European Rural Youth Summit

Update: The European Rural Youth Summit will take place between 5 – 9 September 2023, in Romania, in Aroneanu village, Iași county – one of the villages that held the title of European Youth Village in the past.

The event aims to strategically develop the rural youth ecosystem in Europe by bringing together young people from rural areas in Europe, youth workers, youth organisers and decision makers and is organised by the European Youth Village Programme Governance (ADA Bacău Association and Go Free Association) and the Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps National Agency (ANPCDEFP), together with young people and the local authorities of Panaci.

The events seeks to:

• Create a space for dialogue between rural youth and decision makers on the challenges and opportunities facing rural areas in Europe, to enable rural youth to participate in the decision-making processes that impact their lives and communities.
• provide a learning and participatory context for rural young people to engage with experts and peers on rural development issues, develop their knowledge and skills and promote the role of rural young people in shaping the future of Europe
• raise awareness of the importance of rural development and support the development of recommendations and policy proposals to improve the situation of rural youth in Europe

Who can take part in the European Rural Youth Summit?

• Rural young people from all over Europe: young people aged 16 to 30 living in or coming from rural areas in Europe. They can be students, workers, entrepreneurs or activists who are passionate about rural development and want to make a difference in their communities.
• Underage participants can only register if accompanied by an adult.
• Rural youth sector experts and practitioners: youth workers, community organisers, representatives of non-governmental organisations interested in expanding the European Youth Village programme in their countries and other experts who have a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing rural areas in Europe.
• Policy and decision makers: representatives of the European Union, national and local governments and other organisations involved in rural development and the rural youth sector. They will be invited to attend the summit to dialogue with young people in rural areas and to learn about their perspectives and experiences.

Deadline for submitting applications: 26 June 2023.

More information and the registration form can be found here.