Politics must be for everyone, engaging and motivating from the youngest generations to the oldest. YEPP continues to carry the immense task not only of calling on new generations across Europe to participate in politics but to involve themselves responsibly, nurturing a sense of commitment and enthusiasm. And how do we intend to do this from Europe’s largest political youth organization? By offering real commitment—and, above all, by keeping the promises we make.
The main problem young people have with politics is the discredit that haunts it, the lack of trust in public institutions and in our political representatives at all levels. It’s almost taken for granted that no matter who we vote for, “nothing will change,” or in other words, “they’re all the same.” Well, at YEPP, we continue—and will keep doing so—proving that it’s not the same to bet on center-right youth policies as it is to support initiatives from other political groups.
According to the “Young Europe” survey by the TUI Foundation, only 57% of young Europeans prefer democracy over any other form of government.
Additionally, the survey reveals that a striking 48% of respondents believe democracy in their country is in danger. In Spain, the figure is 39%, while in Germany, it rises to 61%. And only a worrying 6% of young people think their country’s political system works well and needs no changes.
Likewise, 39% of the 6,703 respondents regret that the EU does not function in a particularly democratic way. While two-thirds of them consider their country’s EU membership positive, half believe it’s “a good idea, but very poorly executed.”
Although all these figures must be studied and understood in the context of each country’s political, social, and economic circumstances, at YEPP, we cannot overlook the disillusionment many young Europeans are experiencing with politics in general—and the lack of motivation they feel toward the European Union, which they often see as a bureaucratic giant, made up of thousands of institutions where projects stagnate or fail to be implemented where and when they’re needed.
Therefore, YEPP still faces many crucial challenges: building trust among young people and, above all, leading by example. We must be living proof that politicians can be honest, committed, and—most importantly—keep their promises.
The first step is recognizing that young people don’t want to be passive members of an organization—they want to own it. They want to know that their work has weight, that their voices can shape decisions, not just decorate them.
On my part, as Secretary-General, it falls to us to carry out tasks that are sometimes invisible but no less critical. We must work tirelessly to ensure everything runs efficiently in the management of an organization composed of more than 60 member organizations with different voices and needs.
I have always believed in YEPP’s enormous potential, and I believe our duty is to expand our influence and continue building international alliances that allow us to further highlight our activities, campaigns, and aspirations—while helping other democracies grow stronger.
In my previous four years as Vice-President of the organization, we’ve had to fight and grapple with the consequences of a pandemic, a war—for the first time in many years—on Europe’s doorstep, deeply polarized elections in many regions of the world, the erosion of the rule of law in many of our EU member states, and now a trade war. The greater the challenge, the greater our commitment and responsibility must be.
But commitment alone is not enough. Action is what defines us. At YEPP, we must go beyond rhetoric and create tangible opportunities for young people to engage, lead, and influence. That means rethinking how we operate—moving from a top-down approach to one where every member feels ownership over our collective mission.
One way to do this is by expanding skill-building programs that equip our members with the tools they need to be effective leaders. Workshops on public speaking, policy drafting, and campaign management should not be occasional perks but core pillars of our organization.
We must also rethink our outreach. The youth disillusionment with politics isn’t just about distrust—it’s about relevance. Many young Europeans don’t see how policy affects their daily lives. It’s our job to bridge that gap. That means launching campaigns that speak directly to their concerns: the cost of living, housing shortages, digital privacy, and climate adaptation. We don’t just need to defend democracy—we need to prove it works for them.
And let’s not forget solidarity beyond borders. YEPP’s role isn’t limited to Europe; it’s about standing with young democrats worldwide. Whether it’s defending our borders and supporting pro-democracy movements in authoritarian regimes or sharing best practices with sister organizations in Latin America or Asia, our fight for democratic values doesn’t stop at the EU’s edges.
At YEPP, we don’t settle for speeches—we act. Our latest YEPP’s Manifesto embodied this “doer” mentality. Among our key goals is creating the conditions for youth employment to thrive, not just talking about it. We defend European values against authoritarian threats through democracy resilience training and partnerships with frontline organizations, like those in Ukraine. On sustainability we push for a realistic Green Deal and on AI we demand agile legal frameworks that foster innovation. To those familiar with our work, our dedication to advancing mental health initiatives will remain a priority through workshops, podcasts and social media content.
This is YEPP’s essence: we’re not bystanders to change, we’re the architects. Every line of our manifesto translates into tangible projects, from entrepreneur grants to civic patrols against disinformation. And we do it without losing sight of the human factor—policies with first and last names, ones that touch the real lives of those around us. Now more than ever, Europe needs “doers”—and we’re here, ready to keep building.
