Image module
© Eugenio Marongiu/Shutterstock.com

The involvement of present and future generations in the shaping of our societies is high on the political agenda on a local, regional, national and European level. Therefore, already in 2010 the EU initiated its own Youth Strategy. In 2016, EU Leaders endorsed the need for action in support of youth in the Bratislava Roadmap. Since then, various EU policies and initiatives have aimed at giving leverage to young people in Europe:

 

 

In this context, the Danube Youth Council (DYC) shall provide a platform for institutional involvement of young people in all EUSDR bodies to make ideas and viewpoints of young people heard and considered on a political level.

 

The Danube Youth Council has been officially established as of October 2022 and is composed of 28 members, 2 members from each of the 14 Danube Region countries (Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine). The members of the Youth Council may:

  • propose concrete actions and projects and suggest topics
  • bring ideas to the attention of high-level politicians from EUSDR states and regions
  • contribute to the EUSDR priorities and policies
  • raise attention for the special features of their regions at the transnational level
  • participate in all youth activities of EUSDR
  • participate in EUSDR events as well as international and EU related youth events

 

The Danube Youth Council is funded by the European Commission and co-funded by the City of Vienna. This financial support covers travel and accommodation costs of DYC members for meetings and events.

DOWNLOAD - DYC ROLE & MISSION

The application is closed, as the DYC has already been established. From now on, application will only sporadically be open for specific countries, to replace DYC members who cancel their mandates. In case the application is open for a specific country, an application form will appear at the bottom of this page.

The general application rules allow you to apply if you:

  • are interested in shaping the future of the Danube Region and want to work together with EUSDR National Coordinators, Priority Area Coordinators and their Steering Groups to bring the Danube Region forward in 12 thematic fields;
  • are between 18 and 28 years old on 1 September 2022;
  • are a permanent resident of one of the 14 participating states/regions of the Danube Region Strategy;
    In the case of Germany residents of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria are eligible.
    In the case of Ukraine residents originating from the following four regions are eligible: Chernivetska Oblast, Ivano-Frankivska Oblast, Zakarpatska Oblast and Odeska Oblast. Ukrainian applicants from these 4 Oblasts are eligible regardless of their current location.
  • have a good understanding of the English language;
  • are ready to commit for one year to the Danube Youth Council (September 2022 – October 2023). This commitment includes the participation in approx. 3-4 physical meetings (if possible in accordance with COVID-19 regulations), virtual exchanges, the work in small groups on proposals and projects and the voluntary participation in events, meetings of EUSDR core stakeholders and further youth activities.

The selection of DYC members shall foster diversity in various dimensions. Therefore, attention is paid to a balance of young people from the 14 EUSDR participating states from different EUSDR regions (urban/rural), of different genders and with different educational or professional backgrounds.  If you have experience in youth organisations or volunteer work, we would like to know about it, but don’t worry if you don’t!

 

The selection of candidates will be carried out by random sample, considering the above described diversity criteria. Per Danube Region country two young representatives will be selected.

If you are not selected for the Danube Youth Council but would still like to get the chance to join the DYC at a later stage, you may indicate this in the application form and we will get back to you in case the mandate of a member of the Danube Youth Council representing your country expires or they decide to cancel it before the end of their first year. In that case you will be on a reserve list and will be contacted first before a new call for applications is opened. No obligations will arise for you as a consequence of being part of this reserve list.

Image module
© DenisProduction.com/Shutterstock.com