{"id":65685,"date":"2025-10-29T16:22:46","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T16:22:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/opportunitiesforyouth.org\/?p=65685"},"modified":"2025-10-29T16:22:46","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T16:22:46","slug":"your-europe-your-say-yeys-2026-fully-funded-youth-participation-programme-in-brussels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/?p=65685","title":{"rendered":"Your Europe, Your Say! (YEYS) 2026 \u2013 Fully Funded Youth Participation Programme in Brussels"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"269\" data-end=\"577\">The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is inviting applications for <strong data-start=\"348\" data-end=\"386\">Your Europe, Your Say! (YEYS) 2026<\/strong>, a fully funded youth event that brings together young people from across Europe to learn about EU policymaking and actively contribute to recommendations addressed to European institutions.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"579\" data-end=\"990\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eesc.europa.eu\/en\/initiatives\/your-europe-your-say\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YEYS has been organised annually since 2010 and serves as one of the EU\u2019s leading youth participation platforms.<\/a> Through plenary sessions and interactive workshops, participants work together as a youth assembly and present policy recommendations which are shared with the European Commission and the European Parliament. These youth-generated recommendations help inform the EESC\u2019s advisory and political work.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"997\" data-end=\"1013\">Event Details<\/h2>\n<ul data-start=\"1015\" data-end=\"1152\">\n<li data-start=\"1015\" data-end=\"1046\">\n<p data-start=\"1017\" data-end=\"1046\"><strong data-start=\"1017\" data-end=\"1027\">Dates:<\/strong> 19\u201320 March 2026<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1047\" data-end=\"1097\">\n<p data-start=\"1049\" data-end=\"1097\"><strong data-start=\"1049\" data-end=\"1062\">Location:<\/strong> EESC premises, Brussels, Belgium<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1098\" data-end=\"1152\">\n<p data-start=\"1100\" data-end=\"1152\"><strong data-start=\"1100\" data-end=\"1111\">Format:<\/strong> In-person only (no online participation)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 data-start=\"1159\" data-end=\"1182\">Fully Funded Support<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1184\" data-end=\"1245\">YEYS 2026 is a fully funded opportunity. The EESC will cover:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1247\" data-end=\"1413\">\n<li data-start=\"1247\" data-end=\"1355\">\n<p data-start=\"1249\" data-end=\"1355\">Return travel (economy class flight, train or bus) from the participant\u2019s country of residence to Brussels<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1356\" data-end=\"1413\">\n<p data-start=\"1358\" data-end=\"1413\">Accommodation in Brussels for the duration of the event<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1415\" data-end=\"1439\">The EESC does not cover:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1440\" data-end=\"1628\">\n<li data-start=\"1440\" data-end=\"1528\">\n<p data-start=\"1442\" data-end=\"1528\">Local travel between the participant\u2019s home and the departure airport or train station<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1529\" data-end=\"1628\">\n<p data-start=\"1531\" data-end=\"1628\">Local transfers within Brussels between the airport or train station and the hotel or event venue<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1630\" data-end=\"1776\">All travel and accommodation arrangements are organised through an EESC-designated agency. Independently arranged bookings will not be reimbursed.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"1783\" data-end=\"1806\">Eligibility Criteria<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1808\" data-end=\"1833\">Applications are open to:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1835\" data-end=\"2247\">\n<li data-start=\"1835\" data-end=\"1867\">\n<p data-start=\"1837\" data-end=\"1867\">Young people aged <strong data-start=\"1855\" data-end=\"1867\">16 to 25<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1868\" data-end=\"1914\">\n<p data-start=\"1870\" data-end=\"1914\">Living in one of the <strong data-start=\"1891\" data-end=\"1914\">27 EU Member States<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1915\" data-end=\"2103\">\n<p data-start=\"1917\" data-end=\"2103\">Living in one of the <strong data-start=\"1938\" data-end=\"1966\">9 EU candidate countries<\/strong>: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, T\u00fcrkiye, and Ukraine, or the <strong data-start=\"2085\" data-end=\"2103\">United Kingdom<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2104\" data-end=\"2247\">\n<p data-start=\"2106\" data-end=\"2247\">Applicants should ideally not have taken part in EU youth events (including YEYS) in Brussels, Strasbourg or Luxembourg in the past two years<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 data-start=\"2249\" data-end=\"2270\">Eligible Profiles<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2272\" data-end=\"2290\">Applicants may be:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2292\" data-end=\"2756\">\n<li data-start=\"2292\" data-end=\"2368\">\n<p data-start=\"2294\" data-end=\"2368\"><strong data-start=\"2294\" data-end=\"2323\">Secondary school students<\/strong> aged 16\u201318 (each accompanied by one teacher)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2369\" data-end=\"2756\">\n<p data-start=\"2371\" data-end=\"2410\"><strong data-start=\"2371\" data-end=\"2387\">Young adults<\/strong> aged 18\u201325 engaged in:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2413\" data-end=\"2756\">\n<li data-start=\"2413\" data-end=\"2464\">\n<p data-start=\"2415\" data-end=\"2464\">University student groups or student associations<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2467\" data-end=\"2488\">\n<p data-start=\"2469\" data-end=\"2488\">Youth organisations<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2491\" data-end=\"2550\">\n<p data-start=\"2493\" data-end=\"2550\"><a href=\"https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/EN\/legal-content\/glossary\/civil-society-organisation.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Civil society organisations<\/a> (local, regional or national)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2553\" data-end=\"2592\">\n<p data-start=\"2555\" data-end=\"2592\">Youth councils or national committees<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2595\" data-end=\"2756\">\n<p data-start=\"2597\" data-end=\"2756\">Community-based or thematic associations (entrepreneurship, workers&#8217; groups, farming, environment, disability advocacy, human rights, volunteer networks, etc.)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2758\" data-end=\"2887\">As the programme is delivered entirely in English, applicants must be able to speak and understand English at a functional level.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"2894\" data-end=\"2927\">Selection Process and Timeline<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2929\" data-end=\"3072\">A total of <strong data-start=\"2940\" data-end=\"2960\">100 young people<\/strong> will take part in YEYS 2026. Of these, <strong data-start=\"3000\" data-end=\"3019\">80 participants<\/strong> will be selected through this application procedure.<\/p>\n<div class=\"_tableContainer_1rjym_1\">\n<div class=\"group _tableWrapper_1rjym_13 flex w-fit flex-col-reverse\" tabindex=\"-1\">\n<table class=\"w-fit min-w-(--thread-content-width)\" data-start=\"3074\" data-end=\"3265\">\n<thead data-start=\"3074\" data-end=\"3090\">\n<tr data-start=\"3074\" data-end=\"3090\">\n<th data-start=\"3074\" data-end=\"3082\" data-col-size=\"sm\">Stage<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"3082\" data-end=\"3090\" data-col-size=\"sm\">Date<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody data-start=\"3108\" data-end=\"3265\">\n<tr data-start=\"3108\" data-end=\"3162\">\n<td data-start=\"3108\" data-end=\"3131\" data-col-size=\"sm\">Application deadline<\/td>\n<td data-col-size=\"sm\" data-start=\"3131\" data-end=\"3162\">30 November 2025 (midnight)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"3163\" data-end=\"3224\">\n<td data-start=\"3163\" data-end=\"3201\" data-col-size=\"sm\">Notification of selected candidates<\/td>\n<td data-col-size=\"sm\" data-start=\"3201\" data-end=\"3224\">By 15 December 2025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"3225\" data-end=\"3265\">\n<td data-start=\"3225\" data-end=\"3245\" data-col-size=\"sm\">Event in Brussels<\/td>\n<td data-col-size=\"sm\" data-start=\"3245\" data-end=\"3265\">19\u201320 March 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-start=\"3267\" data-end=\"3393\">Each secondary school must submit a single application form including both the student and the accompanying teacher\u2019s details.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3395\" data-end=\"3651\">After the application period closes, the EESC will review all submissions and invite successful applicants to complete a registration form for travel and accommodation arrangements. Unsuccessful applicants will be informed by email following the selection.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3653\" data-end=\"3676\">Assessment Criteria<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3678\" data-end=\"3756\">To ensure balance and representation, applications will be evaluated based on:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3758\" data-end=\"3955\">\n<li data-start=\"3758\" data-end=\"3796\">\n<p data-start=\"3760\" data-end=\"3796\">Age (16 to 25 at the time of travel)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3797\" data-end=\"3813\">\n<p data-start=\"3799\" data-end=\"3813\">Gender balance<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3814\" data-end=\"3850\">\n<p data-start=\"3816\" data-end=\"3850\">Nationality and place of residence<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3851\" data-end=\"3910\">\n<p data-start=\"3853\" data-end=\"3910\">Level of involvement in youth or civil society engagement<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3911\" data-end=\"3955\">\n<p data-start=\"3913\" data-end=\"3955\">Strength and clarity of motivation answers<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/eusurvey\/runner\/9ece85b5-398f-17bd-298d-28dcd894e546\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">APPLY NOW\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"3962\" data-end=\"3978\">Personal Data<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"3980\" data-end=\"4126\">Please read the data protection notice to understand how the information in your application will be used by the EESC\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.eesc.europa.eu\/en\/agenda\/our-events\/events\/your-europe-your-say-2026\/data-protection-notice-yeys-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"linkstitle\">Contact<\/div>\n<p data-start=\"3980\" data-end=\"4126\"><i class=\"icon icon-envelope\"><\/i><a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/mail.google.com\/mail\/?view=cm&amp;fs=1&amp;tf=1&amp;to=events@eesc.europa.eu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">events@eesc.europa.eu<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div><a id=\"download-survey-pdf-link\" class=\"link visiblelink\" title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/eusurvey\/runner\/9ece85b5-398f-17bd-298d-28dcd894e546#\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-toggle=\"tooltip\" aria-label=\"Download PDF version\" data-original-title=\"Download empty questionnaire as PDF\" aria-describedby=\"tooltip32102\">Download PDF version<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is inviting applications for Your Europe, Your Say! (YEYS) 2026, a fully funded youth event that brings together young people from across Europe to learn about EU policymaking and actively contribute to recommendations addressed to European institutions. YEYS has been organised annually since 2010 and serves as one&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":65686,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,33],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-65685","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-conferences","8":"category-europe","9":"article","10":"","12":"has-excerpt","13":"has-avatar","14":"has-author","15":"has-nickname","16":"has-date","17":"has-comment-count","18":"has-category-meta","19":"has-read-more","20":"has-title","21":"has-post-media","22":"thumbnail-","23":"has-tfm-share-icons"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=65685"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65685\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/65686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=65685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=65685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/opportunitiesconnect.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=65685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}