The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is inviting applications for Your Europe, Your Say! (YEYS) 2026, a fully funded youth event that brings together young people from across Europe to learn about EU policymaking and actively contribute to recommendations addressed to European institutions.

YEYS has been organised annually since 2010 and serves as one of the EU’s leading youth participation platforms. Through plenary sessions and interactive workshops, participants work together as a youth assembly and present policy recommendations which are shared with the European Commission and the European Parliament. These youth-generated recommendations help inform the EESC’s advisory and political work.

Event Details

• Dates: 19–20 March 2026

• Location: EESC premises, Brussels, Belgium

• Format: In-person only (no online participation)

Fully Funded Support

YEYS 2026 is a fully funded opportunity. The EESC will cover:

• Return travel (economy class flight, train or bus) from the participant’s country of residence to Brussels

• Accommodation in Brussels for the duration of the event

The EESC does not cover:

• Local travel between the participant’s home and the departure airport or train station

• Local transfers within Brussels between the airport or train station and the hotel or event venue

All travel and accommodation arrangements are organised through an EESC-designated agency. Independently arranged bookings will not be reimbursed.

Eligibility Criteria

Applications are open to:

• Young people aged 16 to 25

• Living in one of the 27 EU Member States

• Living in one of the 9 EU candidate countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine, or the United Kingdom

• Applicants should ideally not have taken part in EU youth events (including YEYS) in Brussels, Strasbourg or Luxembourg in the past two years

Eligible Profiles

Applicants may be:

• Secondary school students aged 16–18 (each accompanied by one teacher)

• Young adults aged 18–25 engaged in:

  • University student groups or student associations

  • Youth organisations

  • Civil society organisations (local, regional or national)

  • Youth councils or national committees

  • Community-based or thematic associations (entrepreneurship, workers’ groups, farming, environment, disability advocacy, human rights, volunteer networks, etc.)

As the programme is delivered entirely in English, applicants must be able to speak and understand English at a functional level.

Selection Process and Timeline

A total of 100 young people will take part in YEYS 2026. Of these, 80 participants will be selected through this application procedure.

Each secondary school must submit a single application form including both the student and the accompanying teacher’s details.

After the application period closes, the EESC will review all submissions and invite successful applicants to complete a registration form for travel and accommodation arrangements. Unsuccessful applicants will be informed by email following the selection.

Assessment Criteria

To ensure balance and representation, applications will be evaluated based on:

• Age (16 to 25 at the time of travel)

• Gender balance

• Nationality and place of residence

• Level of involvement in youth or civil society engagement

• Strength and clarity of motivation answers

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Personal Data

Please read the data protection notice to understand how the information in your application will be used by the EESC here.

events@eesc.europa.eu