The DEMY-Coop presents an ecosystem of EU opportunities for youth organisations in Italy and Croatia
01/06/2024
Last 15 May 2024, DEMY-Coop organised the event "EU opportunities for creating an ecosystem of informed young stakeholders to shape the future of the Adriatic Ionain Region". The youth event took place in the framework of the EUSAIR Annual Fourm of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR).
The youth event was intended to provide information about EU opportunities for young people in the framework of the European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) programmes and the EUSAIR as well as other opportunities accessible to Adriatic Ionian Youth organisations. In particular, the event included a full session to present and discuss how youth engagment is supported by the EU, the DEMY-Coop project, as part of the Interreg CBC Italy-Croatia Programme, and the Gear Up! project, as part of the EU DEAR Programme. Information about youth priorities at EUSAIR level and the related Call for application (see link box) to the EUSAIR Youth Council were provided as well.
The session was moderated by Ms Mira LEPUR, Udruga Emedea, saw as first speaker Mr Gilles KITTEL, Team Leader, DG REGIO IPA/EUSAIR/Accession Negotiations, European Commission. Mr Kittel provided an overview of the EU priorities that will lead the future supporting measures related to youth paticipation, including: focus on capacity building and skills dvelopment activities; the establishment of youth structures (new or existing ones); equal access to opportunities; youth participation in decision-making; awareness raising campaigns as well as participation of young people at all stages of design and implementation of projects. Mr KITTEL stressed how small scale project and people-to-people approched behind them are able to contribute.
Ms Maria Luisa ESPOSITO, DEMY-Coop Communication Manager at Eurelations GEIE (LP), stressed how the DEMY-Coop was designed specifically to facilitate a better cooperation among local and regional government bodies and youth organisations in Italy and Croatia, to overcome the possible cultural, legal and administrative obstacles to youth engagement in strategic decision-making. Through this, the project will allow better appropriation of the EUSAIR-linked opportunities at local level, while raising young people and decision-makers' awareness about the EUSAIR. Ms ESPOSITO informed that the project will soon publish the second Newsletter, which will provie information on two Cross-Border Youth Fora that wil take place in Autumn.
Mr Natalino BARBIZZI, Project Manager at Marche Region, presented the opportunities linked to the Gear Up! project, co-financed under EU Dear Programme and implemented in collaboration with three Croatian partners. The project was recently kick-started and will foresee financial support to Croatian and Italian local authorities to enhance capacities, exchanges and resources in global citizenship education (GCE), with a particular focus on the achievement of the sustainable development goals. Local authoritoes will have to select youth organisations and grant them funds to co-design and co-develop projects at local level. More information about the Calls for projects will be provided soon.
The presentations of the three speakers are available in the "documents" box.