Empowered young people are the key to strong democracy: Youth Forum debates key issues ahead of Eastern Partnership Summit
November 26, 2021

Empowered young people are the key to strong democracy: Youth Forum debates key issues ahead of Eastern Partnership Summit


More than 150 youth workers, active and critical-thinking young people, and youth policy-makers from the Eastern Partnership countries, the European Union, and EU member states took part in the 5th Eastern Partnership Youth Forum, which took place online from 23 to 24 November 2021.

The Forum, entitled “Youth participation in democratic processes”, was organised by the Slovenian presidency of the Council of the European Union in cooperation with the European Commission and the European External Action Service.

“Empowered young people are the key to strong democracy, responsible politics, the protection of human rights and building resilience,” Slovenian Foreign Minister Anže Logar told the Forum in his opening address.

The main theme of this year’s Youth Forum was centred around establishing an inclusive environment and adequate conditions for the meaningful participation of young people in democratic processes.

The Forum’s participants addressed the future of youth policies and made recommendations for their comprehensive and inclusive development, which will contribute to discussions at the Eastern Partnership Summit, scheduled for 15 December 2021 in Brussels.

Members of the Young European Ambassadors (YEA) network took an active part in the Forum’s workshops, where recommendations were developed on the future of youth policy in the Eastern Partnership and on the creation of the necessary conditions for meaningful youth participation. 

“I think youth participation in democratic processes is a necessary condition for a society to be really designed by and for the people that live in it. There’s no possible inclusive future without the understanding that a real involvement of youth in decision-making processes is necessary,” said Maria Pia Napoletano, one of the 27 YEAs who took part in the Forum.

You can watch the proceedings of the Youth Forum on the dedicated webpage.

Find out more

Press release

EaP Youth Forum webpage



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