The European Union as a complex system is not always easy to understand, especially among young people. To bridge this gap, the YES Forum in collaboration with its Greek member IEKEP organised on 14 – 15 November 2023 the conference “What language does the EU speak? EU Literacy and European Citizenship: Frameworks for Dialogue and Skills Enhancement”.
There, policymakers, MEPs, EU institution staff, civil society representatives, youth work professionals and young people dialogued and exchanged their perspectives about the EU and the language applied in its communication.
Youth voice at the centre
The event began by looking at the legislative process with Thaís Dutra Fernández, Policy Officer at the European Commission, and Sophie Brandes, Research Officer at the German Kompetenzzentrum Jugend-check. They discussed the challenges of adopting easy-to-understand and youth-friendly legislation and how important it is to have the youth check – as a regulatory impact assessment tool – in place to raise awareness and draw attention to the concerns and needs of young people.
A panel led by young people showcased the READY project's innovative approach to youth-friendly communication. Young participants from Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, and Italy shared their experiences in creating accessible information for young citizens. Young panellists and the audience had the opportunity to directly engage in a discussion with Salvatore De Meo, an Italian Member of the European Parliament (MEP). The exchange offered valuable insights into the implications of such initiatives on the inclusion and participation of young people in European political processes.
Accessible communication for active citizenship
The materials produced in the frame of the READY project were the starting point for the second-day discussions on the role of effective EU communication in shaping a more social and fairer EU. Participants engaged in interactive activities designed by IEKEP, testing their knowledge of the European Union and its institutions using infographics created by young people and social and youth workers.
Afterwards, a panel discussion brought institutional and grassroots perspectives into dialogue. Denis Genton, director of the “European Pillar of Social Rights and Strategy” directorate in the European Commission; Anna Holmén, deputy head of communication of the DG Translation in the European Commission; Tommaso Parlatore, advisor to the Director of Campaigns of the DG Communication in the European Parliament; Anna Blackwell, EU Manager in the European Youth Forum and Dimitra Basiakou, Assistant Project Manager in IEKEP, together with the audience, explored the opportunities and challenges posed by communication in enabling youth to become active citizens. Pierre Larrouturou, French MEP, who also joined the session, contributed to an enriching exchange of ideas with the participants on the role young people can play as changemakers.
