The CoR SEDEC Commission will hold an external seminar in Sofia, Bulgaria, on 7 November, 9:30-13:00 on 'Empowering young voices in European cities and regions: The role of youth participation in society and economy'.
The Seminar will promote the alignment between EU-level strategies and initiatives, such as the European Youth Strategy and the Youth Guarantee, and local/regional initiatives, such as those of Sofia, to ensure that youth participation is both encouraged in principle and implemented effectively. It also aims to strengthen the social and economic resilience of European cities and regions by emphasising youth-led entrepreneurship, skills development and digital transformation, positioning young people as key drivers of sustainable growth and innovation across Europe.
Confirmed speakers include the Mayor of Sofia Vassil Terziev, MEP Hristo Petrov (EP Rapporteur on the Youth Guarantee), and several local key stakeholders as well as representatives of the European Commission.
The seminar participants will also be invited to a cultural visit with the theme 'Youth Voices in the Urban Fabric of Sofia', showcasing Sofia's vibrant youth-driven spaces, and how young people shape the city's identity through creativity, activism and urban culture. The seminar is preceded by an optional study visit to the Sofia Tech Park, Bulgaria's first science and technology park and a key player in the city's innovation ecosystem as a hub for youth talent development, tech entrepreneurship and education-to-innovation pipelines.