The Eastern Partnership Youth Conference will be held on the 12-13 May in Stockholm, Sweden. It will bring more than 100 participants to explore how young people can meaningfully engage in civic and democratic life across the Eastern Partnership region. The event is organised by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, financed by the European Commission, and hosted by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, with support from partners including Fryshuset, ForumCiv, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), EU4Youth, and the Olof Palme International Center.
Across the Eastern Partnership region, young people are navigating profound challenges. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues to have devastating consequences, alongside broader trends of democratic backsliding and shrinking civic space that directly affect youth participation, safety and opportunities.
In Ukraine, the war has significantly disrupted young people’s lives, including access to education, and has led to the displacement of around 2.4 million young individuals. In Azerbaijan, politically active youth have increasingly become targets of the regime, particularly those advocating for LGBTQI, gender equality and inclusion. Similarly, in Belarus, many youth organisations have been liquidated, reducing the number of registered youth organisations in the country to almost zero. In Georgia, young people have been visibly active in defending democratic values, taking part in public demonstrations amid growing pressure on civil society. Electoral contexts in Moldova, Georgia, and upcoming elections in Armenia have also been shaped by widespread disinformation campaigns, often targeting young voters through social media and other channels.
Against this backdrop, the conference aims to strengthen connections among youth representatives, national youth councils, and young changemakers across the region. It will provide a platform to exchange experiences, share practices, address shared challenges, and build cooperation across borders.
The programme will include contributions from:
- Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Leader of the Belarusian Democratic Forces, Head of the United Transitional Cabinet
- Dag Hartelius, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs
- Adrienn Kiraly, Director, Neighbourhood East & Türkiye, Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood, European Commission
- Audrone Perkauskiene, Deputy Managing Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, European External Action Service
The latest agenda can be found via this link.
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For further information, please contact:
Irina Roman Enescu
EaP CSF Communications Manager
Email: irina.roman-enescu@eap-csf.eu
Phone: 0032 (0)2 487 22 18 06