Watch our panel discussion at the EYE! “EU-UK youth relations - Which way forward?”
Around 9,000 sixteen to thirty year-olds representing 160 different nationalities came together at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 13-14 June to discuss the future of Europe at EYE2025 (European Youth Event). Among them were a number of British young people, keen to keep the relationship going and build new friendships across the Channel.
As part of the EYE, our office had the privilege to host a fully-booked panel discussion on the future of EU-UK youth relations, with brilliant speakers, a top-notch moderator, and a very engaged audience.
The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union had a long lasting and negative impact on young people on both sides of the Channel, ranging from decreased youth mobility to less education opportunities. We talked about how young people and policymakers assessed the situation; what proposals the different stakeholders have on the table to address the challenges; whether there is a structured engagement between the EU, UK-level authorities and the UK devolved nations on the subject. And most importantly, are young people truly being heard—and if not, how can we amplify their voices?
If you couldn’t be at the EYE, or were busy at some other fascinating event, you can watch it now from the comfort of your home.
Speakers:
Sandro Gozi, MEP
Sandro GOZI is a Member of the European Parliament for the Renew Europe Group since 2020. He is the Chair of the Delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly in the European Parliament. Sandro GOZI is also the Secretary General of the European Democratic Party and the President of the Spinelli Group.
A former Italian diplomat, Sandro Gozi is the former Undersecretary of State for European Affairs in the Matteo Renzi and Paolo Gentiloni governments. In France, he was advisor for European affairs in the Édouard Philippe government.
He joined the European Parliament in February 2020 following Brexit, and was re-elected in 2024 on the French list Besoin d’Europe. Since July 2024, he became Vice-President of the Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière (MOT), for which he monitors cross-border implications of European legislation. He is a full member of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) and the Delegation for relations with India. He is a substitute member of the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) and the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield (EUDS).
Cara McLaughlin, Scottish Advisory Forum
Cara is a Youth Leader with the Scottish Advisory Forum on Europe (SAFE), a non-political civil society platform bringing together over 40 organisations across academia, business and the third sector to foster dialogue and cooperation between Scotland and Europe, with a strong focus on youth participation and civic engagement.
SAFE is dedicated to ensuring that Scottish civil society plays a central role in shaping Scotland’s future with Europe. To achieve this, SAFE provides collaboration between stakeholders from a range of sectors to ensure that diverse voices are heard, and the needs and priorities of all of Scottish sectors are reflected in policy. SAFE events bridge gaps between sectors and creates an inclusive platform that facilitates discussions, provides evidence, and advocates for Scotland’s interests within the context of UK-EU relations.
Maurizio Cuttin, British Youth Council
Maurizio is the British Youth Council's chief international spokesperson, having specialised in European relations since his election in 2021. With a strong focus on enhancing international opportunities for youth, he has tirelessly advocated for Britain's re-joining of programmes like Erasmus+ and Creative Europe to facilitate intercultural exchanges. As the youngest-ever advisor appointed to co-author a European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) report on EU-UK Youth Engagement in October 2023, Maurizio played a pivotal role in shaping the European Commission's stance on youth mobility and cross-channel youth sector relations. As a result of this work, he now also serves on the UK Domestic Advisory Group, which oversees the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and maintains a close partnership with the EU Delegation to the UK. In December 2024, he was honoured with the prestigious Princess Diana Award for his dedication to empowering young people in the UK and Europe.
Annette Gerlach, Arte Journal - Moderator
Annette is a well-known TV host and journalist of the European Culture Channel ARTE. She presents programs in both German and French. She has been a bilingual news anchor for the last 25 years, specialising in live arts events on ARTE. She has presented live from the Cannes and Berlin Film Festivals together with music events in prestigious settings such as Scala di Milano, Fenice in Venice, Berliner Philharmonie, Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, Opéra Garnier and Bastille in Paris, Salzburger Festspiele (Austria), Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow or the Savonlinna Festival in Finland.
She is also responsible for the development of Educ’ARTE in Germany, an online tool for schools. Annette Gerlach regularly presents symposiums, round tables and award ceremonies for the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and other institutions and associations, both on stage and online. She is also a valued public-speaking coach.
Photo: @copyright ARTE