Young voters are encouraged to participate in the next European elections, even from space!

The European Space Agency (ESA) helps the League of Young Voters spread its core message: Young voters must be taken seriously at the next European elections.

How? The League’s official badge currently hangs at the International Space Station (ISS), as can be seen in the photos. On the 30th May 2013, the League was launched at the Yo!Fest in Brussels. During the launch ceremony, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso symbolically handed the badge to ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli with the mission to bring it to space. ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano also contributed to the ceremony with an inspiring message encouraging young people in Europe to mobilise for the 2014 European elections. He recorded the message a few days before flying to the ISS. Upon the badge's return to earth, the European Youth Forum and ESA will hand it back to Barroso.

The League aims to tackle the ever-decreasing youth participation at the European Parliament elections by becoming the electoral platform for young people in Europe. It will increase the level of available youth-related information about the elections but will also encourage political parties and candidates to directly engage with young people in their campaigns.

The League of Young Voters is an initiative of the Youth Forum, the International Debate Education Association (IDEA) and VoteWatch Europe.