The ‘EUTeens4Green’ initiative brought together more than 250 young people from across the European Union for a day of conferences to promote the active participation of young people in the transition to climate neutrality and a greener Europe on Friday 19 April in Brussels.
The event marked the end of European Youth Week, which began on 12 April and was dedicated to democracy and the forthcoming European elections. This year’s theme was “Voice your vision”.
With only 2 months to go before the deadline, scheduled for 6 to 9 June 2024, discussions on democracy and the active role of young people in society were at the centre of the debates.
The ‘EUTeens4Green’ initiative has enabled 70 projects to be developed by young people, spanning 41 regions in 19 Member States, all involved in areas of just transition. These varied projects covered themes such as encouraging more environmentally-friendly behaviour in everyday life in Stara Zagora (Bulgaria), fighting the ‘brain drain’ in Trenčín (Slovakia) and creating inclusive citizen spaces in Msida (Malta).
These projects have not only illustrated the commitment of young Europeans to environmental sustainability, but have also provided platforms for improving their involvement in policy-making.
The day was an opportunity for young people to present the lessons learnt from their initiatives and to discuss ways of improving their participation in the governance and direction of the ecological transition.
The recommendations arising from these discussions will aim to ensure that European cohesion policy, and in particular the just transition, continues to place young people at the heart of its priorities.
The Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Democracy and Demography, Dubravka Šuica, who was present at the event, welcomed the involvement of young people, noting that they are brilliantly tackling the challenges of the green, digital and demographic transitions to “build together a sustainable and prosperous future for all generations”. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)