The AER Winter Dialogues will be the concluding statutory event of 2023. Hosted in the Lower Austrian capital of Sankt Pölten on 29 and 30 November 2023, the Winter Dialogues will be an opportunity to wrap up a year of activities and look to next steps in 2024, with particular attention to the upcoming EU elections next June.

A member-driven network, the AER is eager to make sure that the Winter Dialogues offer a full overview of its services to member regions. This is why the two-day event will include meetings of the Working Groups on Bioeconomy and Mental Health, a discussion on the AER Multi-Annual Strategy, and the Autumn Bureau meeting hosting the third MEET Intergenerational Debate on the Future of Europe. This debate will explore the role of active citizenship and youth participation in shaping a more democratic, inclusive and sustainable future for our continent, with a focus on the opportunities coming from the New Green Deal.

The MEET project (Mobile Europe = Engage Together) is funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) and led by the European Youth Forum (YFJ), in partnership with the AER. Ahead of the 2024 European elections, the MEET project aims at offering space for diverse groups of European citizens to discuss Europe at local and regional level. The MEET Regional Debates aim at creating space to make youth voices heard and to foster intergenerational debate between young people and politicians.

A meeting of the Ukraine Focus Group hosted by Vice President Lukas Mandl MEP will take place on Friday, 1 December at the premises of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Vienna. The draft agenda can be viewed HERE. 

Participants in the Winter Dialogues staying in Sankt Pölten will enjoy a preferential rate. The booking must be done by 31.10.2023. Find here all the relevant information.

Draft schedule

Detailed programme & info kit

Please register before 15 November 2023!

30 November 14.15-16.30

Autumn Bureau Meeting

The AER Autumn Bureau Meeting will take place in Sankt Pölten, Lower Austria on 30 November.

The Bureau will define positions on key AER action areas that will guide our advocacy work for 2024-2025 and will be joined by institutional and youth representatives to discuss the future of Europe, and how regions can contribute to forging a more democratic, inclusive and sustainable future.

Direct links:
Draft Agenda
Working Documents 
Background Note – The Future of Europe: An Intergenerational Debate

30 November 17.15-18.45

Bureau Discussion: “The future of Europe: An Intergenerational Debate”

In the run-up to the 2024 European Parliament elections, this debate will present a great opportunity to discuss the key challenges confronting Europe today and how regions can contribute to forging a more democratic, inclusive and sustainable future.

During the event, representatives of regional governments and young people will come together and engage in meaningful conversations about the future of Europe, focusing dialogue on how Europe can adopt a more sustainable path and improve people’s well-being in urban and rural regions in line with the Green Deal ambitions.

What are the key challenges and opportunities facing Europe? What are the priorities and aspirations of young people for the future of Europe? What steps can be taken to enhance the democratic participation of citizens within the European Union? How can we effectively involve young people in EU policy-making and implementation? How can we create a greener and fairer Europe while improving prosperity and quality of life? How can we maximise the opportunities of the green transition for European cities and regions in urban and rural areas?

These are some of the questions to be explored during the debate, organised in the framework of the MEET: Mobilise Europe = Engage Together project, led by the European Youth Forum in cooperation with AER and funded by the European Union.

Speakers:

Martin Selmayr, Head of Representation of the European Commission in Austria
Johannes Sundelin, AER Vice President for Sustainability, Green Transition and Health, Norrbotten Region
Jim Jenssen, President of the Youth Regional Network
Rares Voicu, Board Member of the European Youth Forum
Mariana Borges, Regional Directorate for Youth, Region of Azores
Michael Stellwag, Young Local Councillor for Europe, Lower Austria

Further information on the debate can be found HERE.

For more information on how you can be involved as a young European citizen, please see the Open Call for Young Participants HERE.