Connect International coordinated a multi-day study visit to Brussels for the EU4Youth2Act project, bringing together young participants from more than 6 countries to explore European institutions and youth policy mechanisms.

The study visit program included:

● Meeting with DG Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) of the European Commission on Building the Union of Skills and how citizenship education fits within European education frameworks 

● Session on EU Youth Opportunities and Programmes exploring Erasmus+, Discover EU, and other youth mobility initiatives 

● Visit to the Youth Partnership at the Council of Europe Liaison Office to the EU discussing youth policy cooperation 

● Study visit to the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) examining regional perspectives on youth policy 

● Visit to the European Economic & Social Committee (EESC) exploring civil society’s role in youth development 

● Study visit to JEF ) and CESES offices on intergenerational cooperation 

● Panel discussion “How Digitalisation Can Bridge the Generational Gap” with experts from CESES, Connect International, and JEF 

● High-level conference “Policy Power-Up: E-Volunteering in Action” presenting policy recommendations for digital volunteering across Europe 

● Study visit to the European Parliament with interactive role play game experiencing EU legislative processes

The visits provided young participants with direct access to European policy-makers and institutional representatives, offering insights into how youth policies are developed and implemented at the European level. Through panel discussions, institutional briefings, and interactive sessions, participants explored topics including digital youth engagement, e-volunteering, citizenship education, and intergenerational collaboration.

This study visit reflects Connect International’s commitment to empowering young people through direct engagement with European institutions. By facilitating meaningful dialogue between youth and policy-makers, we strengthen young people’s understanding of European decision-making processes and their capacity to participate actively in shaping policies that affect their futures.