European Youth Event 2023: young people speak out a year before EU elections

This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament.

• Around 10,000 participants expected at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 9 and 10 June 
• Focus on the 2024 European elections, democracy and youth engagement 
• Main proposals will be sent to all Members of the European Parliament 
• Hemicycle sessions can also be followed online 

Around 10,000 young people from the EU and beyond will meet in Strasbourg to discuss Europe’s future, against the backdrop of the war against Ukraine and upcoming European elections.

On Friday 9 June and Saturday 10 June, the European Youth Event 2023 (EYE 2023) will feature more than 300 in-person and hybrid activities – debates, discussions, networking opportunities, artistic performances, sports activities and interactive workshops. They have been co-created with EU institutions, international organisations, civil society, youth organisations and the participants themselves. The event is hosted by the European Parliament in Strasbourg, with part of the programme taking place outdoors in the EYE Village. It will also be possible to take part in the event online.

2024 European elections to shape EU’s future

EP President Roberta Metsola will open the event on Friday at 10.30 in Parliament’s hemicycle. Subsequent activities inside the EP premises and in the EYE Village will allow participants to discuss their ideas with policy- and decision-makers, experts and activists.

“This year’s European Youth Event is especially important, because it is the last one before the European elections in 2024. My appeal to all participants is to take this experience back to your cities, towns and villages. To get involved. To spread the message of Europe. To vote. And to get your friends and family to vote too. Because ultimately the future of Europe depends on you”, President Metsola said.

With the European elections taking place on 6-9 June 2024, participants will discuss key priorities such as climate justice, global warming and the EU’s biodiversity strategy. The European Year of Skills and the need to adapt for the green and technology transitions, the lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic and how to tackle social inequalities and exclusion in Europe will also feature. Participants will discuss the protection of EU values, the role of Europe in a changing world –marked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine-, migration policy and the need for youth engagement and participation.

Find more details about the schedule, speakers and activities (including two open-air concerts on the Friday and Saturday evenings) in the programme.

Outcome of the discussions

After the closing session on Saturday at 16.30, the ideas, expectations and concerns of young people will be summarised and brought together in a Youth Ideas Report, to be distributed to all MEPs. Some participants will be able to develop the ideas they consider the most inspiring and present them directly to MEPs during an EYE Hearing planned for Autumn 2023.

This is the fifth edition of the EYE, bringing together young people from across the European Union and the world, to share and shape their ideas on Europe’s future. It is a unique opportunity for 16 to 30-year-olds to talk to each other, inspire each other and meet with experts, activists, influencers and decision-makers, in the heart of European democracy.

Media registration – deadline 5 June

All EYE2023 activities are open to the press. Journalists wishing to attend in person must apply for accreditation via this link before 5 June 2023.

On Friday 9 June at 15.00, Parliament’s spokesperson and Director General for Communication Jaume Duch, and Director for Campaigns and Head of the Public Opinion Monitoring Unit Philipp Schulmeister will hold a press briefing in the Daphne Caruana Galizia press conference room in the EP in Strasbourg. They will give their insight into the Parliament’s strategy for the year ahead through to the European elections in June 2024, as well as detailed explanations of the results of the recently published Eurobarometer survey.