How democracy ends (and begins again)
Past event Bucharest, Romania
- Area of Expertise
European Young Leaders (#EYL40)
Initiative
About
Meet the EYL40 Class of 2025!
The EYL40 Class of 2025 brings together a diverse group of leaders shaping Europe’s future. Among them are a female refugee turned AC Milan footballer and medical doctor, a Michelin-starred chef, pioneering tech entrepreneurs revolutionising the energy sector, politicians from all levels of government and national parliaments, a barrister and bestselling author, a Saami rights activist, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, an astronaut, and cultural icons using art and theatre to confront societal challenges.
Distinct leadership for a new era
This cohort of leaders comes at a critical moment for Europe. From accelerating climate action to navigating the implications of artificial intelligence, tackling polarisation to redefining competitiveness in a green and digital economy, their work addresses the most pressing issues of our time. Together, these European Young Leaders’ (EYL40) passion, diversity of backgrounds and innovative thinking create the right formula for generating fresh ideas to build a more forward-thinking Europe.
Our European leaders are scientists, artists, journalists, entrepreneurs and economists. They represent a new, embracive vision for Europe’s future – one where diversity strengthens leadership and drives progress. Their thinking is not bound by local and multilateral institutions, traditional political frameworks or bureaucracy. They provide alternative perspectives to EU decision-makers and challenge the status quo. Our Europe is larger than the EU’s physical borders. Our Europe stretches from the United Kingdom to the Western Balkans, Ukraine and Moldova.
EYL40 help take Europe out of Brussels. In their own countries, cities and communities, EYLs play an essential role in reconnecting people with and rebuilding trust in politics by engaging a wider community around key policy issues. They are facilitating citizens’ participation in a more inclusive, sustainable and forward-looking Europe.
Looking ahead: a bold vision for Europe’s future
The impactful work of the EYL40 Class of 2025 reflects our commitment to fostering dialogue, sparking action and bridging gaps between policy ambitions and practical outcomes. These leaders are not just reimagining Europe’s future – they are actively building it.
Learn more about them, their projects and achievements, through profiles of the EYL40 2025 cohort.
Tune in to the EYL40s on Friends of Europe’s podcasts
Leading view
Policy Voices | Are we alone in the universe?
Leading view
Policy Voices | AI & Democracy: Empowering informed citizens
Leading view
Policy Voices | A glaciologist and a greentech entrepreneur on a mission to fight climate changeLeading view
Policy Voices Podcast | Keeping the human in the loop: How to make a success story of AI in healthMeet the EYL40
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Events
The challenge of identities
Past event In person
- Area of Expertise
- Democracy
Extremities! – European Young Leaders Paris seminar
Past event in person
- Area of Expertise
Democracy is hard work
Past event IN PERSON
- Area of Expertise
- Democracy
Insights
Beyond sanctions: five strategic tools the EU must use to end the war in…
- Category
- #CriticalThinking
- Author
- By Liel Maghen
Democracy begins again – A postcard from the European Young Leaders…
- Category
- News
- Area of Expertise
Superficial stability: the case of Poland’s presidential elections
- Category
- #CriticalThinking
- Author
- By Leszek Konrad Jażdżewski
The 2025 Bundestag election: a turning point for Germany and Europe
- Category
- #CriticalThinking
- Author
- By Wiebke Winter
Selection process
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS/NOMINATIONS FOR THE EYL CLASS OF 2026 – IS NOW OPEN
The European Young Leaders (EYL40) programme is a unique, inventive, and multi-stakeholder programme that aims to promote a European identity by engaging the continent’s most promising talents in initiatives that will shape Europe’s future.
The European Young Leaders represent a new generation of European leaders from all over the continent and various backgrounds, including politics, business, civil society, academia, arts, science, and the media.
The programme acts as a forum for those who have already established themselves at the forefront of their professions to meet, discuss and collaborate with their counterparts from other fields of expertise. Previous candidates include government ministers, CEOs, Michelin-starred chefs, international film directors and high-profile journalists.
Since the launch of the programme, we have gradually taken steps to ensure the diversity and exceptional quality of its selection process. We have made sure that its comprehensive and competitive nature ensures the identification and selection of remarkable individuals.
We aim to select 40+ European Young Leaders of diverse backgrounds to enable a broad exchange of ideas, creating the basis for a new generation of engaged European leaders.
SELECTION CRITERIA
- Candidates must be between 30 and 40 years of age (born on or after 1 January 1986).
- Candidates must be a national of an EU member state, Moldova, the UK, Ukraine or of one of the 6 Balkan states currently on the path towards EU integration (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia).
- Candidates should have established themselves at the highest levels of their chosen profession or be on track to do so.
- Candidates must be committed to serve society at large through noteworthy contributions and have demonstrated a record of significant achievements and outstanding professional experience.
- Candidates are also evaluated based on their ability to contribute to the enrichment of the programme as a whole.
- Candidates are required to be fluent in English as it is the working language of the programme.
- Candidates must commit to participating in at least one of the two EYL seminars during the programme year, usually scheduled for March and September.
Please click HERE for the Selection Guidelines 2026 that will give you an idea of the process and will provide you with link to nomination/application form.
Please note that the deadline for the nominations/applications is Monday, May 5, 2025.
Should you have any questions or need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us at eyl40@friendsofeurope.org.
We look forward to receiving your applications and nominations.
* References to Kosovo here are used without prejudice to positions on status and are in line with UN Security Council resolution 1244/99 and the International Court of Justice Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
Videos
