From 21 to 24 June 2026, young advocates from Romania, Italy, and Bosnia and Herzegovina came together in Brussels for Civic Café Europe, the concluding international event of the ASPYRE EUROPE project.
After almost one year of developing local advocacy initiatives, participants met to exchange experiences, refine their recommendations, and identify shared priorities across countries. Their discussions focused on safer and more inclusive public transport, stronger youth participation in decision-making, accessible spaces for young people, food-waste reduction, and greater recognition of youth achievement and potential.
The programme combined peer learning, networking, and direct engagement with professionals, community leaders, and European decision-makers. During a public dialogue in Brussels, participants explored how citizens can influence decision-making beyond elections and shared practical examples of youth-led advocacy from their local communities.
The following day, the young advocates presented their recommendations at the European Parliament and engaged in dialogue with Members of the European Parliament and other stakeholders. The session gave participants the opportunity to connect local concerns with wider European policy discussions and to receive feedback directly from political representatives.
The event concluded with a reflection session focused on the participants’ advocacy journeys, the challenges they had faced, and their hopes for future cooperation. One of the main outcomes was the creation of a European Youth Advocacy Network, through which participants intend to stay connected, exchange resources, support one another’s initiatives, and identify future opportunities for collaboration.
Civic Café Europe demonstrated that many of the challenges young people face in their own communities are shared across borders. By bringing together local experience, European dialogue, and transnational cooperation, the event strengthened young people’s confidence and capacity to participate actively in democratic life.
