Young European Ambassadors in EU

I’ve heard about the Young European Ambassadors, but I’m not sure who they are and what they do

The Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) initiative is a non-political, voluntary, vibrant communication network connecting and building bridges of friendship among young people from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and the EU Member States and the United Kingdom. The aim of the network is to raise awareness about the EU’s cooperation with its Eastern partner countries, showcase the tangible results of this cooperation, contribute to policy dialogue on various topics, help increase civic activism and work together for a better future.

The YEAs initiative was established in June 2016 as part of the ‘EU NEIGHBOURS east’ project and has involved more than 2,600 young people from over 30 different countries to date.

The Young European Ambassadors are students, young professionals and community activists who are volunteering their time to engage in hundreds of activities across the countries and online. Click here to see their PROFILES.

The YEAs initiative offers volunteering, career building and young leadership opportunities to its network members. They contribute to and take part in:

• International events including European youth fora, Eastern Partnership conferences, EU study trips and seminars across the region and in the EU Member States
• Dialogue Initiative between EU and EaP countries: YEAs from the EU are organising Dialogue Initiatives with the Eastern Partner countries in order to learn about various cultural, social and political realities of each country.
• Visiting Eastern Partner countries with activities that aim to support YEAs from Eastern Partner countries to spread information about the EU, Eastern Partnership and related programmes in various activities organised together in the Eastern Partner countries. 
• Civic engagement activities in the EU such as talks, workshops, ideathons, quizzes, meetings, school visits, fairs, Europe Days or Instagram live debates, online bingos, social media campaigns, vlogs, social media channel takeovers and much more.

What will I gain from becoming a Young European Ambassador?

Being a Young European Ambassador, you will have the opportunity to meet new, like-minded young people and develop your personal and professional competences. You will get to know other young people from your and other countries who share the same ideas and interests as you. You will travel across the country and interact with other people about the European Union, its partnership with your country and the opportunities it offers. All of this will help you to improve your competences in the fields of teamwork, project planning and implementation, event management, presentation and public speaking, languages and communication, content creation , to name but a few. These are important soft skills to have for your future careers!

You will also benefit from a dynamic and inclusive support system, including:

• An inclusive and positive community of creative young volunteers to share ideas, create memories and build friendships.
• YEA mentors for personal guidance.
• YEA coordinators for administrative and logistic support to help you realise your own initiatives.
• Participation in the YEA Academy for information and coaching by experienced professionals in communication, strategy, content creation, media outreach, etc.
• Website and social media platforms on which to share, connect and engage with audiences. By being active in your community, you will get the chance to show your friends, your family and your country what kind of community you would like to live in. You will be able to empower the people around you and have an impact on their lives!

By being active in your community, you will get the chance to show your friends, your family and your country what kind of community you would like to live in. You will be able to empower the people around you and have an impact on their lives!

In the end, and most important of all, being a Young European Ambassador gives you the chance to make friends, to share your knowledge and experiences, or simply to discover yourself and the world around you!

Will I be paid for my work as a Young European Ambassador?

The ‘Young European Ambassadors’ initiative is voluntary and you will not be remunerated.

The costs for the organisation of YEAs activities are covered by the ‘EU NEIGHBOURS east’ project. This includes, for example, organisation of visits to schools and universities to have interactive workshops; environmental actions (e.g. planting trees, cleaning up the area, etc.), participation in international events abroad, and many others.

I would like to become a Young European Ambassador, how should I apply?

You can apply if you:

• are a citizen of one of the EU Member States, the UK or one of the six Eastern partner countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine)
• are aged between 16 and 26
• have a good level of English
• are interested in EU affairs and the partnership and cooperation between the EU and your country
• are interested in public diplomacy and outreach activities, ready to share knowledge, experience and information
• are motivated in contributing to the development of your community and country
• are interested in voluntary activities and ready to dedicate sufficient time to be part of civic engagement activities.

You can read the full selection criteria and FAQ here. You can apply for the annual call here. The deadline for applications is 3 November 2025.

I am a young Belarusian now living in exile in the EU: can I still join the YEAs?

Yes, you can. Due to the recent political situation, YEAs from Belarus are not active on the territory of Belarus, but young Belarusians living in the EU can join the network wherever they are now living in Europe, and Belarusian YEAs have been active in organising awareness-raising activities about Belarus in the EU. For example, in April 2023, Belarusian YEAs, together with the YEAs from the EU, organised a conference with Belarusian diaspora in Warsaw, with the aim of informing Belarusian youth on the EU’s support to civil society.

How are the YEAs selected?

In order to become a Young European Ambassador, you need to follow a process. The first phase is to express your interest in becoming a Young European Ambassador through the annual call for applications. After the call for applications is closed, there are few more steps to follow, which require further input from the candidates. Selected candidates will be invited to an interview, afterwards, candidates who successfully pass the interview will be invited to provide additional information (e.g. provide a profile photo, sign consent form, develop a description for the website profile, etc.), and as a final step, their profiles will be sent for further approval (to the official stakeholders). The process from the date when the call for applications is closed until the final results takes approximately eight weeks. It might seem to take a bit of time but it’s easier than it sounds!

How many Young European Ambassadors are there from the European Union? What have they done so far?

There are 133 Young European Ambassadors in the EU Member States and the UK. Click here to meet them.

The Young European Ambassadors from the EU Member States and the UK can help the YEAs in the Eastern partner countries to explain what the EU means, what it does and what everyday life in the EU is like – sometimes joining up with the YEAs in the Eastern partner countries for local awareness-raising activities. 

For instance, YEAs from the EU/UK/BY Chapter, in collaboration with Equipo Europa and the EEAS #OneVoiceOneFuture campaign, hosted an interactive webinar on youth in diplomacy and international relations. The session engaged 150+ young people from across Europe to explore how youth engagement contributes to shaping foreign policy, global cooperation, and the EU’s diplomatic agenda. The event promoted EU-funded opportunities for young leaders, encouraged participation in international dialogue, and raised awareness about the upcoming YEA call.

To date, more than 430 EU and cross-regional activities have been organised involving YEAs from EU member states, such as workshops, info-stands and interactive online sessions on the EU and its relationship with Eastern partner countries.

I can’t join the YEAs, but I’d like to take part in their activities: is this possible?

YES! Even if you are not a Young European Ambassador, you can participate in events organised by the YEAs! Are you interested? If yes, here is how you can stay up to date:

• Like and follow EU NEIGHBOURS east official Facebook  and Instagram  page – we regularly let you know about new ways to get involved with the Young European Ambassadors in your country!

• Join the ‘Young European Neighbours’ network on Facebook – keep up to date with the Young European Ambassadors, find more opportunities for you and join any of the contests and challenges!