An excellent opportunity for around 100 young participants and 37 teachers from EU Member States, candidate countries and the UK to apply for the European Economic and Social Committee annual event Your Europe, Your Say! (YEYS). This year, YEYS event will focus on inspiring youth to actively contribute to building a resilient future through civic action and democratic participation. The event will be hold on 13-14 March 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. the European Economic and Social Committee will pay all the costs related to the participation for the selected participants.
About YEYS! 2025 event
YEYS 2025 event will be a 1.5-day event featuring interactive workshops and discussions led by experienced facilitators. Participants, including school students, National Youth Councils, and youth organisations, will articulate their views and develop recommendations reflecting their expectations and priorities for Europe's future.
The workshops will encourage open communication and debate through thought-provoking questions such as:
- What kind of Europe do you want to live in, and what issues are important to you?
- How do you envisage this European future and what role should young people play in shaping it?
- What contributions can youth make to build a Europe aligned with shared values and priorities?
The event aims to inspire participants to reflect on their beliefs and explore collaborative steps for fostering unity and shared responsibility across borders. It will culminate in a plenary session where the ideas discussed are transformed into actionable recommendations.
Follow-up of YEYS
The EESC Youth Group will promote the YEYS recommendations by incorporating them into advisory and political work, external events, and opinions undergoing the EU Youth Test. These recommendations may also influence the EESC’s second Civil Society Week (March 17–21, 2025), serving as a foundation for youth-centered discussions and being presented to European institutional representatives.
Eligibility | Who can apply?
YEYS will bring together 133 participants from secondary schools, youth organisations and national youth councils. These participants must live in:
- any of the EU’s 27 Member States; or
- any of the nine candidate countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine; or
- the UK.
The 133 YEYS participants will comprise:
- 37 students aged 16-18 representing 37 secondary schools, accompanied by one teacher per selected school (one school per country);
- 37 delegates from national youth councils, with one representative aged 18-25 per country;
- 21 delegates aged 18-25 from youth organisations from the eligible countries; the delegates must be nominated by the EESC’s ad hoc Youth Group, in close consultation with the EESC’s Employers, Workers and Civil Society Organisations groups;
- one delegate aged 18-25, nominated by the European Youth Forum.
- As the event will be held entirely in English, participants must be able to understand and speak a very good level of English.
NOTE: For more details about the eligibility conditions, check
this page
Expense and Benefits
- The EESC will cover accommodation in Brussels for two nights and provide return travel (economy class) for successful applicants and nominated delegates.
- All participants will receive educational and supporting materials to prepare for the event.
- The EESC will not cover travel costs to departure points or transfers from Brussels airports or train stations to the hotel or the EESC.
- The EESC will arrange travel and accommodation through an agency, and will not reimburse costs for independently made arrangements.
- Participants are responsible for ensuring they have valid travel documents and for applying for any necessary visas or documentation to enter the EU.
- The EESC will arrange and cover accommodation in Brussels for up to three nights, as well as return travel, for the three selected participants of the YEYS event who are invited to take part in Civil Society Week starting on March 17.
Practical information
Date: 13-14 March 2025
Location: EESC premises, JDE building, rue Belliard/Belliardstraat 99-101, 1040 Brussels
Accessibility: The venue is accessible to people with disabilities. Special requirements should be communicated via the registration form or email after selection.
Nearest Metro Stations: Schuman and Maelbeek (within walking distance)
Additional Information: Detailed event information will be shared with participants before or upon arrival in Brussels.
Timeline
Application deadline: 2nd of December 2024
Arrival day: by noon on Thursday 13 March 2025
Departure day: 14 March 2025 (in the evening or the next day).
How to apply?
- If you study or teach at high school, then you can apply by filling this application form no later than 2nd of December 2024.
- If you are not high school student (16-18 years) neither a teacher at high school, to participate in YEYS you must be nominated by the national youth council in your country, a youth organisation selected by the EESC’s ad hoc Youth Group or the delegate from the European Youth Forum
IMPORTANT: Selected schools will be notified by email by 15 December 2024 and listed on the EESC website. Unsuccessful candidates will be informed by email thereafter.
More Details
For more details about Your Europe, Your Say! 2025 event, check the details on the European Economic and Social Committee website from HERE
By applying for this event, you take responsibility and risks. Inform yourself about the regulation and potential risks. "Opportunity 4U" cannot be held liable for any of the potential risks, and this post is only for informative and popularising purposes.
.jpg)
){kind=link}
0 Comments