Eastern Partnership youth organisations work together to influence societal policies

Youth organisations from Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries met on the 2nd and 3rd October to form a common stance on youth-related issues in preparation for the fifth annual assembly of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF).

The EaP CSF assembly, symbolically titled Together for a European Future, will follow on the 4th and 5th October in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. During those days, representatives of various organisations, government institutions and agencies “will discuss the priorities of civil society and its contribution to the reform process within the EaP,” according to the EaP CSF website.

European Youth Forum President Peter Matjašič opened the meeting via Skype. He encouraged participants to shape good recommendations reflective of the issues facing the region’s youth. They also learned about the structures and operations of the CSF to understand how their suggestions will influence the EaP CSF’s political processes.

In addition, the Youth Forum will participate in a panel discussion that will address such questions as what role, if any, young people from EaP countries could assume in promoting European integration and reforms in the region and why it’s important to do so. The Youth Forum advocates for strong youth policy in Europe, and its vision in that context will be explored during the discussion. It also believes that a common stance gives youth organisations a unified voice, strengthening their impact on matters that affect them.