European Economic
and Social Committee
EESC RENEWAL: Katrīna Leitāne, new Vice-President of the EESC Civil Society Organisations’ Group
EU Member State responsible for her nomination as EESC member:
Latvia
Nomination as representative of:
National Youth Council of Latvia
Educational background and professional experience:
I bring a robust and multi-layered background, demonstrating comprehensive expertise across political, legal, and youth affairs. My experience spans a remarkable journey, from volunteering in a local youth centre to currently serving as an EESC member, who strongly advocates for youth organisations in Europe and beyond, presiding the EESC Youth Group from 2023 to 2025. Academically, my foundation is strong, marked by a master’s degree in European Union Politics and Law from the University of Edinburgh. My experience spans all tiers of governance, from the local to the EU level. I was a legal adviser at Latvia’s Ministry of Justice, gaining expertise in EU policy and international representation, and I also hold local governance experience as a city councillor and director of a youth centre in Sigulda, Latvia. I am an advocacy expert for the National Youth Council. This comprehensive background showcases my strong leadership, deep EU policy understanding, and extensive experience in youth policy and advocacy across the local, national, and European tiers.
Motivation for the Vice-Presidency:
My primary motivation for going forward for the Civil Society Organisations’ Group Vice-President position is to seek to secure the sustainability and resilience of democracy by actively championing strategic intergenerational collaboration. I firmly believe that just, lasting policies require all generations working together, as the success of young people in defending democracy is fundamentally our collective success. This commitment is borne out by my work as rapporteur for the EESC’s EU Youth Test opinion. This youth-driven initiative was a challenging but successful process that transformed the Committee from a consultative body into an example of powerful action. This achievement built crucial trust – the very foundation of a thriving democracy. As Vice-President, I intend to build on this courage and commitment. Furthermore, I am keen to advance two proposals within the Group: Connecting as people will foster trust amongst members by putting the emphasis on individual connections over professional titles, while Reaching out to citizens with more audiovisual reports will create further engagement with the public.
Further information: Katrīna Leitāne