged 16 to 30 from across Europe to discuss pressing issues, share ideas, and shape the future of the EU.
In addition to the main event, Local European Youth Events are organized across various EU member states, providing young people with the chance to engage with European issues on a local scale and ensuring a more inclusive and widespread youth dialogue on EU policies and priorities.
Source link : https://euractiv.it/section/european-values-and-migration/news/the-european-youth-parliament-eyp-a-gateway-to-youth-engagement-in-european-politics/
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Publish date : 2024-10-25 09:07:00
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