Under the heading Meaningful Connections, Active Participation and Democratic Engagement, this year’s of YEYS is welcoming secondary school students aged 16-18 and young adults aged 18-25 from EU Member States, candidate countries and the United Kingdom. Chosen through an open call for their motivation and civic engagement in their communities, the participants bring a vibrant mix of backgrounds and perspectives.

Over two days, more than 100 young participants are taking part in networking activities, interactive workshops and plenary discussions. Working together in facilitated groups, they are identifying key issues that matter to them and are developing recommendations for strengthening youth participation in Europe. Their recommendations will feed into the Committee’s advisory work on the next EU Youth Strategy. 

EESC members step up their involvement in YEYS

In the lead-up to the event, EESC members visited the schools taking part in YEYS. Between 4 February and 16 March, members travelled across Europe to meet students, introduce the themes of the event and spark early conversations about participation and engagement. These visits helped set the tone for Brussels, giving the young people a chance to start reflecting on the issues before joining the discussions at the event.

These visits were not limited to the EU Member States. EESC members also travelled to EU candidate countries – from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania to Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Türkiye and Serbia – meeting students and setting the stage for the discussions in Brussels.

One visit stood out in particular: a trip to the YEYS school in Kyiv, where an EESC member met students face‑to‑face in the Ukrainian capital. Given the current context, this gesture carries real weight. It shows the EESC’s determination to keep the conversation with young people going and to stand firmly for democratic values, civic participation and European engagement – even when the circumstances are anything but easy.

Now in its 17th year, YEYS is introducing a new element: the active involvement of EESC members throughout the event. This year, members didn’t just visit participating schools across Europe; they are also taking part in networking sessions and workshops, sharing their expertise, giving feedback on young people’s ideas and helping them turn these ideas into detailed, actionable proposals.

This new approach gives participants direct access to the knowledge and experience of EESC members, who represent Europe’s diverse civil society. At the same time, it offers members a chance to learn from the young participants, hear their concerns first hand and better understand how to make their voices heard through the Committee’s work.

YEYS remains one of the EESC’s flagship initiatives for engaging younger generations, creating a space where young people can share ideas, connect with peers and decision-makers, and contribute to the Committee’s work on youth empowerment. (kk)