On March 26, 2025, ALDA brought together around 15 participants for an engaging online workshop: “How to Engage with the EU”.
This event, organised within the SpeakUP project, provided youth workers and young people practical tools to understand and connect with the European Union and its institutions.
The Speak Up project aims to empower young people by fostering active citizenship. Through activities such as national debate clubs in Romania, Cyprus, and Hungary, as well as international workshops, the project seeks to promote social engagement among youth.
Understanding the EU & Finding Your Voice
The first part of the workshop focused on how the European Union works and how citizens (especially young people) can play an active role in shaping its decisions.
The session opened with a reflection on why youth participation in EU policy making matters, followed by a brief explanation of how laws are made at the EU level, and how the different institutions interact.
The presentation then moved on to explore the main decision-makers within the EU, such as the European Commission and the European Parliament, and offered insights into how citizens can engage with them. Participants were introduced to concrete tools, like public consultations, the European Citizens’ Initiative, and different programmes and platforms that support youth participation – from Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, to portals like DiscoverEU and SALTO Youth.
The session aimed to show that the EU is not something distant or unreachable, but that it offers various entry points for young people to get involved and make their voices heard.
Learning through real stories
The workshop continued with a conversation with İrem Apaydın, a Governing Board Member of the European Youth Parliament (EYP). During the interview, she shared her personal story, explaining what led her to join EYP and how the experience has shaped her journey.
İrem introduced participants to the work of the EYP, which creates spaces for young people to engage in political dialogue, simulate parliamentary debates, and develop key skills such as public speaking, critical thinking, and negotiation. She also discussed the opportunities EYP offers in countries like Cyprus, Romania, and Hungary and concluded the session with an interactive Q&A.
Turning Ideas into Action: Advocating for Change
The final session of the workshop brought in the voices of three members of The Future We Want, a youth-led advocacy project focused on sustainability. Through their presentation, they shared what it means to engage with EU institutions from a youth perspective – not only by understanding how the system works, but by using that knowledge to advocate for issues that matter.
They spoke about how the project took part in advocacy actions and creative campaigns, and how they were able to communicate with policymakers and bring their ideas forward. The session included an interactive activity on how to craft and deliver an impactful elevator pitch – a short, persuasive speech to get a message across in under a minute.
Working in small groups, participants reflected on how to present a concrete idea to a policymaker or MEP and practiced building a clear and convincing message around it. The activity encouraged everyone to think critically about what they want to say, and how to say it effectively.
Empowering youth & fostering participation
The workshop highlighted the vital role of young people as active citizens. Through engaging discussions and practical tools, participants were encouraged to take an active role in civic life, from reaching out to decision-makers to joining local initiatives.
Thanks to the support of ALDA and the Speak Up project, the workshop served as a step forward in building confidence, knowledge, and motivation among youth to engage meaningfully at both local and European levels.
