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#HotlineCohesion – Girls Go Circular: how the EU Turns Pink & Digital

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Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy.

Digital and Entrepreneurial Skills for the Circular Economy

2023 kicked off with the European Union’s commitment to address skills gaps in the European countries and boost the EU strategy to help re-skill workers and young professionals. 

Within the framework and action plans of the 2023 European Year of Skills, the European Union is giving special attention to boost digital learning while closing the digital gender gap. According to the European Commission’s Women in Digital Scoreboard 2021, only 33% of STEM graduates and 19% of ICT specialists are women, highlighting a significant gender gap in specialist digital skills. 

Addressing the digital gender gap implements the European Union’s aspiration to bring young students, and especially young girls, closer to the topic of circular economy. By bringing together digital and circular economy skills, the EU aims to ensure that future generations of leaders are well qualified to answer current and future societal challenges.

The EU Turns Pink: The Girls Go Digital project

As part of the European Commission’s Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027), the European Union is addressing the need for a more gender inclusive and digital Europe. Under the coordination of EIT RawMaterials, the Girls Go Circular project is now a reality. 

The EU-funded education project aims at reducing the digital gender gap by 2027 targeting nearly 40,000 schoolgirls aged 14-19. It empowers them to develop their digital and entrepreneurial skills while at the same time acquiring knowledge on the circular economy to become the future generation of leaders.

LEARNING-BY-DOING: THE ‘CIRCULAR LEARNING SPACE’

The Circular Learning Space, an ad-hoc learning methodology, is at the heart of the project. 

Through a learning-by-doing approach, the project centres around a platform that allows students to work individually and in groups during online and in-person sessions. The vast amount of resources available in the platform and the possibility to follow the programmes in 12 languages enable students to explore more in detail the business’ models towards a circular economy, choose between different learning modules on topics such as e-waste, climate change, food, robotics, and become more familiar with the EU’s commitment to achieve a more sustainable and environmentally friendly Europe. 

The Girls Go Circular project recognises the importance of a greater presence of women and girls in leadership and managerial roles for shaping the Europe of tomorrow. 

Read more about the Girls Go Circular project:

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#HotlineCohesion – YOUTH4ORS: Empowering Youth in Remote Outermost Regions

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Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy

How far does Europe go?

The Outermost Regions (OMR) may be geographically distant from mainland Europe, but they are no less a part of the European Union. With a population of 4.8 million citizens, these territories include islands, archipelagos, and one land territory (French Guiana), each with unique potential and distinctive assets that can benefit the EU as a whole. Despite the thousands of kilometres separating them from the European continent, these regions are an integral part of the EU.

To address this issue, the EU has launched the “Empowering Youth in the Outermost Regions” initiative, which aims to empower young people in these regions and tackle issues such as high levels of unemployment and early school leaving. By investing in the potential of young people in the outermost regions, the EU hopes to bridge the gap and prevent further disparities between these regions and the rest of Europe.

Empowering Youth to Drive Regional Transformation

The total budget for co-financing actions under this call is €1 million, which will support at least 70 actions with a limited duration of 12 months, each action activity selected cannot exceed the value of €10 000 with a minimum of €5 000. This initiative aims to empower young people, aged 15-24, who are living in the outermost regions to develop ideas and community actions linked to EU priorities, including the green and digital transition, socio-economic recovery, and equality and inclusion.

Eligibility & Priorities

The present call for proposals will select one beneficiary to manage and act as secretariat of this grant scheme providing small grants to (groups of) young people or youth organisations. The aim is to support young people in these vulnerable and remote regions to develop actions tailored to their regions. The organisations/entities that apply to this call for proposals must be legally based and located in one of the EU Member States. Applications for this scheme can be submitted by:

·  Non-profit organisations (private or public)

·  Public authorities (national, regional and/or local)

·  Universities

·  Educational institutions

·  Research centres

The actions proposed should empower and encourage youth to become active in their local communities in the definition and implementation of solutions to improve citizens’ quality of life and foster local / regional development. “They should be adapted to the specific situation of each region and bring about concrete improvements. While the actions should generate added value and improvements in each respective region”. The deadline for submitting applications is 31 May 2023, but new calls will open in the future. For further information on how to implement the YOUTH4ORS initiative, consult the call for proposals published by the European Commission.

See you next week at #HotlineCohesion

The Youthopia Project is co-funded by the Directorate General for Regional and Urban policy (DG REGIO) of the European Commission.

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#HotlineCohesion – Coal:Not Cool! But We Need A Just Transition (Fund).

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Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy.

The Just Transition Fund (JTF) is a unique fund within the EU’s cohesion policy that provides targeted support, both geographically and thematically, to regions that are most affected by the green transition. Compared to other more general cohesion policy funds then, the JTF offers more specialized assistance to specific regions in need. Romania, Poland, and Germany are the top three member states that will benefit from this funding.

For example, Romania’s Territorial Just Transition Plans have been approved, covering six counties, and will receive EUR 2.14 billion for reskilling and economic diversification measures. In Slovakia, the approved plans come from the regions of Upper Nitra, Košice (one of our *YOUTHopia Regions), and Banská Bystrica, which will receive EUR 459 million for projects focused on reskilling, new job opportunities, or energy efficiency measures.

What the commissions and other expert actors have been vocal about in this latest programming period is that, in order to make these investments sustainable and place-based, partners and stakeholders need to be involved in the planning phase, as well as in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the programmes and spending.

The Partnership Principle Means Listening To All Voices.

The EU’s requirement that governments put the partnership principle into practice within the just transition process is particularly crucial for central and eastern Europe. It forces authorities to consider the voices of those who were previously marginalized or ignored ( such as economic and social partners, NGOs, and local representatives). While progress remains slow, it is happening.

One of the recent attempts to increase participation in the just transition process is the public hearing held for Eastern Wielkopolska, Poland, at the beginning of 2022. The hearing was organized by the Polish Green Network, the National Federation of Polish NGOs, and the Agency of Regional Development in Konin. Through a variety of conferences, meetings, workshops, and media presence, local people have become aware of the European funds available for the transition process. However, for many, these are still distant and vague promises, as for instance many voiced their uncertainty that financial support would arrive in time and provide solutions to their most pressing problems.

Youth And Women At The Core Of Any Strategy.

Therefore, a partnership-based approach that respects the needs of the place and the people who inhabit it is essential. To keep stakeholders engaged, the process must be made available and practical, letting them voice their concerns, enabling them to look for support but also for community-based solutions and cross-sectoral approaches to overcoming obstacles.

Finally, a just transition is one that takes into account the voices of young people and what they consider a place suitable for their future (clean air, jobs and social interactions as well as cultural opportunities among others) and the voice of women. Too often marginalised in the transition talks, “women are just as much a part of the transition process in the region as men are, and without recognition of the challenges they face, it will never be a truly just and equal process” (quote).

See you next week at #HotlineCohesion

The Youthopia Project is co-funded by the Directorate General for Regional and Urban policy (DG REGIO) of the European Commission.

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#HotlineCohesion – Harnessing Talents in Europe’s regions

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Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy.

Escape the Talent Development trap in Europe’s regions

The EU is witnessing an alarming demographic transition that is threatening young talents’ employability across several European regions. 

Lack of job opportunities and digital skills are obstacles to talent development and digital transition. More and more young people leave their home countries to find more favourable working conditions abroad and gain the skills they need to succeed in their professional career. 

Skilled workers in their home regions contribute to sustainable growth, economic development, businesses competitiveness and enjoy better job opportunities.

Under the framework of EU funding instruments, Cohesion Policy funds play a crucial role in steering skills development, fostering innovation and investments, and targeting strategic areas for intervention at local, regional and European level, such as for instance investments needed in order to speed up the deployment of very high-speed and 5G networks.

Deep Tech Initiative: How the EU is high-speeding digital talents.

As part of the European Commission’s New European Innovation Agenda, the European Institute of Technology and Innovation (EIT) is implementing a place-based innovation scheme of knowledge and communities’ engagement.

Through the Deep Tech Initiative, a three-year pioneering programme of training and courses, EIT will skill deep tech talents and boost the digital transition Europe needs to address the talent gap in the tech fields. 

The Deep Tech Initiative and the creation of interconnected regional deep tech innovation valleys in the EU will retain and nurture young talents in those regions that are facing a talent development trap. 

The initiative recognises the important role of VET on innovation, notably through the Centres of Vocational Excellence, supported by Erasmus+ and Cohesion Policy Funds. It will contribute to creating a talent pool that will drive innovation and economic growth across Europe.

Read more about the initiative and other existing programmes steered by Cohesion Policy in the Commission’s Communication below.

Read the full Communication

See you next week at #HotlineCohesion

The Youthopia Project is co-funded by the Directorate General for Regional and Urban policy (DG REGIO) of the European Commission.

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#HotlineCohesion – Youth4RevivingTerritories: the EU needs you(th)!

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Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy.

Should I stay or should I go? Tell the EU!

Leaving home is always a tough decision. If you are younger than 29, and you are considering leaving your home region, the EU wants to hear what it is pushing or holding this decision with Youth4RevivingTerritories.

With Youth4RevivingTerritories, a 5-minute survey, you can express your point of view about the advantages and disadvantages linked to staying and working in your home region. Your answers will contribute to developing a toolkit with policy recommendations to reverse the trend of shrinking the youth population in EU regions.

FILL IN THE SURVEY!

Why Youth4RevivingTerritories is important?

According to the 2023 Report on the Impact of Demographic Change, the EU is facing several challenges triggered by the demographic transition. These include an ageing population, a shrinking working-age population and population decline more generally, as well as increasing regional disparities, including a growing urban-rural divide.

For example, 82 regions in 16 Member States (accounting for almost 30% of the EU population) are severely affected by this decline of the working age population, a low share of university and higher-education graduates, or a negative mobility of their population aged 15-39.

Deepened disparities within the EU are going to threaten the prosperity and stability of the whole Union. It is vital that policymakers hear from the people who experience a demographic change in their life, and that they have the correct information to enact effective responses.

What is the EU doing about it right now? …A booster for the regions!

In addition to the existing EU initiatives, in 2023 the EU launched the Talent Booster Mechanism, a scheme to support EU regions in training, retaining and attracting the people, the skills and the competences needed to address the impact of the demographic transition. The Talent Booster Mechanism targets those regions which are particularly affected by a decline in the working population, and it offers them several venues of action to boost their talent retention strategy.

See you next week at #HotlineCohesion!

The Youthopia Project is co-funded by the Directorate General for Regional and Urban policy (DG REGIO) of the European Commission.

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#HotlineCohesion – “Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs: Retaining Talents and Igniting Innovation in Europe”

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Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy.

FACILITATING GREAT IDEAS.

The European exchange programme for Entrepreneurs, aka “Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs,” plays a crucial role in retaining talented individuals within European regions. By offering a unique opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to develop their skills and knowledge through collaboration with experienced entrepreneurs, the programme provides an attractive alternative to emigrating in search of better opportunities. In this way, the programme supports the development of a strong and dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem within Europe, which in turn helps to promote economic growth, create jobs, and stimulate innovation.

“Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs” offers an invaluable opportunity for aspiring European entrepreneurs to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to successfully start and run a small business within Europe. The initiative facilitates the exchange of knowledge and business ideas between new and experienced entrepreneurs, who collaborate and work together for a period of one to six months.

HOW IT WORKS IN PRACTICE.

The programme is partly financed by the European Commission, and offers a range of benefits to participants. As a new entrepreneur, you’ll benefit from on-the-job training in a small or medium-sized enterprise in another participating country, which can ease the process of starting or strengthening your own business. Additionally, you’ll gain access to new markets, international cooperation, and potential opportunities for collaboration with business partners abroad.

For host entrepreneurs, the programme offers a unique opportunity to gain fresh ideas and specialized skills from motivated new entrepreneurs, who may possess knowledge in areas that complement or enhance existing skill sets. Many host entrepreneurs report enjoying the experience so much that they decide to host other new entrepreneurs in the future.

Beyond the immediate benefits of collaboration, participation in the programme also offers extensive networking opportunities and the potential for long-term partnerships. Joint ventures, sub-contracting activities, and contractor-supplier relationships are just a few examples of fruitful relationships that can develop through the programme.

FIND THE LOCAL CONTACT POINT…OR CREATE ONE!

The programme operates across participating countries with the assistance of local contact points, which are competent in business support and include organizations such as Chambers of Commerce, start-up centres, and incubators. These activities are coordinated at a European level by the Support Office of the Programme.

Application and participation in the programme are free of charge, and no fees are requested by any participating organization. For further information on conditions of participation, interested parties should consult the programme guide, which is available in English.

CHECK OUT THE PROGRAMME GUIDE

See you next week at #HotlineCohesion!

The Youthopia Project is co-funded by the Directorate General for Regional and Urban policy (DG REGIO) of the European Commission.

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#HotlineCohesion – European Solidarity Corps: the difference that matters.

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Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy. 

Opportunities for youth employment and green transition offered by Cohesion Policy require appropriate visibility, especially amongst the youth. Widespread information makes sure that opportunities reach their target, and that the future is shaped to the needs of those who will live in it. 
Every week the AER will publish its series #HOTLINECOHESION with information concerning new funding opportunities and participatory processes open to youth in your regions!

A Union of Solidarity

The European Solidarity Corps for Youth (ESC4) aggregates solidarity from all Europe, bringing it where it matters the most. From social inclusion to environmental protection to humanitarian aid, the European Solidarity Corps creates a Union of solidarity, project by project, and they make it reach the most vulnerable.

Cross-Border Volunteering and Projects for the Most Vulnerable

The European Solidarity Corps offers volunteering and project opportunities for young people looking for professional experience with social impact on vulnerable communities. As European platform, it offers the opportunity for associations and young candidates to post their profiles, present their aims and discover if there is a match.

In 2023, there are two main types of opportunities for candidates:

  • Volunteering: candidates spend between 2 and 12 months in a hosting organisation which provides food and accommodation. Activities usually take place in a country different than the one of origin of candidates- ‘cross-border volunteering‘- but it is also possible to do ‘in-country’. Volunteers receive pocket money for daily expenses. It is possible to join as individuals or in teams: the latter option is shorter (maximum 2 months) and it is thought for people with less opportunities.
  • Volunteering in Humanitarian Aid: this type of volunteering focuses on providing relief to communities stricken by humanitarian disasters or to ensure their preparedness. Volunteers will be trained by at least two organisations and supported by a third one located in a third country (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Turkey and Republic of North Macedonia)
  • Solidarity Projects: young people can team up and submit a project proposal for funding (500 EUR per month max). The proposal should address local, regional or national issues that affect the local community and are addressed by EU priorities such as inclusion, climate change, democratic engagement, citizenship or gender equality.

Other opportunities such as jobs and traineeship may be possible during 2023, but they will be discontinued as the year ends.

Eligibility

Young people

  • European Solidarity Corps volunteering activities are open to 18-30 year old people who reside in programme and partner countries. The age limit is 35 for those involved in Humanitarian Aid Activities.

Organisations

To be eligible for funding through the European Solidarity Corps, organisations need to be aiming to the greater social good of the communities where they are working. Fields of work may include:

  • encouraging democratic participation
  • fighting social exclusion
  • protecting nature
  • promoting health and wellbeing
  • promoting education and training
  • working with migrant communities. 
  • strengthening the capacity and resilience of vulnerable or disaster-affected communities in those regions of third countries in which humanitarian aid activities and operations take place
  • reinforce disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction in these regions.

See you next week at #HotlineCohesion!

The Youthopia Project is co-funded by the Directorate General for Regional and Urban policy (DG REGIO) of the European Commission.

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#HotlineCohesion – Get back on track with ALMA!

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Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy. 

Opportunities for youth employment and green transition offered by Cohesion Policy require appropriate visibility, especially amongst the youth. Widespread information makes sure that opportunities reach their target, and that the future is shaped to the needs of those who will live in it. 
Every week the AER will publish its series #HOTLINE COHESION with information concerning new funding opportunities and participatory processes open to youth in your regions!

 With ALMA, no young person is left behind 

Social inequalities and unemployment stop young people from achieving good standard of living and healthy lifestyle. After the pandemic excluded them from the labour market, the cost of living crisis worsened their difficulties. The ALMA initiative gives young disadvantaged people the opportunity to improve their situation.

What is ALMA ?

The ALMA (Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve) initiative is a transnational working mobility scheme, where participants receive support in their education, training, or employment path. It aims to restore the confidence of young people with difficulties in finding job opportunities or from disadvantaged backgrounds.

How does ALMA work?

The programme boosts the employability of young people by putting them in touch with professionals who can support participants in accessing job opportunities and integrating in the labour market and in society.  

A transnational collaboration between partner organisations, the ALMA “initiative aims to facilitate the transfer and upscaling of innovative solutions to the societal challenges of today. Through supporting transnational cooperation, the initiative aims to expand best practices in fields involving employment, education, skills and social inclusion across Europe.” 

Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve…but first of all, discover how to apply.

ALMA supports all young people under 30 who are neither in employment nor in education or training (NEET). The initiative  targets those who are struggling the most and who come from disadvantaged backgrounds and “have difficulties accessing the labour market or training for individual or structural reasons (e.g. disability, long-term unemployment, insufficient school performance or vocational skills, migration background, etc)” 

Eligibility of candidates and organisations

Candidates will be eligible if their EU Member State and region implement ALMA under their ESF+ programmes.

What does ALMA provide?

To ensure that nobody is left behind, ALMA grants to participants a tailor-made experience covering traveling costs, insurance, social security, accommodation, food, coaching and counselling before, during and after the stay abroad.  

To achieve a well-coordinated initiative, ALMA operations consist of three phases: 

  • Preparation: The participants receive intensive tailor-made training and coaching in their country to prepare them for a stay abroad. 
  • Mobility: participants spend 2 to 6 months in another EU Member State, integrated into the work environment of a company. 
  • Follow-up: After achieving new skills and developing their aptitudes abroad, they are guided in their home country to gain employment or further education. 

If you are looking for further information on the implementation of ALMA mobility programmes, please consult the ALMA manual of guidance, published by the European Commission. 

See you next week at #HotlineCohesion!

The Youthopia Project is co-funded by the Directorate General for Regional and Urban policy (DG REGIO) of the European Commission.

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#HotlineCohesion: EUTeens4Green – Youth Ways for a Just Transition

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Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy. 

HOW TO MITIGATE THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF THE TRANSITION

It is no secret that the very needed green transition will lead to profound changes in the labour market – ‘new jobs will be created, while some jobs will be replaced and other refined’. Ensuring a fair and just transition becomes therefore a crucial point of action for regions and its youth.

In the Zasavska region in Western Slovenia for instance, since 2013 almost 5.000 jobs have been lost and the GDP has been dropping to 53% of the Slovenian average due to the closure of the Zasavaje coal mine and the region’s coal-fuelled power plant. Yet, studies show that the adoption of clean energy technologies in more than half of the EU coal regions can counter this effect through the creation of around 460.000 new jobs by 2050. The need to manage this change and develop appropriate supportive actions (as fostering the s.c. green skills20) to fully exploit the employment potential of the transition is one of the greatest responsibilities of the EU and its regions.

In the coming years, the Cohesion policy will support regions in their transition paths at several levels:

Actions needed to mitigate the impact of the transition on the society (as labour market interventions and reskilling of the workforce) will be supported under Policy Objective 4 ‘A more social and inclusive Europe’. In addition, financial support from the Just Transition Fund will be delivered to regions in the Just Transition Plans to alleviate the social, economic, and environmental impacts of the transition.

HOW DOES YOUTH GET INVOLVED?

Why is it essential to include young people in the Just Transition process?

Enabling young people to have a say in their future, be designers of their own projects and therefore become leaders and future leaders in their own communities are building blocks for achieving a fairer and more equal society. Young people are utterly concerned about the environment and they can be agents of change.

The EUTeens4Green project is a call to action for teens to take ownership in their communities and contribute to a fair and just green transition in the areas most in need to phase out coal and transitioning to forms of less polluting and renewable energies. 

Through mini-grants provided directly to groups of young people, the project is designed to empower the next generation to become actors of change in their regions and help to reduce socio-economic disparities. By focusing on regions identified in the preliminary analysis of the Territorial Just Transition Plans and most affected by the low-carbon transition, the project has the potential to alleviate inequalities between regions and create a more equitable future for all.

THE STAKES.

The criteria to run a EUTeeens4Green project are: 

  • Take place in a Just Transition region
  • Be run by young people aged 15-24
  • Request a max. refunding of €10.000
  • Last maximum of 12 months
  • Must engage social groups negatively affected by the transition to a green economy
  • Ensure diversity & inclusion and good environmental performance

Projects to be funded in the frame of EUTeens4Green may cover activities like the following (non-exhaustive list):

  • Awareness-raising/communication activities
  • Capacity-building actions (education, training, mentoring, events)
  • Campaigning and advocacy activities
  • Participatory processes aimed to engage with different groups of people
  • Innovative solutions or pilots for testing innovative solutions
  • Exchange of good practices
  • Research
  • Other activities in line with the scope of the action

Applications for the first cohort closed on the 9th of January and we are looking forward to knowing more about the successful applicants and their experience!!

Check out the page to find out too and to keep yourself posted when a new call is open!

See you next week at #HotlineCohesion!

The Youthopia Project is co-funded by the Directorate General for Regional and Urban policy (DG REGIO) of the European Commission.

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#HotlineCohesion: The IVY League of Volunteering

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Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy. 

The IVY League of Volunteering

Borders are theoretical, cooperation is practical. This is the spirit of The Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY), an initiative funded by Cohesion Policy that connects the values of European cooperation and the matters of local and regional communities. 

Since 2017, IVY fosters a community of young volunteers and host organisations committed to implementing European projects across Europe. Funded through the EU Interreg programme, IVY has the dual goal to support cooperation thanks to the involvement of motivated young people and empower them professionally, while making the benefits of cooperation more visible among local communities and beyond.

IF YOU WANT TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER.

Besides the opportunity to put in practice their goodwill, volunteers receive a daily allowance, contribution to travel expenses and health insurance.

As participants, young people have the opportunity to support cross-border cooperation through project management or communication activities. 

In project management, they will contribute to the implementation of projects as Interreg Project Partners, learning first-hand how European cooperation works. In communication, they will work as Interreg reporters and contribute to give visibility to the achievements of EU projects.

Whether as Project Partners or Reporters, volunteers build their professional skills in an international working environment, learning how international cooperation functions in practice and how volunteering brings to life a connected Europe.

In 2022, the European Commission signed a 3-year-long contract with the aim to deploy 420 volunteers by the end of 2024.

Seize the opportunity, check here for the latest vacancies and apply!

IF YOU WANT TO BECOME AN HOST ORGANISATION.

IVY is open to receive applications from candidate host organisations throughout  the year. They can be based in the following areas:

  •  EU countries
  • Switzerland and UK
  •  European Economic Area (Iceland,Liechtenstein, Norway)
  • IPA-CBC countries (Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, Turkey)
  • ENI-CBC countries ( Algeria, Armenia, Georgia, Egypt, Israel,Jordan, Lebanon,Republic of Moldova,Palestine,Tunisia)

Managing Authorities, Joint Secretariats and National Authorities are eligible to host Interreg Reporters, while Project beneficiaries can apply as hosts of Interreg Project Partners.

APPLY TO BE A HOST

See you next week with a new episode of #HotlineCohesion series

#HotlineCohesion is part of the YOUTHopia project, co-funded by the Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO).

Discover more about #HotlineCohesion and YOUTHopia!

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#HotlineCohesion: Call from Interreg Europe – Sharing Solutions for Better Regional Policies

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Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy. 

Are you looking to team up with similar regions across Europe as a way to boost the development of your own region? The next Interreg Europe call, open from 15 March to 9 June 2023, could be the answer you are looking for!

Cooperation Strengthens Cohesion

The Interreg Europe programme, financed by the Cohesion policy’s European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), is designed to support interregional learning among regions across Europe. 

The aim of this programme is to facilitate knowledge-sharing between public authorities and learn from positive existing practices of other regions. By joining a project, for four years regions learn from each other and work together on a shared policy issue. Although direct beneficiaries are regional and public authorities, ultimately, young people, citizens and groups impacted by these policies (e.g., SMEs) benefit from more effective public intervention as a result. 

The programme was launched in 2014, and since then it has provided over €1 billion to over 1000 projects. The funding is allocated on a competitive basis, based on the quality of the proposed project and its potential impact. Projects must have a focus on policy learning and innovation and involve partners from at least three participating countries.

Why reinvent the wheel if the wheel can travel to your region?

Many of these projects achieved excellent results. For example, thanks to the project “Inkrease” and an inspiring and instrumental practice from France, Lower Austria has opened a ‘House of Digitalisation’ for local companies, which provides a service to help them with their digital innovation needs. 

Likewise, as a result of the “Regional Creative Industries Alliance’ and inspired by ideas from Latvia and Spain, in Wallonia, Belgium, creative industry SMEs can now count on support from a new incubator, which provides a portfolio of services, including access to the leaders in their field.

These and other projects demonstrate that Interreg brings “clear European added value by helping to ensure that borders are not barriers, bringing Europeans closer together, helping to solve common problems, facilitating the sharing of ideas and assets (knowledge, skills, infrastructure, etc.), and encouraging strategic work towards common goals.” (Programme Manual)

Longing to apply? Next Steps and Dates to Remember

You have a project idea and you are looking for more partners around Europe to cover specific expertise or reach the geographical balance?
Contact the AER Project Unit – a.pantaloni@aer.eu / a.comacchio@aer.eu 
You don’t have a project idea but would like to explore the possibility to join a consortium? Contact the AER Project Unit and let us know your availability and interest.
15 March: The call opens at a launch event in Sweden The “Europe, let’s cooperate! interregional cooperation forum” in Stockholm, Sweden, will open the second call for project proposals. Registrations will close on 3 March 2023.
15 March: Project application opensConnect to the Interreg Europe Portal and start creating your project application.
24-27 April: Project development week – Join four project development webinars on 24-27 April 2023. Interreg Europe will guide you through the steps to relevant partnership, good project methodology, project management and finances, as well as project communication.
March – June: Q&A sessions Join online every second week a call at 10am to get immediate answers to your questions about your project development from the Interreg Europe team. The sessions are planned on: 24 Mar | 5 Apr | 21 Apr | 5 May | 19 May | 2 June.
Get Ready for the Call!

See you next week with a new episode of #HotlineCohesion series

#HotlineCohesion is part of the YOUTHopia project, co-funded by the Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO).

Discover more about #HotlineCohesion and YOUTHopia!

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#HotlineCohesion: Youth4Regions, the programme for young journalists – Make Europe, do journalism.

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Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy. 

The many opportunities for youth employment and green transition offered by Cohesion Policy require appropriate visibility, especially amongst the youth. Widespread information makes sure that opportunities reach their target, and that the future is shaped to the needs of those who will live in it. 
Every week the AER will publish its series #HOTLINE COHESION with information concerning new funding opportunities and participatory processes open to youth in your regions!

Write about Europe to make it real

EU Cohesion Policy is abstract until citizens understand it. One of the ways to make it real is to write about it. Youth4Regions is the programme by the European Commission that offers tailored training to aspiring young journalists interested in reporting about European affairs and Cohesion Policy.

Managed by the Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO), Youth4Regions aims to address the challenge of technical language used to describe European affairs; it trains a new generation of journalists who are passionate about giving visibility to the social impact of European projects.

How to participate in Youth4Regions?

Brussels may be the policy-making epicentre of the EU, but the EU is what exists outside Brussels. Through Youth4Regions, young journalists have the opportunity to demonstrate by submitting a short article (from 2500 to 6250 characters) or a short video (between 2 and 3 minutes) about the local impact of a EU project co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) or the Cohesion Fund (CF).

What does Youth4Regions offer?

Selected participants will attend the European Week of Regions and Cities 2023, which will take place between 7 and 13 October 2023 in Brussels. Travel and accommodation costs will be covered by the Programme.

During the week, participants will receive practical training on how to cover EU Cohesion Policy, engage with established journalists from Europe and their home countries, participate in study trips to the headquarters of EU institutions and pan-European media, and attend the European week as correspondents.

Are you eligible for Youth4Regions?

The Youth4Regions Programme targets young and aspiring journalists who fit the following criteria:

  • Interest in what EU Cohesion Policy is doing in European regions
  • Background in journalism (ongoing studies or up to 2 years of experience)
  • Nationality: EU, EU candidate countries (Albania, Republic of North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine), potential candidates (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and Kosovo), ENI countries (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia, as well as Armenia and Azerbaijan) and EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland). 
  • Age: 18 to 30 years old
  • Availability during the week of 7 – 13 October 2023

See you next week with a new episode of #HotlineCohesion series

#HotlineCohesion is part of the YOUTHopia project, co-funded by the Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO).

Discover more about #HotlineCohesion and YOUTHopia!

Real Cohesion is (not a) YOUTHopia - Highlights from the YOUTHopia project

Real Cohesion is (not a) YOUTHopia – Highlights from the YOUTHopia project

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​​#HotlineCohesion: Cohesion Policy for a Young and Green Future

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Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy. 

The many opportunities for youth employment and green transition offered by Cohesion Policy require appropriate visibility, especially amongst the youth. Widespread information makes sure that opportunities reach their target, and that the future is shaped to the needs of those who will live in it. 
Every week the AER will publish its series #HOTLINE COHESION with information concerning new funding opportunities and participatory processes open to youth in your regions!

Youth unemployment is a longstanding challenge for Europe

High youth unemployment in Europe has been a persistent issue for the last decades. Post-pandemic figures show that, as of October 2021, 2.905 million youth (under 25) were NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) in the EU and the youth unemployment rate was 15.9%. Unless appropriate measures are taken, more and more young people may disengage from active job search, and they may grow distant from the political and social life of their communities.

The EU response to youth unemployment

This issue becomes even more relevant in light of the new Cohesion policy 2021-27, especially when it comes to relaunching local economies and jobs which have been largely affected by the pandemic. The new policy provides several novelties such as the new European Social Fund+ and the Youth Employment Initiative, and the Just Transition Fund – which are further reinforced through the financial support coming through Recovery and Resilience Facility and REACT-EU as part of the Recovery Plan for Europe.

The youth action for a green and fair future

On their side, young citizens lead the protests asking for concrete actions to be taken to fight climate change, protect biodiversity and safeguard their future. With the adoption of the European Green Deal, the EU made the response to these requests its highest priority, setting the ambitious goal of becoming the first climate-neutral continent in the world by 2050 while reducing greenhouse gas emission by 55% by 2030. When it comes to climate change, Cohesion policy is key as it provides the place-based framework and the financial support needed to ensure that a ‘just’ and ‘sustainable transition becomes an opportunity for European regions.

Youth for a Just Transition

The magnitude of the transition requires the active involvement of the young generations, as those mostly concerned by the transition. ‘Youth for a Just Transition: A Toolkit for a Youth Participation in the Just Transition Fund’ promoted by the European Commission highlights that young people’s participation in the transition process is essential because:

  • They have the ‘right to participate’ in decisions concerning their future;
  • They own ‘valuable ideas and skills’ that should be applied to develop a sustainable transition path and solutions to possible challenges;
  • They can foster the ‘intergenerational dimension’ of the transition raising the awareness of their local peers about its reasons and consequences;
  • ‘Achieving a successful transition‘ requires providing ‘sufficient opportunities and good alternative jobs for young people’.

The Commission is also putting its money where its mouth is, fostering concrete actions to ensure meaningful participation of the youth in the transition process with calls for proposals such as ‘EUTEENS4GREEN’ (coming up soon in our #HotlineCohesion).

On its side, at AER we recognise the major importance to build upon the space that the transition provides for actions that are explicitly targeted to (re)launch youth employment in the context of a future and green economy and society. YOUTHopia is our space to make cohesion real for the NextGeneration. 

See you next week at #HotlineCohesion!

The Youthopia Project is co-funded by the Directorate General for Regional and Urban policy (DG REGIO) of the European Commission.

Read more about #HotlineCohesion and #YOUTHopia:

Real Cohesion is (not a) YOUTHopia - Highlights from the YOUTHopia project

Real Cohesion is (not a) YOUTHopia – Highlights from the YOUTHopia project

Cohesion Policy is the net that holds EU regions together. As pan-European communication campaign, YOUTHopia's aim has been highlighting the ...
Read More
The Alpine Region’s Model for youth empowerment | Cohesion Policy | YOUTHopia

The Alpine Region’s Model for youth empowerment | Cohesion Policy | YOUTHopia

The EU-Strategy for the Alpine Region brings young people from the Alpine region in their summer camps, youth council events ...
Read More
Join AER at the #EURegionsWeek 2023

Join AER at the #EURegionsWeek 2023

The #EURegionsWeek, the largest event about Cohesion Policy in Brussels, is coming back from 9 to 12 October 2023. The ...
Read More
Wrap-up: Highlights from AER 2023 Summer Symposium | General Assembly, Bureau Meeting and YOUTHopia Transnational Event

Wrap-up: Highlights from AER 2023 Summer Symposium | General Assembly, Bureau Meeting and YOUTHopia Transnational Event

150 participants from 50 European regions attended the AER Summer Symposium 2023 In Barcelona ...
Read More
Empowering Youth Through Cohesion - Dive into YOUTHopia Virtual Exhibition

Empowering Youth Through Cohesion – Dive into YOUTHopia Virtual Exhibition

The Future Fairs, the flagship events of YOUTHopia campaign, bring together young individuals in each of the five regions partners ...
Read More
Open Call for Young Participants -Be part of the YOUTHopia Workshop: Unboxing EU Cohesion Policy

Open Call for Young Participants -Be part of the YOUTHopia Workshop: Unboxing EU Cohesion Policy

27 July - 3 August - 10 August (3-5 pm CET) Hear hear young people! If you are either from ...
Read More
#HotlineCohesion - Girls Go Circular: how the EU Turns Pink & Digital

#HotlineCohesion – Girls Go Circular: how the EU Turns Pink & Digital

Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy. Digital ...
Read More
CLOSED [Call for facilitators] YOUTHopia Workshop Series: Unboxing EU Cohesion Policy

CLOSED [Call for facilitators] YOUTHopia Workshop Series: Unboxing EU Cohesion Policy

Are you a youth facilitator/trainer with experience in either EU legislation processes, Europe's story-telling or youth advocacy and political participation? ...
Read More
#HotlineCohesion - YOUTH4ORS: Empowering Youth in Remote Outermost Regions

#HotlineCohesion – YOUTH4ORS: Empowering Youth in Remote Outermost Regions

Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy How ...
Read More
#HotlineCohesion - Coal:Not Cool! But We Need A Just Transition (Fund).

#HotlineCohesion – Coal:Not Cool! But We Need A Just Transition (Fund).

Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy. The ...
Read More
Follow AER!
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Real Cohesion is (not a) YOUTHopia – Highlights from the YOUTHopia project

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Cohesion Policy is the net that holds EU regions together. As pan-European communication campaign, YOUTHopia’s aim has been highlighting the threads that create this net. Managed by the AER and ereb.eu (former Cafebabel) as media partner, YOUTHopia brought to light Cohesion Policy-funded opportunities which enable regions to work for a greener, more inclusive and cohesive EU.

For one year, five  regions across Europe worked together to bring YOUTHopia to life. Donegal County, Eastern and Western Slovenia, Košice Self-Governing region and Union of Cyprus Municipalities collaborated to create a community-based communication campaign spreading awareness about the benefits of Cohesion Policy.

3..2…1..:  Action! AER shoots #HotlineCohesion

Throughout one year, YOUTHopia generated communications about the benefits of Cohesion Policy in different formats. First released in February 2023, #HotlineCohesion was the first multimedia highlight of YOUTHopia. Equipped with camera and spontaneous acting, the AER Secretariat shot six videos about different opportunities funded by Cohesion Policy, ranging from the YOUTH4Regions Media programme to the several youth  schemes which allow young people to support the most vulnerable across Europe, such as the Interreg Volunteer Youth, and receive training and vocational support, like in the case of the ALMA initiative.

Interested to see more about #HotlineCohesion? Click here!

From Brussels to Europe, from Europe to Brussels

YOUTHopia moved across Europe, travelling in each of the five flagship regions through the organisation of the YOUTHopia Local Future Fairs. Taking place with the slogan ‘Cohesion becoming a reality for the next generation’, these fairs served as a meeting and networking opportunity for citizens and stakeholders interested in Cohesion Policy funded opportunities.

The Future Fairs, the flagship events of the YOUTHopia campaign, gathered young individuals from each of the five regional partners.

27th April, Donegal

9th May Košice

19th May, region West Slovenia

2nd June, Union of Cyprus

23rd to the 29th July, East Slovenia

These fairs served as a forum for Cohesion Policy beneficiaries in the region to share their success stories, inspire young talents, and build personal and professional networks. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flying on the words of Solutions Journalism

The pan-European ambition of YOUTHopia could be satisfied only with a comprehensive approach to communication. This is why the AER teamed up with ereb.eu, formerly Cafe Babel, to make sure that that the power of journalism gave wings to Cohesion Policy success stories. 

CaféBabel, now known as Ereb, is a multilingual cross-border online magazine that collaborates with professional journalists across Europe. Ereb served as the multimedia partner that published all the YOUTHopia news in the five different member regions. They uncovered untold stories and focused their work on the citizens who have benefited from Cohesion Policy projects.

Ereb also cooperated with young people from the regions to organise a series of in-person workshops on ‘Solutions Journalism’, which culminated in the compilation of a Solutions Journalism Guide. These workshops aimed to equip young people with the skills to analyse and report on EU projects and initiatives. This initiative empowered young people to make a positive impact by shedding light on the incredible work being done within their communities and motivated them to improve their communication skills (See Social Media Gallery).

YOUTHopia at the European Week of Regions and Cities

As the largest event dedicated to Cohesion Policy and regions in Brussels, the EU Regions Week offered the perfect space to showcase YOUTHopia and its achievements through two events on 9 October and 12 October.

YOUTHopia Evening Debate and Photojournalism Exhibition on 9 October (check the pictures here)

Opened by the remarks of Elio Di Rupo, Minister President of Wallonia, the YOUTHopia Evening Debate and Photojournalism Exhibition was an opportunity to reflect on importance of finding innovative strategies to communicate on Cohesion Policy. With the EU getting ready for the collective exercise of democracy of the EU elections in June 2024, the commitment and work of YOUTHopia regions set an important precedent about the role of regional authorities and communities in spreading awareness of the benefits  of Cohesion Policy. Viktória Ječová spoke on behalf of the Košice Self-Governing Region, Chara Georgiadou for the Union of Cyprus Municipalities, Mícheál Ó hÉanaigh for Donegal, Brina Lazar for Eastern Slovenia and Nataša Rojšek for Western Slovenia.

Chara Georgiadou, Union of Cyprus Municipalities
Viktória Ječová, Košice Self-Governing Region
Viktória Ječová, Košice Self-Governing Region
Mícheál Ó hÉanaigh, Donegal
Brina Lazar, Eastern Slovenia
Nataša Rojšek, Western Slovenia

The perspective from the regions was complemented by the contribution of Gianluca Comuniello, DG REGIO, who highlighted how Cohesion Policy plays a structural role in building the EU of today and tomorrow as it bridges regions with different levels of development.

Gianluca Comuniello, DG REGIO

The youth perspective of Norbert Nagy, Vice President of the Youth Regional Network, complemented the regional and institutional take on Cohesion Policy. Nagy highlighted how trust and responsibility in young people’s interest in learning contributed to the success of YOUTHopia, shifting the communication approach from a frontal one to an engaged one. Nagy seized the opportunity to present the Youth Regional Network’s Youth Manifesto, a collective effort produced by the AER’s cross-border youth network outlining the recommendations and priorities of young people for the future of Cohesion Policy. Read the Youth Manifesto here.

Norbert Nagy, YRN Vice President

His words echoed the ones of Nina Wagner, journalist of the Youth4Regions Media Programme by DG REGIO, who opened the floor for a sparkling Q&A session.

Nina Wagner, Youth4Regions fellow

The launch of the AER Task Force on Cohesion Policy marked the end of the final event, showing that, while YOUTHopia may be nearing the end, the AER work on Cohesion Policy will continue and actually it will be increasing ahead of the EU Elections in 2024. The Task Force will reflect on how to maximise the effectiveness of Cohesion policy with a view to tackling the multiple challenges identified in the 8th Cohesion Report published by the European Commission, from the innovation divide to the demographic change. It will also reflect on how the policy will support a fair digital and green transition and regional recovery and growth. Overall, it will aim to:

  •  to maximise the impact of cohesion policy in terms of reducing economic, social and territorial disparities for our members; 
  • to contribute to the future orientations of the cohesion policy post 2027; 
  • to create a community of practice, peer learning and good practice in the field of cohesion policy implementation.

 

Did you enjoy the final YOUTHopia event? Let us know and let’s keep in touch! 

Workshop ‘How to Build Trust among (Young) Citizens to Support Urban Change’ with Tilburg Municipality on 12 October 2023

From L to R: Abdellah Aknin (Tilburg), Inez Rastovac (EU Project Manager Tilburg), Norbert Nagy, Michal Hladký (Košice), Safaa Bouzambou (Tilburg)

‘Trust me, I am a local authority’. The instinct to laugh triggered by this sentence is telling of the fact that there is a trust issue at regional and local levels, and it is particularly problematic when this concerns young citizens. The joint workshop with Tilburg Municipality brought together the perspectives of young people who achieved a space of social engagement and made it thrive.

As communication campaign, YOUTHopia had the merit of bringing in focus the relationship between young people and Cohesion Policy. As Norbert Nagy mentioned during the workshop, YOUTHopia re-centered communication priorities around the key concerns and aspirations of the youth, shaping Cohesion Policy as a matter of key interest for young citizens. In this manner, YOUTHopia advocated for a different type of leadership, where young people have ownership of the policy priorities impacting them directly. Since its early inception YOUTHopia was built on the priorities and needs of young people, and highlighted the need of leaders able to trust and empower young people in accessing the right information about the role of Cohesion Policy.

Norbert Nagy shows a collage of the participants in the YOUTHopia Interrail contest

On Tilburg’s side, Safaa Bouzambou and Abdellah Aknin shared the transformative impact of the project Forwart on the neighbourhood of North Tilburg, where young people have perceived narrow opportunities and there is a decreasing space for service providers to step in. The trust from people in a position of responsibility allowed Safaa Bouzambou, Abdellah Aknin and their colleagues to establish a cultural ecosystem in the neighbourhood, enabling its residents to elaborate together on the meaning and value of art. Youth and art were also at the center of the contribution of Michal Hladký, who is in the lead of empowering young people with art from Košice.

Did you enjoy the joint YOUTHopia workshop with Tilburg Municipality? Let us know and let’s keep in touch!

 

Tired of reading? Watch our wrap-up video!

YOUTHopia Consortium Meeting, October 2023. From L to R: Erik Hayes, AER Programmes & Projects Assistant; Agnese Pantaloni, EU Projects Coordinator; Francesca Festa and Quentin Ariès, co-founders ereb.eu
YOUTHopia key partners, October 2023. From L to R: Nataša Rojšek, Western Slovenia; Brina Lazar, Eastern Slovenia; Viktória Ječová, Košice Self-Governing Region;Erik Hayes, AER Programmes & Projects Assistant; Agnese Pantaloni, AER EU Projects Coordinator; Larisa Stanciu, AER Advocacy & Institutional Relations Manager; Chara Georgiadou, Union of Cyprus Municipalities; Revecca Michael, Union of Cyprus Municipalities
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YOUTHopia Workshop: Unboxing EU Cohesion Policy

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27 July – 3 August – 10 August (3-5 pm CET)

Hear hear young people! If you are either from a youth organisation, a young regional representative from our Youth Regional Network (YRN), or just a young enthusiast curious about EU and regional policy and politics, then mark your calendar!

AER’s YOUTHopia project is on a mission to uncover all you need to know about the biggest EU investment plan that covers one-third of the total EU Budget: the Cohesion Policy. They are all sealed in a mystery box prepared to be unboxed!

Unlike the infamous Pandora Box, once you discover its content you will get all the knowledge you need to empower yourselves, transform your region and city.

Don’t let the Cohesion Policy box gather dust,  join our 3  online workshops, and discover all the available opportunities for you(th)!

If you attend the three sessions, you will receive an official certificate of attendance and your newly acquired knowledge, sealed from the Assembly of European Regions.

The workshop will dive into key topics that together will equip you with a great overview of Cohesion Policy instruments, and how we can talk Cohesion-friendly to our peers, BUT NO WORRIES! YOU CAN REGISTER FOR EACH SESSION INDEPENDENTLY!

  • Session #1: The legislative process behind the EU main investment tool & avenues of participation in policy-making for youth. 27th July, 15:00 – 17:00 (CET, Brussels time)
  • Session #2: How Does It Work in Practice? An Overview of Funding & Opportunities for Youth. 3rd August, 15:00 – 17:00 (CET, Brussels time)
  • Session #3: Story-telling or the Art of Making European Cohesion Cool. 10th August, 15:00 – 17:00, Brussels time
REGISTER HERE

Can’t wait until the workshop? Check out our HotlineCohesion articles and answer our quiz in preparation!

Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or need further information. Contact e.hayes@aer.eu or a.comacchio@aer.eu.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity!

The Youthopia Project is co-funded by the Directorate General for Regional and Urban policy (DG REGIO) of the European Commission.

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