The Future of Europe is one of the political priorities of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) for 2020-2025 (Bringing Europe closer to people), and is one of the key themes of the Young Elected Politicians (YEP) Programme 2021.
The High-Level Group on European Democracy (HLG) is an independent advisory body, set up to develop innovative ideas on improving European democracy and the impact and influence of local and regional authorities within the context of the CoR's participation in the Conference on the Future of Europe. In its decision setting up the HLG, the CoR noted the interest of the Chair, Herman Van Rompuy, and members of the High-Level Group in developing interaction with young local and regional politicians, notably through the CoR's YEP network and the European Youth Forum. This also reflects the special emphasis placed on youth participation in the Conference on the Future of Europe.
This event has contributed to the reflections on European Democracy in the context of the Conference. It enabled an exchange among the members of the HLG on European Democracy and the participants of the YEP Programme. The focus was on democracy and the future of Europe from the particular perspective of the younger generations of local and regional politicians.
REPORT OF THE DEBATE
The initiative is part of a series of events that have been launched by the CoR with young elected politicians and young people on the Future of Europe and testifies the CoR's commitment in putting the Conference on the Future of Europe at the centre of its priorities.