On 7 March 2025, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto, hosted a Youth Policy Dialogue with high school students in the city of Vignola, in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. The visit originated after last Christmas when students from Vignola sent Fitto a handwritten letter, highlighting their aspirations and desires for Europe. Impressed by their involvement, Fitto decided to continue the conversation with a direct discussion in the form of the Youth Policy Dialogue.
Youth dialogues are designed to foster open discussions on EU policies, providing young individuals with a platform to share their views and concerns directly with the members of the College of Commissioners. These discussions are part of the European Commission’s enduring commitment to involving youth in policy-making, ensuring their voices are essential in fostering a more inclusive and cohesive EU. President Ursula von der Leyen defined them in her political guidelines for the new mandate of the College, requesting all Commissioners to organise their Youth Policy Dialogues within the first 100 days of the mandate. The dialogues will be repeated annually to ensure that young people can use their voices to help shape the future of Europe.
In this line, the recent meeting with Italian students addressed critical themes such as EU values and the impact of the Commission’s policies and programmes on Europeans’ daily life, focusing particularly on the role of Cohesion policy in supporting regional development. Executive Vice-President Fitto stated, „Today’s young people are the future of Europe and its values. I am eager to engage in this Dialogue as it offers a vital opportunity to hear their concerns and perceptions, while also encouraging them to take an active role in the European project, enhancing a sense of ownership and participation. Young people’s perspectives are crucial in shaping policy-making and ensuring that EU decisions align with their needs – locally, regionally, nationally, and across Europe.”
The youth dialogue in Vignola marked the initial significant stage in the new process initiated by the Commission to ensure the involvement of future generations in the European project, empowering them to actively take the lead in European policy-making.
