On 29-30 May 2017 the STEP project partners gathered in Siderno, Italy, for the 6th STEP project meeting. YEE was, once again, represented there by the Networking Coordinator and the Secretary General.

This time, the meeting’s agenda focused on the STEP e-participation platform, which has already been launched in the 5 pilot partners: Hatay Metropolitan Municipality (Turkey), Region of Crete (Greece), Comune di Sant'Agata del Bianco (Italy), Ajuntament de Mollet del Valles (Spain), Ayuntamiento de Valdemoro (Spain). Several young people and policy makers tested the platform already and downloaded the STEP app.

YEE and DRAXIS are preparing the launch of the platform’s section for the additional EU pilot. It will include interesting dialogues and other features connected to environment and sustainability topics.

During the STEP meeting we also had the great opportunity to visit the Siderno city hall and meet mayors from the area. The mayors spoke about the importance of the STEP project in the region.

Another interesting session was presented by Lorenzo Floresta, Member of STEP’s Advisory Board and Coordinator of the International Youth Panel of the Horizon 2020 project CATCH-EyoU. Lorenzo spoke about how to engage youth in policy making and how public authorities could come closer to young people.