“We are in deep water. This generation has experienced right at the beginning of its life a financial crisis. Then Covid came, a worldwide pandemic. We have now the economic depression we are going through, with very big inflation, not being able to secure a housing for yourself and not earning wages convenient enough to live the life you want. It can create kind of climate anxiety atop of that.
We are just afloat.”
Hanna – Hungary
Introduction
This set of political recommendations is grounded in qualitative insights gathered through interviews with young people conducted within the framework of the GenGreen Project, led by the International Sport and CultureAssociation (ISCA). These contributions reflect lived experiences, perceptions, and expectations expressed directly by young Europeans regarding democratic participation, intergenerational relations, sport, wellbeing, and climate-related challenges.
The objective of this document is to translate these youth perspectives into actionable, policy-relevant recommendations for European and national decision-makers. The recommendations are intended to inform ongoing EU-level discussions and to contribute meaningfully to the policy agenda in the wake of the conclusion of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, ensuring that youth voices are substantively integrated into current and future EU priorities.
1InstitutionaliseYouth-Led and Intergenerational Governance
Restore the Intergenerational Contract through Structured Cooperation
The Council and Parliament should promote EU-wide frameworks that foster structured intergenerational cooperation, combining the innovation and urgency expressed by young leaders with the experience and institutional knowledge of older generations, with the explicit aim of rebuilding trust in democratic decision-making
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The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union should require the systematic inclusion of youth-led and intergenerational decision-making mechanisms across EU policy cycles, ensuring that young people move from consultative roles to shared responsibility in agenda-setting, implementation, and evaluation, in line with the EU Youth Strategy’s “Engage” objective. 2
Reform Participation Models under the EUYouth Strategy
Acknowledge the Cumulative CrisesAffecting theYoung Generation
The European Parliament and Council should formally acknowledge that today’s youth are disproportionately affected by overlapping crises including public health emergencies, economic instability, housing insecurity, climate anxiety, and democratic regression and integrate this reality into legislative priorities, funding mechanisms, and impact assessments.
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European Institutions should accelerate the transition from traditional consultation formats toward action-based participation, by recognising youth volunteerism, youth-led initiatives, and grassroots leadership as core components of democratic engagement under Erasmus+ and EU Youth programmes. 4
Strengthen Institutional Communication and DemocraticAccessibility
The European Union should mandate clearer, more accessible, and mediated communication between EU institutions and citizens, reducing the disconnect between policy discussions in Brussels and public understanding at national and local levels, in accordance with principles of inclusive democracy
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Promote Context-Sensitive and Flexible EU Policymaking
The Council and Parliament should reinforce subsidiarity and territorial sensitivity in EU policymaking, ensuring that legislation and funding instruments reflect cultural, geographic, and historical diversity among Member States and regions, rather than applying uniform policy solutions
Align EU Policy with EvolvingYouth Life Models
European Institutions should adapt employment, education, and social policies to reflect generational shifts toward flexible, non-linear life paths, prioritising sustainability, wellbeing, and long-term resilience over outdated career-centric models
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Position Sport as a Strategic Pillar ofYouth,Health,and Social Policy
The European Union should elevate sport particularly outdoor, nature-based, and non-traditional practices as a cross-cutting policy instrument under Erasmus+, EU Sport, and Health frameworks, contributing to physical health, mental wellbeing, social inclusion, and civic participation
Rebalance Sport Policy towardAccessibility and Human-Centred Practice
The Council and Parliament should reduce the structural overemphasis on elite and competitive sport models and instead support inclusive, affordable, and participationoriented approaches, ensuring safer environments, broader access, and reduced financial barriers for young people. 10
Integrate ClimateAwareness into Sport andYouth Policy
The European Union should explicitly link sport, youth engagement, and climate education, raising awareness of the growing limitations climate change places on physical activity and outdoor sport, while using sport as a tool for environmental education and leadership development
GenGreen Project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them