The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) attended the European Youth Event (EYE2025), organised by the European Parliament in Strasbourg. With over 9,000 participants from 160 nationalities and more than 450 activities, EYE2025 was full of energy, ideas and youth-led action. 

At the heart of the EESC's participation was a dedicated session on the EU Youth Test at the EESC, featuring Katrina Leitane, Youth Group president, and Chloe Cauchi, Board member of the European Youth Forum (YFJ).  It focused on climate change and its economic impact, echoing one of the final recommendations from this year’s EESC flagship youth event, Your Europe, Your Say (YEYS): to develop a coherent strategy on climate change.

The session attracted young people from across the EU and candidate countries, including members of national youth councils, local organisations, and young people keen to have their say in EU decisions.

The Youth Test is designed to ensure that young people’s voices are heard when new EU laws and policies are developed. At EYE2025, young participants had the chance to learn about the Test, share feedback and explore how it could help shape the future. One participant even shared that he felt inspired to join his local youth council after the session—a true testament to the power of meaningful engagement.

Beyond its dedicated session, the EESC’s work was acknowledged in several high-level discussions throughout the event. Commissioner Glenn Micallef referenced the Youth Test during his Youth Policy Dialogue, while MEP Marcos Ros Sempere highlighted the EESC’s role in amplifying the voice of civil society during a panel on youth challenges in urban and rural areas. The EESC was also mentioned during the hemicycle session on fair employment pathways.

Throughout the event, participants joined sessions with EU leaders, including Vice-Presidents Sabine Verheyen, Nicolae Ştefănuță and Pina Picierno. In her final speech, Ms Picierno called for a 'youth check' to be included in every stage of EU decision-making. 'The future belongs to you,' she told the audience, 'so your voice must be part of every law we create.'

Outside the Parliament, the EYE Village, co-organised with the European Youth Forum, was full of creative spaces, youth-led projects and organisations sharing their work.

EYE2025 was more than just a two-day event. The ideas shared by participants will be compiled into a Youth Ideas Report, set to be delivered to EU decision-makers later this year. Many expressed hope that the Youth Test will become a regular tool to ensure young people are part of every political conversation—not just at events like this.

As Europe faces big challenges, EYE2025 showed that young people are ready to lead. They are not just talking about the future; they are helping build it. (ks/epv)