Empowering Young Europeans to Engage Beyond the Ballot Box

At a time when trust in institutions is being tested, ParticipEU aims to strengthen participatory democracy by equipping young people with the tools and confidence to actively shape European policymaking.

Democracy does not begin and end with elections. It requires informed, engaged citizens who understand how to navigate EU mechanisms and make their voices heard.

Between May and October 2025, ParticipEU brought this vision to life through a diverse set of activities in Brussels:

  • 3 European Picnics: Informal civic gatherings in public parks where participants explored EU participatory democracy through interactive games, creative methods, and open discussions.
  • 2 “Have Your Say” Workshops: Hands-on sessions introducing the European Citizens’ Initiative and the Have Your Say platform, where participants developed their own initiative ideas and learned how to engage directly with EU policymaking.
  • 2 High-Level Youth Dialogues with MEPs: Large-scale events connecting young citizens with Members of the European Parliament, EU officials, and experts to discuss key topics such as digital transformation and European defence.

Through these interactive formats, participants explored concrete EU participatory instruments and gained practical insight into how citizens can directly influence legislation and policy discussions.

Connecting Youth with Decision-Makers

ParticipEU brings young citizens into direct dialogue with Members of the European Parliament, EU officials, and policy experts. High-level discussions on topics such as digital transformation and European security provide space for meaningful exchange and encourage young people to engage with complex political debates.

At the same time, creative formats such as the European Picnics transform public spaces into open democratic laboratories. Through gamified learning, simulations, and informal dialogue, EU participatory tools become tangible, accessible, and relevant to everyday concerns.

By combining structured dialogue with innovative and community-driven approaches, ParticipEU lowers the barriers to democratic participation and fosters long-term civic engagement.

The project contributes to building a generation of young Europeans who do not only observe political processes, but actively shape them and therefore strengthen the democratic fabric of Europe at both the local and EU levels.

Project duration: May 2025 – October 2025

Our Partners

ParticipEU was implemented in cooperation with:

  

 

And made possible by: