Young people from the Central Denmark region and the Dutch province of Gelderland have taken part in a European meeting on governance, sustainability and youth participation held in the Basque Country. Delegations from both territories, along with young people from the Basque Country, have thus met to share experiences, reflect together and advance in new ways of youth involvement in the defining of public policies. 

Alexander Boto, the General Manager of Ihobe, kicked off the event in Bilbao by welcoming the delegates; he stressed the value of creating dialogue spaces among young people from different European regions to exchange views and build shared responses. ‘The great challenges that Europe is facing, such as the energy transition or bolstering our democracies, can only be addressed from cooperation among territories and with active youth participation,’ he pointed out.

Governance and the green transition

The event has included sessions focused on governance and the green transition, with a special focus on the Energy Transition and Climate Change Social Pact, together with participatory dynamics to foster the exchange of experiences.

The European Erasmus+ and Society Shapers programmes have held a work session for young people from Central Denmark and the Dutch province of Gelderland to share experiences and make progress in the role of youth in defining public policies

As the Ihobe Director recalled, the Social Pact, associated with the Basque Energy Transition and Climate Change Act ‘is a framework of collective commitment to progress towards net zero by means of the active engagement of public administrations, business and citizens to foster a shared, inclusive and just energy transition’.

Accordingly, Boto stressed the youth role. ‘Their voice is essential; we are therefore giving impetus to participation spaces, collaborative processes and regulatory frameworks that recognise the active role of the new generations in building the future,’ he explained. 

Field trips to the Ekoetxea Meatzaldea visitor centre and its mining environment rounded off the programme.

European programmes to drive youth participation

The event is part of the Erasmus+ programme, the European Union initiative that drives education, training, youth and sport by means of mobility opportunities and international cooperation. During the 2021-2027 period, Erasmus+ is boosting its commitment to social inclusion, youth participation and the green transition, by fostering learning experiences that contribute to skills building and bolstering an active European citizenry.

These European programmes are driving youth cooperation and engagement in democratic processes

The activity is also part of the Society Shapers project, whose goal is to strengthen youth participation in European, regional and local democratic processes. The project uses workshops, innovative methodologies and young people, policymakers and technicians working directly together to develop practical tools to facilitate greater youth involvement in public decision making. 

The Basque Country has highlighted the contribution of such initiatives to mutual learning and cooperation among European regions. As the Deputy Minister pointed out, ‘young people are not the future, but the present of public policies; their creativity and their critical eye are essential to advance towards more sustainable, inclusive and just development models’.