The workshop was facilitated by Marsela Delija and Andrea Mazelliu, members from the European Democracy Youth Network (EDYN) — a pan-European network of young leaders working to strengthen democratic participation and civic engagement, and a member of the YouthDecide 2040 consortium.

The European Youth Forum is the biggest platform of youth organisations in Europe, representing more than 100 youth organisations and millions of young people across the continent. Through its work, the Youth Forum empowers young people to actively participate in society, defend their rights, and contribute with innovative ideas to Europe’s biggest challenges.

The conversations during the workshop highlighted the diversity of experiences, concerns and hopes that coexist among young people in Europe today — from participation and representation to inclusion, trust and the future of democratic institutions.

The workshop was facilitated by Atanas Mihnev and Milko Penev, MD, members from the European Democracy Youth Network (EDYN) — a pan-European network of young leaders working to strengthen democratic participation and civic engagement, and a member of the YouthDecide 2040 consortium.

The workshop was facilitated by EDYN members Jan Gondek and Barbora Dolenská from EDYN (European Democracy Youth Network), a pan-European network connecting young leaders working to strengthen democratic participation and civic engagement and member of YouthDecide 2040 consortium.

A key role in making this process possible has been played by Missions Publiques, the partner coordinating our National Workshops. Led by Jeanne Perreul, they have coordinated the overall process across countries — from designing and managing participant recruitment to working closely with partners and facilitators to ensure consistency and implement the 19 workshops.

A special contribution to the National Workshops comes from Aaron B. Rosa and the team behind work package 2, who have played a central role in shaping the YouthDecide 2040 workflow and the participatory foresight methodology used throughout the workshop. Their work has helped turn the project’s goal into a concrete process that has been tested, refined and applied across different national contexts.

The workshop was facilitated by Alexandra Daám and Patrik Schwarcz-Kiefer members of the European Democracy Youth Network (EDYN) — a pan-European network of young leaders working to strengthen democratic participation and civic engagement, and a member of the YouthDecide 2040 consortium.

Choosing Lecce as the location for this workshop was not random, but a deliberate decision. There has been an effort to move away from major capitals and decentralise these democratic conversations as much as possible. In this case, the city of Lecce — in the south of Italy, in the region of Puglia — became the meeting point for young people from across the country to reflect on democracy in a place where deliberative processes of this kind do not often happen.

The workshop was facilitated by EDYN members Andreea Goras and Petru Cretu from EDYN (European Democracy Youth Network), ), a pan-European network connecting young leaders working to strengthen democratic participation and civic engagement and member of YouthDecide 2040 consortium.

The workshop was facilitated by Aleksa Janković and Kristina Jankovic, who are members of the European Democracy Youth Network (EDYN), a pan-European network of young leaders committed to strengthening democratic participation and civic engagement. EDYN is also a member of the YouthDecide 2040 consortium.

The event took place on 18 April 2026, as a one-day co-creation workshop! and was facilitated by Maria Bandulova Taseva and Gjorgi Tasev members of the European Democracy Youth Network (EDYN) — a pan-European network of young leaders working to strengthen democratic participation and civic engagement, and a member of the YouthDecide 2040 consortium.

The workshop was facilitated by Szymon Bednarczyk and Martyna Jałoszyńska, members of the European Democracy Youth Network (EDYN) — a pan-European network of young leaders working to strengthen democratic participation and civic engagement, and a member of the YouthDecide 2040 consortium.

Join our National Workshops call and co-create the future of European democracy. If you are an EU and candidate countries resident 18+ who wants to shape the future of European democracy, then this call is for you! Travel and accommodation costs will be covered for selected participants.

The workshop was facilitated by Radka Wagingerova and Aurel Surovy, members from the European Democracy Youth Network (EDYN) — a pan-European network of young leaders working to strengthen democratic participation and civic engagement, and a member of the YouthDecide 2040 consortium.

The workshops was facilitated by Mireia Manent, Ángel Honrado, Mario Magaña and Jorge Gutiérrez from WeDo | Project Intelligence Made Easy S.L, the company works with the public and private sectors, applying a strategic, holistic lean project management approach to creating effective collaborative frameworks for results-driven decision-making. WeDo is also a consortium member of YouthDecide 2040 and leaders of the work package for communication, dissemination and stakeholder engagement.

Join our National Workshops call and co-create the future of European democracy. If you are an EU and candidate countries resident 18+ who wants to shape the future of European democracy, then this call is for you! Travel and accommodation costs will be covered for selected participants.

Join our National Workshops call and co-create the future of European democracy. If you are an EU and candidate countries resident 18+ who wants to shape the future of European democracy, then this call is for you! Travel and accommodation costs will be covered for selected participants.