NB. This event was by invitation only

This fourth edition of our Nets4Dem Democracy Retreat brought together EU, national and UN policy-makers, researchers and democracy practitioners for a closed-door dinner debate on the future of youth engagement in EU decision-making. Building on the legacy of the European Year of Youth 2022, the Pact for the Future, and the recent appointment of the EU’s first Commissioner for Youth and Intergenerational Fairness, this retreat explored how young voices are and can be further anchored in Europe’s long-term governance.

The event featured remarks from Tamàs Szücs, Special Advisor on Intergenerational Fairness, and Biliana Sirakova, EU Youth Coordinator, of the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture of the European Commission. It was moderated by Ben Eersels, Executive Director, G1000.

Co-organised by the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA) and the Egmont Institute, this series of retreats aims to equip stakeholders with cutting-edge strategies to strengthen and renew democratic processes in Europe, promote innovative approaches to democratic governance and foster collaboration among policy-makers, practitioners, and democracy researchers.

Today’s diverse youth face immense challenges, including rising poverty in the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Yet they continue to act as a driving force for change across different settings – in the streets, within grassroots organisations, across institutions, and in fields such as culture and sport. Participants engaged in an evening of informal but focused exchanges, examining:

• How youth-specific participative processes can inspire broader democratic innovation,
• Ways to strengthen intergenerational fairness within EU policy-making, and
• How to address persistent barriers that prevent young people, especially those from marginalised groups, from fully engaging in shaping Europe’s future.

Hosted in an intimate, off-the-record setting, the retreat offered a space for participants to take stock of current initiatives, share EU, transnational and national-level experiences, and reflect on how youth participation can play a crucial role in democratic renewal within the EU.

What is Nets4Dem?

Nets4Dem, a Horizon Europe project coordinated by Democracy Reporting International, endeavours to reshape the landscape of democracy initiatives. Nets4Dem brings together more than 200 cities, over 50 think tanks and universities, and dozens of democracy-focused NGOs, covering 38 European countries. Nets4Dem aims to enhance and transform the current landscape of democracy initiatives by creating a unique European network. This network facilitates high degrees of connectedness among policy-makers, practitioners, and researchers by providing improved access to cross-cutting work on democratic innovations. It further aims to weave networks spanning various sectors, geographies and levels of governance, thereby redistributing power and resources to those who stand to gain the most from initiatives aimed at engaging citizens in civic renewal. Learn more about this event and the project on Nets4Dem’s website.

Contact information

Should you have any questions about this event or future Nets4Dem activities, do not hesitate to contact Ilaria Giustacchini, Partnership and Project Manager at TEPSA.