The moment you realise that all the time you spent working on a project and fighting for your beliefs achieved the result you wished for is the most rewarding. Then, you look back at those challenges that seemed so tough to overcome and bless every drop of sweat you spent to face them. The job is never finished, but it gives us the motivation to keep moving forward. According to some, the 2024 EU elections were projected to be a shuffle in European politics, bringing danger and uncertainties from the ballots on the 9th of June. Despite some concerns about the growth of extreme-right forces, mostly in France and Germany, the reaffirmation of the EPP as the strongest political force in the European Parliament is just the first outcome of many for which YEPP has spent energy and soul.
At the EPP Congress in Bucharest, in the corridors of the European and National Parliaments, in the local councils, and in National and International youth organizations, we have never stopped working to fulfill our missions: to empower the youth, to make young people the protagonists on the political stage, and to be the main actors in shaping the future we want.
During the campaign, we pledged our commitment in the streets of Innsbruck, Split, Munich, Frankfurt, Stockholm, Helsinki, Porto, and many other cities to support fresh names and perspectives. #yeppontour promoted our candidates for Members of the European Parliament across Europe, supported Ursula von der Leyen in her journey for a second mandate at the head of the European Commission, and Roberta Metsola for a new term leading the European Parliament.
We fought for a Europe that gives a strong voice to young people. We campaigned every day to make it reality. And we came back to Brussels with new EPP young MEPs. We began the new mandate with the confirmation of Ursula, our president, and her promise to represent the youth in the EU agenda. At last, after the election of the new presidency of the EPP Group, YEPP now has a historic chance of shaping EU policies. As a Vice President of the EPP Group, my efforts will be limitless to boost transatlantic relations and exchange programmes, grant young people fair representation in EU policies, and invest in innovation to promote clean technologies while tackling climate change. On top of that, it is paramount to ensure economic growth policies that provide better lives for people, mostly for the youth, securing the European way of life among generations. To conclude, in the months ahead our support to Ukraine will be unwavering, even more so after the ruthless Russian attack on a children’s hospital last Monday. Violence and authoritarianism do not have a place in Europe!
From the uncertainty of the ballot, we answered with our rooted values. We answered with our commitment to shape a Europe of security, prosperity, and rule of law. Looking at what we achieved is relieving. Now, we are ready to fight to pursue new milestones and shape a better future. Together.
