YOUNG: a panel discussion on youth engagement in European elections

Katrīna Leitāne is panelist in the conference “How to make sure that EU takes the decisions that young people need?” organised by the Lavian news outlet “Latvijas Avīze”.  She discusses with other experts, journalists and MEPs candidates from various political parties about youth engagement in the upcoming European Parliament elections.

Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Jelgava

Theme

“Is it easy to be a young person in Europe?”

Key messages

• Citizenship education is crucial to explain and raise awareness among young people about democracy.
• Erasmus + is very important in order to promote youth voices in the EU.
• EU Youth strategy and the EU Youth Dialogue are instruments in order to bring the EU closer to young people and to coordinate youth perspective across the EU.
• Lowering voting age to 16 at the EP elections must go hand in hand with citizenship education.
• Stronger youth organizations would be stronger civic space which is crucial to secure democratic values in the EU.
• EU Youth test is a good way forward to amplify youth voices in EU institutions.
• Disinformation is a threat and a huge challenge in front of use to secure our democracy.