TEPSA and the Egmont Institute recently organised their fourth Democracy Retreat, a dinner dialogue on “Can youth participation become a blueprint for wider and deepened democratic innovation at the EU level?”

To address youth disillusionment with democratic institutions, improve their representation in formal decision-making processes and develop stronger bridges across generations, the EU has taken key steps to expand the use of participatory mechanisms for young people. Those changes, including the launch of Youth Policy Dialogues with Commissioners across portfolios and the ongoing development of the EU’s Intergenerational Fairness Strategy, show some of this renewed ambition.

Around dinner, this Fourth Democracy Retreat provided an opportunity to take stock of these changes and engage in a frank discussion about how the EU can make youth participation a genuine force for democratic renewal. Strengthening youth participation is an investment in a broader and more future-oriented vision of European security to foster trust and social cohesion and mitigate long-term challenges.

Distinguished guest speakers helped frame the debate, including Ms. Biliana Sirakova, EU Youth Coordinator, DG for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture of the European Commission, and Mr. Tamàs Szücs, Special Advisor on Intergenerational Fairness, Directorate-General (DG) for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture of the European Commission, in a discussion moderated by Mr. Ben Eersels, Executive Director of G1000.