EU Youth Conference: Youth-friendly Europe starts now
This flagship event marks a significant milestone in the 11th Cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue (EUYD), following the conferences organised in Lublin (March) and Copenhagen (September) under the Polish and Danish Presidencies, respectively. The EU Youth Conference was held online from 18 to 20 March 2026 as part of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.
The Lefkosia EU Youth Conference marks the final stage – the implementation phase – of the 11th cycle, during which the outcomes of extensive national and European consultations are translated into concrete policy recommendations.
The 11th cycle focuses on European Youth Goal 1: Connecting the EU with Youth. This goal aims to foster young people’s sense of belonging to the European project and to build a stronger and more trusting relationship between the EU and young people. In this context, the Cyprus Presidency is placing particular emphasis on the overarching theme of “Youth-Friendliness of Policies at National and European Level”, which provides the guiding lens for the discussions in Lefkosia.
During the official opening of the meeting, the Commissioner for Intergenerational Justice, Youth, Culture and Sport, Mr Glenn Micallef, the Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Mr Costas Kadis, and the Minister of Education, Sport and Youth, Dr Athena Michaelidou, participated in the discussion.
The conference brought together youth delegates, policymakers, institutional representatives and experts from across Europe. They have discussed proposals that advance the youth-friendliness, accessibility and transparency of public policies through eight interactive workshops.
The recommendations emerging from these discussions will be consolidated in the Council resolution, which will be adopted later during the Cyprus Presidency and will serve as the political conclusion of the 11th cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue. The conference will also inform a second Council resolution revising the EU Youth Strategy Work Plan for 2025–2027.
Photos
See photos from the event on the Cyprus Presidency's Flickr account.
