The Europe of tomorrow: it's up to us!

The citizens of Europe are currently experiencing a period of great uncertainty. The European Union must assert itself as an independent force, both economically and politically, within the new world order. This will not be possible without an active and committed population. Especially the younger generations in European countries have little trust in the political system and feel poorly represented politically. Therefore, with the support of the Dieter Schwarz Foundation, the dfi is launching a discussion and exchange project to help mobilise young Europeans.

Several studies and surveys involving young people across Europe highlight the expectations, questions and doubts currently on the minds of the younger generations. We want to work with groups of young people from the four EU Member States on the key issues facing Europe’s future, developing proposals and solutions based on the participants’ own life experiences. The project organisers propose topics identified as relevant in the studies and surveys. The participants select those they consider most important. Over several months, the topics are explored in working groups with educational support and discussed in both online and face-to-face meetings. The topic selection process is still ongoing – the first highly relevant topic to emerge is ‘What kind of democracy for tomorrow?’.

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We are currently recruiting participating educational institutions and groups. So far, the following groups have joined the project:

• Ludwigsburg: Oscar-Walcker-Schule Technical Gymnasium
• Heilbronn: City and District Youth Association
• Frankfurt/Slubice: Independent cross-border youth work
• Wrocław (Breslau): Kreisauer Kreis
• Bergamo: Liceo Falcone
• Castellanza: LIUC University
• Montbéliard: University of Applied Sciences, dual training in technical subjects
• Blois: Centre for construction apprentices and twinning association

This project focuses on practical experience within an international group, intellectual engagement with relevant social issues, and the development of well-considered views on Europe’s future. This educational process will be structured around two major in-person events at the start and end of the project, with the bulk of the work taking place online in between (where appropriate, with support from the young people’s home educational institutions).

Initial working sessions on the topics of ‘democracy’ and ‘social media’ have already taken place, and after the summer break, preparations will begin for the major meeting of all participating groups, which will include a public discussion event. This will take place in Heilbronn from 13 to 15 November.

With the support of journalist Hélène Kohl, a series of podcasts will be produced over the course of the project. These podcasts will give participants a chance to have their say and aim is to document their progress, discussions with experts and ideas for the future.

To the podcasts