2.2: Citizen lobbyists and future leaders: Hear the voices of young Europeans

CitizenCentral

Government

5 • 1 Ratings

🗓️ 20 September 2022

⏱️ 24 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this chapter, we hear from a group of Europeans 26-and-under from 9 different EU countries as they share ideas on voting, EU policymaking, citizen activism and the European Citizens’ Initiative. They also tell us what ideas they would like to see turned into citizens’ initiatives. We also hear from Daniela Vancic from Democracy International, and Paco Camas of public opinion research company Ipsos. Daniela argues that the ECI and other participatory tools help young people engage with the issues they care about, and Paco gives us facts and figures on young people’s participation in the EU today. Finally, we hear from two organisers of the citizens’ initiative “Ending the aviation fuel tax exemption in Europe” (also called ‘Fairosene’). These two young citizen lobbyists reflect upon their campaign and why it ended on a high note.

Transcript

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0:00.0	That Europe finds itself at the front of the storm is not something new.
0:15.3	The world of tomorrow will be a different place.
0:17.9	It's good that Europe is ambitious in climate policy. We should be ambitious,
0:22.0	but also realistic. The task is to learn to live within the boundaries Mother Earth has given us.
0:27.5	Only united we can defend our values, we can protect the interests of our citizens.
0:47.1	Welcome to a new chapter of Citizen Central, the podcast series all about the European Citizens Initiative.
0:48.9	If you do not know this tool of direct democracy, let me run you through it in a nutshell.
1:01.5	This is the tool allowing European Union citizens to come up with new ideas for EU laws that can spark a debate across the Union.
1:06.1	2020 is a year that indeed will be remembered for many reasons, but also the year that put the
1:12.4	spotlight on our younger generation with the European Year of Youth.
1:17.5	And that is why, as the ECI is also celebrating 10 years of existence this year, today's
1:23.5	episode of Citizens Central has a special focus on young people and how they make use of the European Citizens Initiative.
1:31.5	We will engage with quite a few young Europeans and ask them about democracy taking part and their engagement in policymaking and the European institutions.
1:41.2	But we will also reach out to experts in social studies and other
1:45.5	organisms of democratic participation to get their take on how youth sees policy, lawmaking and
1:52.7	in general being part of democracy.
1:56.0	I am Manix Ricardo Kawi and you are listening to Citizen Central.
2:07.6	To kick off of the chapter, let me introduce you to our group of young collaborators, thanking them all for giving us their take on European democracy.
2:12.6	My name is Inij. I'm Portuguese. I'm currently a student. So my name is Antere. I'm 22 years old. I study political science in the University of Tartu.
2:24.0	So my name is Josephine. I'm French, but I study in Spain. My name is Negev. I'm 23 years old. I'm currently a student. I study law and politics, the European University of
2:36.5	Vietnam and Frankfurt Order in Germany. My name is Emma. I'm 23 years old and I'm from Stockholm.
2:42.2	And I have a bachelor's degree in political science and economics. My name is Dau. I'm from Croatia.
	...

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