Ally with youth in EU foreign policy

From 4 until 6 March, 25 young participants will have the opportunity to share their views, express their ideas, and engage in active discussions with high-level EU representatives, policymakers and  HR/VP Kaja Kallas. This dialogue, which will be held at the House of European History in Brussels, marks the beginning of an annual series of discussions. These exchanges will ensure that the voices of young people are reflected in our work.

What is a Policy Dialogue?

I will ask all Commissioners to organise their first annual Youth Policy Dialogues within the first 100 days of the mandate. These dialogues will be repeated annually.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in her Political Guidelines 2024-2029.  

The Youth Policy Dialogues are designed to give young people a platform to share their opinions on EU policy initiatives. These dialogues bring together young people and EU Commissioners in an interactive setting, ensuring that youth perspectives are integrated into the EU's decision-making process. Through open discussions and exchanges, the dialogues aim to build relationships between young people and EU leaders, while empowering them to actively participate in democratic life. By engaging in these dialogues, young people can gain a deeper understanding of the reasoning behind policy decisions and their effects.

This first Youth Policy Dialogue on EU Foreign Policy underscores the EU’s commitment to empowering young voices and ensuring their meaningful participation in shaping the future of a stronger Europe around the world. Together, we can build a more cohesive, resilient, and inclusive Europe, grounded in the shared values of peace, democracy, human rights, and prosperity.

What will happen in March 2025 and beyond?

For the first dialogue, 25 participants aged between 19-30, from both within the EU and elsewhere around the world, have been invited to attend an interactive three-day event. The programme will focus on youth engagement in EU foreign policy and global challenges, featuring participatory workshops with policymakers and community-building activities. The discussions will be based on the  mission letter sent to HR/VP Kaja Kallas by President von der Leyen.

To ensure a collaborative and meaningful dialogue, two preparatory online meetings are being held with the participants on February 7 and February 19. These meetings allow participants to co-create the agenda for the dialogue, ensuring their priorities are reflected in the discussions. Two young facilitators will lead the group and host meaningful conversations to empower all participants and enable them to express themselves during the dialogue with the HR/VP Kaja Kallas.

The outcome of this youth policy dialogue will be a series of first conclusions which aim to integrate the youth perspective into policymaking and which propose operational ways to streamline youth voices in EU foreign policy.

Additionally, these conclusions will explore opportunities for future engagement with young participants and their networks (including people from underrepresented backgrounds), to facilitate ongoing collaboration, communication, and resource-sharing.

The first Youth Policy Dialogue is supported by the European External Service (EEAS) and the European Commission's Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI).