Empowering Youth Voices: Defending Democracy and European Values
We cannot deny the European Union and its values are facing threats from both inside and outside. We are witnessing a rise of extreme parties throughout Europe. Recent polls and election results also show growing support for extreme right-wing parties amongst young people. The European Youth Forum is committed to actively speaking out against these threats and protecting the values of intercultural understanding, democracy, respect, diversity, human rights, active citizenship, and solidarity.
The European Union and all countries across continental Europe need to actively fight democratic backsliding. Young people are and will be central in countering this tendency. However, the lack of stable funding for youth organisations, shrinking civic spaces, misinformation, as well as reductions in freedom of speech, mean that young people are left to face unprecedented challenges.
Therefore,
- We call for the democratic and pro-European political groups in the European Parliament to block the anti-democratic forces across the political spectrum from holding influential positions in the European Parliament and from being part of the European Commission in the next mandate.
- We commit to continue and reinforce the work with the political forces that subscribe to our values.
- We call for the pro-European and democratic political parties and stakeholders to focus on the challenges and concerns of young people, and improve their engagement with young people and youth organisations at all levels throughout their mandates.
Related publications
The situation of youth organisations across Europe
Youth Organisations across Europe are facing an increasingly challenging situation. Political and economic circumstances are leading to shrinking civic spaces and therefore a shrinking chance of youth organisations to fulfil their purpose and represent the voice of young people. Read the motion to find out which of the European Youth Forum's members have been impacted and how, as well as what we commit to internally as part of our Strategic Plan and what we call for externally.
Protecting civil society and civic spaces in Georgia
In March 2023, the Government of Georgia initiated work on a legislative proposal on “foreign agents” that would have forced civil society organisations to be registered as being under foreign influence should they be receiving funding from sources outside of the country. As Georgia initiated negotiations for EU membership merely 6 months ago, this underscores how fragile Democracy and the Rule of Law are in our societies and how civic spaces must be protected tirelessly every day, everywhere.
Always on standby: How precarious work impacts young people’s mental health
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