How can we convince Europeans to care for Europe and make sure that they vote in the upcoming elections? European Parliament election turnout has been in decline for decades. Although issues that top the charts in terms of citizen’s concerns are increasingly dealt with on the European level, such as the environment, migration and security, people still do not seem to find their way to the European ballot box.
Trust is a big-ticket issue, both in politics and in politicians. The populist right wing is currently stealing the march with their narrative that seeks to undermine the value of the EU.
This European Young Leaders & Alumni meeting will be the culmination of the young leaders’ year’s work on engaging citizens and making Europe matter in the lead up to the elections. During two seminars that were held this year, we’ve discussed political participation and civic empowerment directly with citizens and come up with practical ideas for a campaign that seeks to convince people to vote. This meeting will be an opportunity to discuss and align these campaign ideas with scientific, institutional and community leaders in a more intimate setting.
How do we counter populist tendencies and make sure that people will let their voice be heard for the future of Europe? How do we galvanize social movements and group behaviour to increase turnout and improve voting behaviour around a campaign on #EuropeMatters? What are the slogans, campaign messages and branding? How do we reach and access groups not traditionally represented and pursue them to vote? How do we actually convince people that Europe matters and that their vote matters?
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09.00-09.30
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Registration and welcome breakfast
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PART I: GATHERING DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES
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09.30-10.00
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The out-of-the-box perspective: behavioural science applied to political behaviour with Iain Couzin, Chair of Biodiversity and Collective Behavior, University of Konstanz
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10.00-11.00
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The institutional perspective: progressing the existing ideas for a campaign that seeks to engage all Europeans with Vera Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality at the European Commission
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11.00-11.30
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Coffee break
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PART II: CONSTRUCTING A TWO-FOLD CAMPAIGN AROUND #EUROPEMATTERS
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11.30-12.30
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The two-fold campaign. Promoting a fact-based debate whilst convincing people to vote for the future of Europe with Mikko Salo, Founder and Director of fact-checking service, Faktabaari, and member of the EU’s High-Level Expert Group on Fake News and online disinformation and Colombe Cahen-Salvador,Co-founder and European Policy Lead of Volt - a new pan-European progressive movement that aims to radically reform Europe
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PART III: TAKING INTO ACCOUNT FUTURE GENERATIONS
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12.30-13.15
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Whatever the question, the answer is always education. How can the European Young Leaders contribute to better education for all?
This session will follow up the education working group that was established in Malta during the You Decide session, in the presence of Xavier Prats Monné, the Special Advisor for Teach for All - a global network of organisations that aim to expand educational opportunities around the world
Moderated by:
Dharmendra Kanani, Director of Insights at Friends of Europe
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13.15-14.00
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Lunch
* To be confirmed




This event is by invitation only.
Marthe Krijger, Programme Manager
t. +32 2 893 98 18
e. marthe.krijger@friendsofeurope.org
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