Eastern Partnership Youth Engagement Summit took place

The first big online-only EU – Eastern Partnership (EaP) youth event, Eastern Partnership Youth Engagement Summit, took place on July 2-3, 2020. Around 400 active, critical and responsible youth leaders and youth workers had an unique opportunity to hold a dialogue amongst themselves and with EU and EaP policy makers on achievements and challenges in the youth field in the European Union and its Eastern Neighbourhood region. Mariam Zadoyan, Vice President of the Armenian Young Lawyers’ Association has also participated in the Summit.

The overall OBJECTIVE of the EaP Youth Summit was to celebrate and promote past and ongoing EU – EaP cooperation investing in the future of young people and facilitate a dialogue between policy makers and youth on the overall approach and concrete steps for the future under the Eastern Partnership. The Summit provided space for discussion, exchange on best practices and lessons learned, as well as networking and inspiration for future cooperation

The THEMATIC FOCUS of the summit was the following: “Youth engagement in the EaP: exploring the present and navigating the future!”.

The main TOPICS of the EaP Youth Summit included: 

  • The Eastern Partnership beyond 2020 and the role for young people (Communication 03/2020 and Council Conclusions 05/2020). 
  • Youth participation in policy making by strengthening EaP Youth Councils and the EaP Civil Society Forum; 
  • Youth transition from education to work through skills development; 
  • Youth social entrepreneurship realities and good practices; 
  • EU vs. disinformation through positive communication; 
  • Achievements under the EU4Youth package, with focus on Erasmus+ and EU4Youth.    

The two-day programme included panel discussions, presentations, webinars and parallel group discussions, with the aim of harvesting conclusions for building future opportunities for young people in the Eastern partner countries. Mariam Zadoyan has been actively engaged in the sessions dedicated to the Youth participation in policy making. The program also included an EaP Quiz and Live Concert. 

Participants have been invited to share good practices and experiences in the field of youth work and youth policy in both the EU and Eastern Partner countries.

The outcomes of discussions and possible conclusions will be documented in the form of report and shared with the relevant stakeholders, including through AYLA’s website.