EU

EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy & Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP) Kaja Kallas hosted the first EU Youth Policy Dialogue on EU Foreign Policy on 6 March 2025 in Brussels, Belgium.

From 4 until 6 March, 25 young participants took the opportunity to share their views, express their ideas, and engage in active discussions with high-level EU representatives, policymakers and  HR/VP Kaja Kallas. This dialogue, held at the House of European History in Brussels, marked the beginning of an annual series of discussions. These exchanges do ensure that the voices of young people are reflected in our work.

The Youth Policy Dialogues are designed to give young people a platform to share their opinions on EU policy initiatives. These dialogues bring together young people and EU Commissioners in an interactive setting, ensuring that youth perspectives are integrated into the EU's decision-making process. 

Through open discussions and exchanges, the dialogues aim to build relationships between young people and EU leaders, while empowering them to actively participate in democratic life. By engaging in these dialogues, young people can gain a deeper understanding of the reasoning behind policy decisions and their effects.

I will ask all Commissioners to organise their first annual Youth Policy Dialogues within the first 100 days of the mandate. These dialogues will be repeated annually.

- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, in her Political Guidelines 2024-2029

This first Youth Policy Dialogue on EU Foreign Policy underscores the EU’s commitment to empowering young voices and ensuring their meaningful participation in shaping the future of a stronger Europe around the world. 

Together, we can build a more cohesive, resilient, and inclusive Europe, grounded in the shared values of peace, democracy, human rights, and prosperity.

For the first dialogue, 25 participants aged between 19-30, from both within the EU and elsewhere around the world, attended an interactive three-day event.  

Preparatory meetings allowed participants to co-create the agenda for the dialogue, ensuring their priorities were reflected in the discussions. 

The programme focused on youth engagement in EU foreign policy and global challenges, featuring participatory workshops with policymakers and community-building activities. 

The discussions were based on the mission letter sent to HR/VP Kaja Kallas by President von der Leyen.

We are a group of 25 young community builders from the EU and around the world. On March 6, we had the opportunity to meet with HR/VP Kaja Kallas for the first Youth Policy Dialogue of the mandate.