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You are here: Home / Archives for european elections

SUMMER ACADEMY 2019: Jönköping’s approach to youth participation

16 May, 2019 By Gisela Guari Cañada

“How to encourage active participation among first-time voters at the local level in the European election?“

Coinciding with the 2019 European Youth Capital, the region of Vojvodina (RS) will host in the city of Novi Sad the AER Summer Academy 2019 from the 1st to the 5th of July. This year’s edition of the Summer Academy entitled Youth is Future, Youth is Europe will be dedicated to reflecting on the Future of Europe from multiple angles and the role that young people can play in building a stronger Europe. The region of Jönköping Iän (SE) will share its experience with the Summer Academy participants in mobilising young people to stand up for Europe and participate in the EU elections. Scroll down to find out more…

You have an appointment with Jönköping Region!

The region of Jönköping Iän (SE) will present on the 2nd of July a successful local project that has encouraged first-time voters to participate in the European elections in Sweden, including various methodologies to raise awareness among the young population on the importance of taking an active role in democratic processes.

Why you should attend this workshop?

Besides finding out more about the Region’s governance, participants will discuss the ins and outs to effectively include young people in public affairs by learning how this Swedish region animates young people to campaign for this year’s European elections. This initiative has been co-developed by the region and the municipality of Jönköping.

Jönköping is sending a message to young Europeans!

It’s Time for EU-fuss (Dags för EU-tjafs) is the name of this project, which aims at boosting the debate around the importance of youth turnout in the upcoming EU elections by simulating a talk show. Through the involvement of some Swedish influencers and singers, many young people from the region of Jönköping attended the events and got a clear message: Go vote!

Meet the speakers!

The region of Jönköping Iän (SE) will be represented by Sophia El Masry, manager of Europe Direct in Jönköping, and Chantal Côté is international strategist in the municipality of Jönköping.

How to participate?

If you wish to participate in this workshop and in many other activities, please visit the event page of the Summer Academy and discover the full programme.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to join the Novi Sad 2019 European Youth Capital!

Register Now!

Photo credits: Devin Avery, Unsplash

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Where do you want to #IChooseEurope?

1 May, 2019 By Rosanna Fanni

Belgian MEP candidates and JEF Europe representatives in Brussels

The #IChooseEurope campaign aims to encourage all Europeans to take part in the elections held on May 24-27 across the continent. To reach out, a series of debates and public events were organised by young activists to raise awareness about the European Elections.

One of the key messages, campaigning for a more united Europe, was literally implemented with a dedicated bus which visited 12 cities. At each stop, the #IChooseEurope volunteers organised a public event where locals, politicians and gathered to speak about their visions for Europe.

The campaign particularly involved young people as a growing social and political force, especially in the current debate on the future of Europe. The young activists and the widely-engaged public were thus starkly contrasting pessimistic observations about increasing disengagement voiced by decision-makers and the media.

The bus toured across Europe during the month of April:
The first trip started in Frankfurt am Main (DE), with stops in Krakau (PL), Vienna (AT) and Budapest (HU).
The second part included stops in Ljubljana (SL), Sofia (BG), Thessaloniki (GR) and Skopje, Macedonia (FYROM).
The final trip started in Rome (IT), passed Barcelona (ES), Paris and Lille (FR), before its final stop in Brussels (BE).

AER is pleased to contribute to the pan-European project as a partner: We strongly support the spirit to encourage citizens across Europe in engaging with matters they care about. Furthermore, being a voice for regions, the #IChooseEurope bus tour suitably united local actors and political activists. In stimulating creativity and encouraging political debate, the project is exemplary for opening up a bottom-up, pan-European discourse.

Besides the main organiser, the Young European Federalists [JEF], other partner organisations included Animafac, Balkans Beyond Borders, Center for Intercultural Dialogue, DYPALL Network, Europe4Youth, European Educational Exchanges – Youth for Understanding, and the Union of European Federalists. 

Together, the civil society organisations aim – in the run-up to the European Parliament elections – to strengthen public participation before and after the elections. Thereby, #IChooseEurope sent a strong message to decision-makers and the public that the European youth is not just a passive audience, but a growing social and political force.

One #IChooseEurope participant, Jimena, tweeted:

Young people were furthermore participating in the tour because they claim to be particularly affected by the outcome of the results and the composition of the next European Parliament. Next to raising awareness about voting, the public events stimulated people to reflect about what kind of Europe they would like to vote for.

On April 30th, 2019, to coincidence with the European Youth Week, the #IChooseEurope bus tour finally arrived in the “Capital of Europe”, in Brussels. Many JEF members as well as interested citizens attended the closing event.

Belgian candidates for the European Parliament were on the panel: Maxim Vandekerckhove (sp.a/ S&D), Saskia Bricmont (ECOLO/ European Greens), Christophe Calis (Volt), Laura Hidalgo (MR/ ALDE) and Jan der Volder (CD&V). After a brief introduction on the elections in Belgium, the audience was excited to ask the political representatives: What would they have to say about the future or Europe?

The discussion touched on many issues around inequalities, a more sustainable Europe, inclusive and fair education – all of pertinence to young people. The candidates agreed to the importance of local political actors and initiatives to strengthen active citizenship. European decision-makers should not only implement policies but also get in touch more frequently with their constituents. “The roots lie in local democracy, it is only in your area where you can understand the way Europe really works.”

It is therefor crucial that young people turn out to vote on 23-26 May 2019. Through the project “European Youth Together: Road to the Future” and the #IChooseEurope campaign, AER hopes to boost citizen participation in the upcoming elections and ensure in particular that young people’s voices are heard.

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