AU and EU launch Youth Cluster in New York

The hybrid launch event, hosted by the EU Delegation to the United Nations during the 2026 High-level Political Forum, brought together youth delegates, activists, experts and representatives of AU and EU Member States.

EU Ambassador Stavros Lambrinidis and AU Ambassador Mohamed Fathi Edrees opened the event. They highlighted the importance of youth leadership, education, grassroots innovation and institutional participation in advancing peace, security and sustainable development.

European Union

The discussion was moderated by EU Youth Delegate Lars Westra and African youth activist and engineer Djigui David Stéphane Yaméogo. Youth speakers and participants exchanged perspectives on four themes:

• Youth, Peace and Security (YPS), led by Isaac Sheku Bayoh, YPS Expert at the Sierra Leone Mission to the United Nations;

• SDG 6 on Water and Sanitation, led by David Yaméogo;

• SDG 17 on Partnerships and Financing, led by Lars Westra; and

• Youth Mental Health and promising practices, led by Georg Poensgen, co-founder of the Global Youth Call to Action on Mental Health.

Participants called for youth engagement to move beyond consultation towards meaningful participation in policy development and implementation. They also emphasised the importance of institutional accountability, reciprocal learning and partnerships based on shared responsibility between Africa and Europe.

The Youth Cluster is expected to meet twice a year in New York, with the option to participate online. Future topics will be selected in consultation with Cluster members, while an online community will enable participants to exchange opportunities, policy updates and good practices between meetings. The outcomes and recommendations from the launch will be shared with the AU and EU Delegations, relevant Member State missions, and AU and EU headquarters in Addis Ababa and Brussels.

The launch marks the beginning of continued dialogue and collaboration between young people from Africa and Europe. The Youth Cluster's future direction will be shaped jointly by its members, chairs and the AU and EU Delegations.

Related links

Outcomes and recommendations:

AU-EU Youth Cluster objectives:

Launch video and photographs: