Rules for taking part in the event

Your Europe, Your Say! (YEYS) is the European Economic and Social Committee's (EESC) flagship youth event. This year, it will take place on Wednesday 6 March 2024, as part of the EESC's Civil Society Week  (4-7 March 2024). 

Launched in 2010 with the aim of connecting young people with the European Union, YEYS 2024 will take place in the run up to the European elections. YEYS 2024 will bring together 18-25 year old first time and other young voters from all member states, candidate countries and the UK. Participants will be invited to debate and make recommendations which will contribute to the EESC's pre-election activities as well as offer input to the EESC's resolution on the European elections. The event aims to inspire participants, to exercise their democratic right to vote and actively encourage others to do so too.

Updates about the preparations for the event and posts during the event itself can be found on the dedicated EESC webpage and on Facebook, X and Instagram.

1. Applications for the open call for participants

1.1 Conditions for applying

Participants of YEYS 2024 must be 18 to 25 years old at the time of the event and

• Live in any of the EU's 27 Member-states and be eligible to vote in the European elections; or
• Live in the 8 candidate countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine) or the UK.

Applicants may be:

• Secondary school students; or
• Students representing university student organisations or societies; or

Youth delegates active in civil society, such as but not only, as part of national civil society organisations, national economic and social committees, parliaments; youth organisations, such as but not limited to, those involving young entrepreneurs, craft organisations, workers, trade unionists, farmers, environmental associations, women, people with disabilities, human rights' activists, volunteers.

As the event will be held entirely in English, participants must be able to speak and comprehend a good level of English.

1.2 Selection procedure for YEYS 2024

108 participants for YEYS 2024 will be nominated or selected from the following three categories:

• 45 participants will be nominated by the EESC's three groups from their networks and organisations: 15 from the Employers' group; 15 from the Workers' group; and 15 from the Civil Society Organisations' group;
• 37 participants will be nominated as follows: one delegate per national youth council (27 from EU member states, eight from candidate countries and one from the UK) plus one from the European Youth Forum (EYF);
• 26 participants will be selected by an open call for applications.

The application form for the open call to participate in YEYS 2024 can be found on EU Survey.

Completed applications can be submitted to the YEYS organising team via EU Survey from 27 November 2023 until midnight (Central European Time) on 31 December 2023. Applications submitted after the closing date will not be considered. The EESC will assess all the applications once the application period has closed.

1.3 Assessment of applications

In order to ensure as balanced a selection of candidates as possible, the assessment of applications submitted through the open call will be based on the following criteria:

• Age: year of birth 1998-2006, 18 to 25 years old at the time of travel to the event;
• Gender;
• Nationality & residence;
• The strength of the motivation outlined in the application;
• First time voter or not.

1.4 Selection of participants through the open call

26  applicants will be selected following an assessment of all the applications submitted by midnight (Central European Time) on 31 December 2023.  The assessment of applications will be based on the criteria outlined in section 1.3 assessment of applications, including the strength of the motivation outlined in the application.

The EESC will confirm the selection to successful applicants by email at the latest by the end of January 2024.

Communication with applicants will be done primarily by email, so an email address that is checked regularly should be provided by applicants in their applications.

Successful applicants will be invited to complete a registration form which will contain the relevant information to make their travel and accommodation reservations.

Successful applicants who register to participate in YEYS 2024, agree to travel to Brussels to participate in the event on 6 March 2024.

Up to five out of the 108 participants for the YEYS event will be selected by random draw and invited to take part in all the events of Civil Society Week starting on 4 March, in order to feed forward into the discussions during YEYS 2024 and participate in the closing plenary of the Civil Society Week, where the output from YEYS is likely to be highlighted.

Unsuccessful candidates will be informed by email at the latest by mid-February 2024.

1.5 Participants with disabilities

The EESC premises are accessible to persons with disabilities. Any special requirements should be communicated via the registration form or by email to the YEYS organising team upon selection to participate in YEYS 2024.

2. Registration

2.1 Registration Form

Successful applicants, those nominated by the EESC's three groups and those nominated by their national youth councils or the European Youth Forum who register to participate in YEYS 2024, agree to travel to Brussels to participate in the event on 6 March 2024.

Successful applicants must complete the online registration form by noon (Central European Time) on Monday 5 February 2024. A link to the registration form will be sent to them by the end of January 2024.

The registration form will contain the relevant information to make travel and accommodation reservations for each participant.

When registering for the YEYS event, certain categories of personal data must be filled in. If those categories of data are not filled in, you will not be able to register for the event.

Communication with participants by the EESC will be done primarily by email, so an email address that is checked regularly should be provided in the registration form.

3. Protection of personal data

Under EU law, people must be informed when their personal data is processed (collected, used, stored) by any organisation including one of the EU institutions. They have the right to know the details and purpose of that processing.

As the host of YEYS, the EESC may collect the personal data of participants only to the extent necessary to process their applications and to organise, manage and communicate YEYS 2024. Photographs, audio and video recordings and web streaming related to the event maybe used for communication and reporting purposes. Please read the privacy statement for more details.

4. Travel and Accommodation

For the successful applicants, the EESC will arrange and pay for accommodation in Brussels for two nights, as well as a return flight (economy class) or train/bus journey between the country of residence and Brussels.

Up to five participants of the YEYS event will be selected by random draw and invited to take part in all the events of Civil Society Week starting on 4 March. For these five participants, the EESC will arrange and pay for accommodation in Brussels for up to five nights, as well as a return flight or train/bus journey between the country of residence and Brussels.

The EESC will not cover the cost of travel from the place of residence to the departure airport or train station for any participant. The EESC will also not cover the cost of airport or train transfers in the form of bus/metro tickets from the airport or train station in Brussels to the hotel or the EESC.

The EESC cannot reimburse any travel and accommodation costs, but will pay only for the travel and accommodation it organises for each participant.

Travel guidelines will be shared with participants upon registration.

4.1 Responsibility/insurance policy

Participants must carry their personal travel documents (i.e. valid passport or identity card) with them at all times.

Participants must have their own travel insurance and bring evidence of coverage.

For participants from EU countries, the European Health Insurance Card is available free of charge from local, public health insurance providers, or a provisional replacement certificate if the card cannot be issued in time (more information available here: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559).

Participants from candidate countries and the UK must check with their national health system or private insurance company that they are covered abroad.

5. The YEYS event

YEYS 2024 will be a one day event, during which the participants will take part in sessions and workshops, under the guidance of specialised facilitators.

Participants will be invited to complete a post-event assessment and might also be invited to submit testimonies (written/audio-visual/social media), which shall later be used for communicating about  YEYS and/or Civil Society Week.

6. Preparation for the event

Participants may receive background information and/or documents before the event to help prepare for the debates and workshops.

7. Practical Information

The event will take place in the EESC premises in Brussels on 6 March 2024: JDE building, 99 rue Belliard/Belliardstraat, 1040 Brussels.

Schuman metro or Maelbeek metro are the nearest metro stations (walking distance) to the EESC premises.

Detailed information will be shared with participants prior to or upon arrival in Brussels for the event.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Information about the event can be found on the YEYS website: https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/agenda/our-events/events/your-europe-your-say-2024

You can also send questions to the YEYS organising team by email at: youreurope@eesc.europa.eu

General information about the EESC is available on the EESC's website: www.eesc.europa.eu

 

       

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