Young Citizens’ Dialogue – let’s shape the future of Europe together!
Contact
Dietrich Rometsch
Main Organisation
Department/Sector/Unit
EMPL G5
Other Organisations
COMM.DGA1.C3
CLIMA.DG.O1
EMPL.B1
EMPL.C2
EMPL.E3
EAC.A3
CNECT.F4
CNECT.D4
Description
300 young people from all over Europe travelled to Sibiu, Romania on 8 May to discuss the future of Europe with European Union leaders (Commissioners M. Thyssen and Navracsics) ahead of the Leaders' summit of 9 May. They brainstormed and discussed for a full day about five key topics: engagement, democracy, fairness, digital Europe, and climate change.
The purpose was to speak about these ideas with leaders who attended the summit in Sibiu. The day ended with a plenary Citizens’ Dialogue with Commission President Jean Claude Juncker and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.
Participation Spectrum
When and Where
Start Year
2019
Policy Context
Policy Stage
Context of activity
Science or Policy Field
Specific Topic
- Engaging in the European democratic life
- How do I want to get involved and build communities?
- Fairness in the EU
- Digital Europe: will our lives and jobs change?
- Fighting climate change: what difference can EU make?
- How do I want to get involved and build communities?
- Fairness in the EU
- Digital Europe: will our lives and jobs change?
- Fighting climate change: what difference can EU make?
Participants
Participants
350
Who was involved
Communities or representatives involved
youth organisations
How were the Participants selected?
Through what means citizens knew about the call for participation?
Web, social media, online photo competition and also via stakeholders networks and youth organisations networks.
Methodologies
Events
1
Methodologies used
Methodology description
5 workshops ran with support of professional facilitators using the “world café” methodology. Each participant went to one of the five workshops: one in the morning and to a different one in the afternoon. They produced a range on recommendations and ideas, which they shared with high-level officials (Cssr Navracsics joined a WS). President Juncker and President Iohannis of Romania held a Citizens’ Dialogue at the end of the day.
Tools Used
Spaces Used
Impact
Main Outcomes and Lasting Achievement
The Citizens’ Dialogue where young people can discuss their ideas and expectations with the President of the European Commission and other Commissioners is already an important outcome in itself.
A report drafted by the European youth press: https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=738&langId=en&pubId=8238&furtherPubs=yes
The report was shared with the participants together with the President-elect's political guidelines.
A photo exhibition with the winners of #MySocialEurope photo competition took place during the event.
A report drafted by the European youth press: https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=738&langId=en&pubId=8238&furtherPubs=yes
The report was shared with the participants together with the President-elect's political guidelines.
A photo exhibition with the winners of #MySocialEurope photo competition took place during the event.
How were the outcome taken up within the process they were carried out?
Report
Were the methodologies used elsewhere?
No
Assessment
Main Challenges
Reason for such challenges and solutions
Some 300 participants from 28 Member States (aged 18-25 years, with some flexibility concerning the upper age limit), as representative as possible of the EU's socio-economic and demographic diversity, have been invited. It was difficult to achieve a balance of representation per Member States and a balance of background (apprentices, job-seekers, students, self employer,...). We succeeded by activating our own networks.
Lessons Learn
Please get in contact with Dietrich ROMETSCH
Recommendation
Please get in contact with Dietrich ROMETSCH