EU Intervention – UN High Level Political Forum: Official side event on Youth2030 and the Pact of the Future

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It's an honour to sit here and represent the European Union as the EU's UN Youth Delegate. Let me start by highlighting how the EU works together directly with youth, and how principles are translated into practice.

First, as we all know, all topics are youth topics. So, all European Commissioners, from those in charge of climate to competitiveness and from trade to culture, meet annually with a group of young people in a youth policy dialogue.

Second, youth participation should include both decision-making and implementation on the ground. For example, the European Commission has a Youth Sounding board, working together with them on External Action. In addition, 50 EU Delegations all across the world have their own local Youth Sounding Boards to make sure youth perspectives from the ground are reflected in EU policy.

Then, this week, we are launching the AU EU Youth Cluster, an open network of young people from Europe and Africa; not only for young people to be directly involved in discussions at the UN, but also to be able to directly exchange, learn and collaborate with each other.

Of course, no process is perfect. For a decision-maker, youth participation and criticism can be scary. But everyone is learning. To transform a Q&A into an open conversation. To give young people time to prepare and align priorities. So we can work together as equal partners.

Finally, the Youth Delegate program, where my co-delegate and I have the honour and responsibility to represent European Youth here at the UN.

During our mandate, we had the honour of meeting youth from all corners of the world. In formal rooms like this and in informal spaces, like pizza parties, youth receptions or digitally. And when young people were afraid to speak up, we created safe spaces to still hear their real stories.

And I realised, the work of the UN and all Member States is incredible, and often underrated. But, all plans made here are meaningless without young people championing them in their NGOs, startups and activism.

And still I meet with people on a daily basis who want to keep youth out of rooms like this.

So, let me end my intervention with the following. Don't be afraid of us. Don't see us as a danger for the status quo, but as an opportunity to transform your ambitions on paper to real life achievements.

Meet us, in formal rooms like this and informal spaces like pizza parties, youth receptions or digitally. And when young people are afraid to speak up, create safe spaces to still hear their real stories

Because the work the UN is doing is way too important to stay in this room. And the Post 2030 Agenda can only succeed if young people champion it on the ground.