On 18 February 2025, a Youth Policy Dialogue with European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, took place in Brussels, marking a significant step in integrating the voices of young people into the European Union's energy policies.
The event gathered 30 young participants from across the EU, offering a platform for discussing energy-related issues and contributing to the future of Europe's clean energy transition. The Youth Policy Dialogue is part of the European Commission's broader commitment to empowering youth in shaping policies that affect their future.
During the event, the group handed over a set of recommendations drafted by the Young Energy Ambassadors for the Energy Commissioner. The main topics discussed during the Dialogue were issues identified in these recommendations, focusing on questions of particular importance to young people in the context of energy policy. These included
- The just transition and inclusion of vulnerable groups
- Renewables
- Grids and infrastructure
- Skills and education
- Net-zero standards
- Energy financing
- Integration of electricity market
The group highlighted their key priorities both in their recommendations and in the Dialogue with Commissioner Jørgensen. First, they emphasised the importance of inclusion, urging support for vulnerable groups and opportunities for citizens to become active participants rather than just consumers in the energy transition. Another major focus was skills and education, with a call to provide training on energy issues and career support for young people and workers moving into green jobs. Additionally, they stressed the need for stronger electricity interconnections to enhance energy security and flexibility across Europe. Young people also raised other important issues, such as the competitiveness of hydrogen or the financing of the just transition. Finally, they highlighted the importance of energy affordability for consumers while phasing out fossil fuel subsidies.
In his reactions, the Commissioner reaffirmed the EU's commitment to the green transition, stressing the need for more ambition despite the global challenges. He emphasised Europe's strengths, including democracy and social models, and underlined the need not to lower standards. He agreed with the importance of investing in skills development and the need for rapid electrification and improved energy grid interconnections to meet future energy goals and enhance system flexibility.
In addition to discussing energy policy, the event also included a segment dedicated to looking at how future Youth Policy Dialogues might be structured, with the aim of making these dialogues as impactful as possible for those involved.
The Dialogue saw involvement from a diverse group of young leaders, with representatives from networks including the Young Energy Ambassadors (YEA) and the European Youth Energy Network (EYEN). The participants came from a wide range of backgrounds and interests, including research, industry, business, energy studies, youth advocacy and NGOs providing a rich and varied set of perspectives.
The outcome of these discussions will feed into the Commission’s energy policy-making deliberations, thereby pursuing President Von der Leyen’s pledge to include opinions from young people in the EU approach to achieving a clean, sustainable, and fair energy transition.
Related links
Details
- Publication date
- 19 February 2025
- Author
- Directorate-General for Energy