On 19 June, the city of Rome will host the fourth edition of the EU-LAC Youth Days at the headquarters of the IILA. The event is organised by the EU-LAC Foundation and the IILA, with the support of the European Commission. It will bring together young leaders from Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean to strengthen interregional dialogue and develop policy recommendations in the lead-up to the EU-CELAC Summit 2025.
The meeting will provide a space for in-depth discussions on the main challenges facing youth in both regions, including:
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Digital transformation
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Climate justice
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Democratic participation
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Security and youth rights
The aim is to promote concrete cooperation initiatives and to strengthen youth networks across the regions. To this end, the programme will include expert-led debates, group work sessions, and the presentation of final conclusions, all over the course of one and a half days in a hybrid format. The outcomes will contribute to the EU-LAC strategic partnership, incorporating diverse youth perspectives into the development of bi-regional policies.
This event aligns with the EU Youth Action Plan in EU External Action (2022–2027), which provides a comprehensive policy framework for youth and plays a key role in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
On the CELAC side, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) launched the Youth Council of LAC (CJALC-CELAC) in 2022, aimed at developing an integrated regional proposal from a youth perspective.
Moreover, the event supports the Team Europe Initiative (TEI) on Inclusive and Equitable Societies in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the social dimension of the Global Gateway Investment Agenda.
Previous editions of the EU-LAC Youth Days have addressed other important youth-related themes, such as employability and education during the first edition in 2015 in Quito, Ecuador; and youth volunteering management during the second edition in 2018 in Zaragoza, Spain. More recently, the third edition held in 2021 in Prague (Czech Republic) focused on shared challenges and opportunities related to youth participation, education, employment, social cohesion, and green and digital transitions.
IV Youth Days EU-LAC Survey
| With the aim of facilitating the inclusive participation of young people in the IV EU-LAC Youth Days, a survey will be available until 30 June. This consultation, designed with a gender and intercultural perspective, seeks to gather inputs, proposals, and innovative ideas from young people aged 18 to 30 from both continents. These will be systematised and analysed by a specialised technical team to be incorporated into the final conclusions and recommendations of the event. |