Building a better, more sustainable and inclusive future is only possible with the participation of our young people, and their inclusion in the decision-making process. In that vein, 2022 was selected by the European Union as the European Year of Youth to represent the recognition of the sacrifices young people had to make during the pandemic and the ensuing challenges they currently face. 

As Deputy Mayor of the Hungarian city of Veszprém, Barbara Hegedűs is deploying all efforts in order to make it a city for the youth, and her efforts are being met with success. For example, Veszprém and its surrounding area were shortlisted amongst the best four candidates for the European Youth Capital 2024. And efforts do not stop there. The Deputy Mayor wants to strengthen the role of young people and involve them so that they have meaningful participation in the decision-making process as "active young people can shape the future of Europe".

Additionally, the right opportunities and adequate access to employment, housing and education must be in place to encourage young people to return to their communities should they desire. 
Ms Hegedűs' words fell within the context of the debate on youth at the European Committee of the Regions plenary session during which she concluded that the first step in achieving results is effective dialogue between young people and decision-makers at the local, national and European levels. "By doing so, we can benefit from responsible, informed and socially active young people".

Moreover, during the debate on youth at the Committee of the Regions plenary session, Mr. Alexios Karamanolas, president of the European Young Conservatives (EYC), emphasised that young people should be directly involved in policy development and implementation, specifically when it comes to policies related to young people. We have to give them the opportunity to actively engage, as young people are free from the prejudices of the past, are open to new ideas and loyal to the European values, mentioned the EYC president. 

Also, during the debate, Mateusz Cebula, Councillor in the city of Dębica, Poland, reiterated that the implementation of the European Youth Charter, a document endorsed by the CoR at the plenary session, should be free from ideological barriers and young people should be directly involved in politics and the decision-making process, respecting at the same time different views and opinions. 

The European Youth Charter includes 49 recommendations relating to the democratic participation of young people at three levels of governance: local and regional, national, and European.