Young advocate from Tipperary travels to the Slovak Republic to help influence EU policies
A young advocate from Bansha travelled to the Slovak Republic recently to help influence EU policies and ensure young peoples’ voices are heard when it comes to shaping the future of the EU.
Robert O’Donnell, 26, was among 30 young leaders as well as experts from four countries who gathered in Bratislava, the Slovak Republic, for discussions on EU young citizens’ engagement though a programme called EUAct2.
EUAct2 is a pan-European programme which is managed in Ireland by European Movement Ireland, an NGO working on European affairs in Ireland since 1954. The programme brings together young people living in Ireland, Austria, Greece and Slovakia, giving them a platform to influence policies and share their ideas on a truly international level.
Robert was among five people from Ireland who travelled to Bratislava as part of the programme. He is also President of the Young European Federalists Ireland, an organisation dedicated to campaigning for a more democratic Europe and educating young people on Europe and its institutions.
He said: “I've been a political and youth activist since my teenage years, starting at a local level to eventually participating in national and European organisations such as Youth Work Ireland, the Irish Second Level Students Union, the No Hate Speech Movement, the European Youth Information & Counselling Agency and many more.”
Speaking of the event, he added: “I am really excited to be part of the programme, travelling to meet other young people from across Europe to have debates and discussions on issues that are important to young people and having my voice heard when it comes to shaping future EU policies.”
EM Ireland is working with a diverse group of partners that include Globsec, Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy and Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe.
Noelle O Connell, CEO of European Movement Ireland, said of EUAct2: “We are delighted to be part of this important programme, which is about promoting and providing impactful channels for citizens, especially young people, to get their voices heard by EU policymakers, to have a sustained influence on bettering EU policies.”
Vladislava Gubalova, Senior Fellow at the GLOBSEC Policy Institute, who are the overall coordinators of the EUACT2 programme, said: “What better if not to gather young leaders from across the EU to mutually learn from their own experiences living in the EU and together to advance their recommendations for resilient, just and prosperous EU”