Entries by YEE

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Study session on Uniting for a Safer Europe: Empowering Environmental Defenders and Climate Activists

Study session on Uniting for a Safer Europe: Empowering Environmental Defenders and Climate Activists

Gain insight on your legal status as an environmental defender under the rule of law, explore available human-rights-based protection tools, and exchange good practices, challenges, and needs related to your activism.

Practical information

  • When

    1st - 5th September 2025

  • Where

    European Youth Center Strasbourg (EYCS), France

  • Costs

    50,00 EUR enrolment fee
    Accommodation, meals, and travel expenses are fully funded.

  • Deadline

    29th June 2025

This study session is organised in cooperation with the Council of Europe.


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Have questions?

Contact the project lead Anna at anna@yeenet.eu

Results

What is this study session about

In Europe, young environmental defenders face significant threats and repression, despite strong democratic institutions. These include legal, political, physical, and social challenges that have intensified with the rise of environmental protests. Key forms of repression involve strategic lawsuits, criminalisation of protests, police violence, and targeted harassment, undermining democratic freedoms and the fight against climate change.

Young people’s participation in environmental matters often extends beyond traditional avenues, with their activism efforts serving as a vital tool for engaging in the democratic process within the Council of Europe.

Objectives of the Study Session

Selection Criteria for Participants

Essential criteria:

Desirable Criteria:

We accept applications from all candidates who fulfill the profile for the activity, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief or sexual orientation.

Selection Process and Preparation

All interested candidates are required to fill out the Application Form by 29 June 2025. Please note that applications submitted via other channels will not be considered.

Pre-selected candidates will be invited to join a short online meeting where they will be provided with more information about the programme of the Study Session and get to know the preparatory team.

The YEE team will host a 1-hour online preparatory meeting that will be held two weeks before the Study Session to prepare and provide support to selected participants.

Administrative and logistical details

Participants’ costs for their travels to and from Strasbourg, local transportation, visa, and meals will be fully covered. Accommodation will be provided at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg (EYCS).

This activity requires the payment of a 50,00 EUR enrolment fee. Should you find yourself unable to afford this fee, please send an email explaining your situation to the Course Director at the following email: anna@yeenet.eu

YEE will consider enrolment fee waiver requests from applicants who meet all the following criteria:

  • – Do not have sufficient financial resources to cover the cost of participation;
  • – Are currently unemployed and/or enrolled as a student;
  • – Come from a marginalised or underrepresented community;
  • – Are not affiliated with a larger organisation or institution and work on a voluntary or pro bono basis.

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EU Future Vision for Agriculture and Food

EU Future Vision for Agriculture and Food

By Harveet Purewal and Ippokratis Tsevrenis, YEE Youth Scientific Advisory Board Members

We welcome the Commission's Vision for Agriculture and Food as a roadmap to create an attractive agricultural sector for youth and future generations. However, we as youth are concerned about the overarching pivot of EU agri-food policy away from the environmentally ambitious Farm to Fork Strategy to more economically competitive policies with fewer environmental safeguards, as reflected by the right-wing shift in EU institutions.

Environmental conditionality: A risky trade-off

One theme identified by the European Commission in the Vision is the need to “cut red tape and simplify the current environmental conditionality system”, aiming to make environmental regulations more efficient and less burdensome. Although this approach may give farmers greater freedom to adapt their practices, this does not ensure that these practices will be sustainable. 

Livestock farming: The missing commitment to reduction

Moreover, the Vision repeatedly mentions the need to strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of sensitive sectors such as livestock, stating that livestock is an essential part of EU agriculture. We as youth acknowledge the need to make vulnerable sectors such as livestock farming more resilient to ensure that no individual is left behind as part of a just transition. However, this perspective disregards the ever-growing body of scientific evidence highlighting the negative environmental impacts of livestock farming, as acknowledged at COP28 for the first time at the international level, as well as the potential for Europe to become a world leader in alternative proteins as an increasing proportion of individuals switch to more plant-based diets. Although the vision mentions a “new workstream on livestock” which provides an opportunity to create a framework that mediates consumer demand for meat products with the EU’s climate commitments, there remains no commitment to reduce livestock farming in Europe, even though direct livestock emissions account for two thirds of all reported agricultural GHG emissions.

Sustainability and Agroecology: Gaps in the Vision

Furthermore, the Vision itself provides a vague roadmap in terms of concrete steps the Commission have identified to create a more nature-friendly farming system. Within the document, there are no explicit strategic directions mentioned towards a more sustainable agriculture direction with agroecology as a practice that attracts young farmers, only mentioned once. Linked to this, there remains a strong emphasis on CAP within the Vision, however, CAP reforms are unlikely to be sufficient to address the scale of change needed. Plus, there was no mention of ending area-based payments, which are often not results-based and favour large landowners, putting a disadvantage on smaller farms, which may potentially achieve better environmental outcomes. For the Vision to create tangible impacts, it is crucial that the Commission targets the underlying factors that make it difficult for farmers to successfully implement environmentally friendly practices and incentivise practices that lead to actual benefits for nature, as opposed to payments for generic practices. 

Failing to attract young people to agriculture

Specifically, as youth, we welcome the Commission’s use of dialogue to ensure that the Vision is inclusive. However, the vision lacks measures on how to attract young people into the agricultural sector. With only 12% of all farms in the EU being managed by farmers under 40, it is crucial that any Vision for the agricultural sector targets the ageing population of Europe’s farmers and effectively attracts young people into the agricultural sector. 

Regional decentralisation and the right to stay

The Vision acknowledges and reiterates the “right to stay” in remote regions, yet it fails to quantify or plan research about the desirable approximate population target by region. This can be assigned to member states to come up with certain national decentralisation plans to assess the needs for reinhabiting remote areas, considering each region’s biocapacity and particularities. 

Contradictions with the Mercosur Deal

Another conflictual point is the reference of the Vision to fostering locally sourced and seasonal food, matched with shortening supply chains for fairer farmers’ income. Although this ambition is in the right direction from a societal perspective of justice, it is concerning how it clashes with the Mercosur Deal. When it comes to agricultural affairs of the Deal, it foresees an extra 99.000 tonnes of imported beef to the EU with reduced or no tariffs, which can put European smallholder farms at stake, and jeopardise forest areas in Latin America. Besides this, there is well-established scientific evidence that animal farming is a major driver of climate change and its impacts. This is owed to the fact that animal farming contributes more than 50% of the total methane emissions in the EU, whilst significant landmass and water use are required for livestock breeding, compared to alternative sources of protein production. In light of this current reality, not everyone is equally responsible. In fact, according to Eurostat findings, smallholders (that is, farm properties smaller than 5 hectares) represent 40% of the total holdings, equivalent to just 6% of the total agricultural land. On the other hand, 52% of the agricultural land is controlled by large farms (i.e., properties equal or greater than 100 hectares), representing only 4% of the farming population. Having all that in mind, the Mercosur Deal contradicts the Vision both from a societal and environmental standpoint: it compromises smallholders both in the Mercosur and the EU blocs, ultimately disregarding the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP) which mentions that “States shall formulate […] public policies […] to advance […] sustainable and equitable food systems” and shifts part of the environmental and climate footprint -associated with cattle farming- to Mercosur, without essentially reducing the net volume of red meat production.    

Non-Formal Education: A catalyst for change

As young people, we benefit from lifelong learning and non-formal education opportunities through the EU-funded Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programs. We believe that these programs besides their contribution to the development of soft and transversal skills for youth, are also vital for promoting practical training and sector-specific hard skills, getting to know how food grows, which factors foster or impede a successful yield, as well as its nutritional value in an age where a growing number of young people loses touch with these natural processes, and concurrently health-related issues due to poor nutrition are on the rise. These programs can also act as ambassadors of EU policymaking, since they often raise awareness about EU legislation, via non-formal education and interactive approaches. Therefore, it is pivotal that young people get the chance to receive lived experiences on sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices through these programs. Lived experiences through engaging non-formal education programs can foster a transformative change and spark young people’s interest and curiosity in agriculture-related occupations, enabling a multidimensional set of solutions for the revitalisation of EU rural landscapes, with ecologically and socially innovative ventures that strengthen the EU’s food sovereignty and uplift employability. 

Way forward: Strengthening competences and financial support

The European Commission has already published several competence frameworks (e.g., GreenComp and LifeComp), showcasing that we are heading towards a world where competences are gaining more prominence, alongside the traditional formal educational credentials. Non-formal education is critical for the promotion of these competences, and, in our case, competences related to the agricultural sector. The consultation on the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) of the EU is underway. In line with the trends in budgetary increases between the MFF of 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 in the budget share for Erasmus+ and ESC projects, the EU needs to push forward for a further increase that covers both the current inflationary reality and the increased need for skills development that is targeted, accessible, and inclusive for everyone. Delving deeper, the Erasmus+ and ESC 2025 Programme Guides already refer more precisely to promoting chemical-free agriculture projects as enablers of rural revival, confirming what is already outlined in this statement. We hail this trajectory and look forward to its establishment, integrating a more diverse palette of projects, ranging from regenerative agriculture to agroforestry. These programs can further advance the Vision, not only by engaging youth but also by integrating nature-based solutions into agricultural practices. 

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Next Gen EU Parliament: Interviews with young MEPs

Next Gen EU Parliament: Interviews with young MEPs

As part of the Youth in EU Elections 2024 project, we aim to bring the European Parliament closer to young people and to raise awareness of the impact of the electoral process on European citizens.

720 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) were elected in June 2024; among these, 36 were young MEPs under 35 years old after the election. We focused specifically on communicating about the newly elected members of Parliament for the coming cycle. 

As a pan-European youth organisation, we work to amplify youth voices in decision-making. We therefore wanted to hear from the young European parliamentarians and ask them about key topics that are relevant for young people around the continent.

We therefore listed all MEPs under 35 and contacted all to ask to join for an interview on topics of environment and climate change, youth participation, green jobs and education. Out of 36 MEPs contacted, 8 of them responded to the request for an interview and were all provided with the same set of questions they could answer. Below you will find the answers to the interview questions by the 8 young MEPs who chose to participate and their short bio.

Environmental protection and climate action








MEP Peter-Hansen prioritises achieving an ambitious 2040 climate goal and ensuring all EU climate legislation aligns with the Paris Agreement. She calls for increased investments in renewable energy and measures to phase out fossil fuels as part of Europe’s clean energy transition.

Another key focus is banning harmful chemicals in everyday products to protect human health and the environment. She also advocates for stronger risk and hazard assessments to address the long-term effects of chemical use.

Her overarching aim is to align the EU’s climate policies with international agreements while addressing harmful substances that threaten human health and biodiversity.

Climate protection and sustainable regional development are central to MEP Repp’s work, particularly in rural regions like Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony-Anhalt, and the Baltic Sea. She focuses on combining climate protection with regional development, ensuring that investments in renewable energy, sustainable technologies, and modern infrastructure strengthen rural areas while creating jobs and securing their future.

A strong advocate for sustainable agriculture and fisheries, she supports scientifically based catch quotas, expanded marine protection areas, and reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy to reduce pesticide use and promote organic farming. These efforts align with her goal of creating a green transformation that benefits the environment and local communities.

She backs ambitious EU climate targets, including a 2040 emissions reduction target, and highlights the importance of socially just transition through tools like the Just Transition Fund and Social Climate Fund. MEP Repp works to ensure rural areas contribute to and benefit from the EU’s climate neutrality goals.

As a member of the ENVI Committee, MEP Ridel views Europe as the ideal place to address climate change, which she believes is spiralling out of control. She places significant emphasis on protecting biodiversity, warns against the ongoing sixth mass extinction, and highlights the role of nature in combating the climate crisis.

MEP Ridel is committed to fighting environmental disinformation, which threatens public debate, especially on social media. She stresses the importance of protecting scientists from fake news and online violence and recommends exploring Quota Climat’s work for insights.

Her efforts extend to opposing the criminalisation of environmental activists, such as Paul Watson. She considers protecting activists vital for maintaining momentum in preserving a habitable planet.

MEP Schilling is focused on protecting the European Green Deal, particularly against efforts by conservative forces to undermine it. They advocate for ambitious climate targets, calling for a 90–95% reduction in emissions by 2040, as recommended by the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change.

She emphasises that politics happens beyond parliaments, advocating for greater grassroots engagement and bridging the gap between politics and citizens. Protecting the Green Deal and implementing ambitious climate laws are top priorities.

MEP Schilling also stresses the importance of ensuring the green transition is socially just. To meet the EU’s Fit for 55 goals, transformative changes across the transport, industry, and energy sectors are needed.

MEP Scuderi emphasises the need for a holistic industrial policy that goes beyond decarbonisation to address biodiversity loss, deforestation, and soil degradation. She argues that focusing narrowly on emissions risks perpetuating superficial solutions while ignoring systemic environmental crises.

Her vision includes integrating biodiversity and natural resource conservation into industrial strategies to prevent past mistakes and create sustainable change. She prioritises re-industrialising nations to produce tools for the energy transition, ensuring clean energy access and job creation.

Scuderi also advocates for community involvement in renewable energy projects through energy citizenship and shared governance. By fostering local support, she aims to accelerate the adoption of renewables and ensure equitable benefits from the transition.

MEP Strolenberg’s primary focus within the Agriculture Committee is transitioning toward more plant-based agriculture to reduce reliance on animal-based products. This transition has multiple benefits, including lower greenhouse gas emissions, healthier diets for Europeans, reduced soil degradation caused by livestock waste, and improved resilience to climate-related challenges such as floods and droughts. She strongly advocates for crop diversification, viewing it as essential to building a more climate-resilient agricultural sector.

In practical terms, MEP Strolenberg has questioned the Agriculture Commissioner about crop diversification targets for 2026. Although the response was disappointing, she welcomed the promise to update the EU protein strategy. She is now collaborating with NGOs, scientists, and parliamentary colleagues to build a coalition and develop a detailed plan for advancing this transition.

She emphasises the lack of specific greenhouse gas reduction targets for the agricultural sector, which she considers essential for achieving the EU’s climate neutrality goals. MEP Strolenberg plans to advocate for such targets, potentially through a future reform of the Emissions Trading System.

Environmental protection is a core priority for MEP Sieper, a member of the TRAN Committee. He is committed to green mobility and promotes electric vehicles, improves public transport, and advances green freight solutions. His vision includes a unified European public transport system with integrated ticketing across borders, which he views as one of the most impactful and easily implemented climate solutions.

He also champions the energy transition, with a strong focus on scaling renewable energy sources such as water, wind, and solar power. A particular priority is the renewal and expansion of Europe’s solar industry, which he believes is crucial for a sustainable future.

MEP Sieper is deeply committed to environmental protection. He emphasises the importance of reforestation and establishing animal protection zones free from human interference. He believes harming ecosystems directly harms biodiversity and creates wider-reaching environmental impacts.

MEP Vieira sees environmental protection as inseparable from her work on the Trade and Human Rights Committees. She prioritises ensuring that partnerships with third countries provide mutual benefits in sustainable development, focusing on resources needed for Europe’s energy and climate transition. MEP Vieira highlights the importance of redirecting trade investments to support climate action and the energy transition while protecting environmental defenders from harm. Her integrated approach links trade, human rights, and environmental priorities.

She also emphasises the interconnection between human rights and environmental protection and advocates for the rights of environmental defenders. Many NGOs approach her about addressing human rights issues outside the EU, and she is committed to bringing environmental concerns into these discussions.

Youth participation







MEP Peter-Hansen fosters youth participation through social media channels, where she collects input and ideas from young people. She also conducts workshops and lectures with Danish school groups visiting the Parliament. Open to new approaches, she actively seeks ways to further engage youth voices.

MEP Repp is dedicated to ensuring youth voices shape EU policymaking. She champions initiatives like youth parliaments and mentorship programs to empower young people and supports a Youth Check to ensure EU policies reflect their concerns.

Repp actively connects with young people through school tours, political education programs, and digital platforms, making the EU accessible and relatable. She collaborates with youth organisations to gather input and promote opportunities for active engagement. Her goal is to create a Europe where young people feel represented and involved in shaping their future.

MEP Ridel created a group of young MEPs within the Socialists & Democrats group, a first in the European Parliament. This group focuses on representing the expectations of younger generations and influencing the political faction’s positions.

She strongly advocates for lowering the voting age to 16, citing its success in Belgium and expressing a desire to expand this measure across the EU. She views this reform as essential to empowering young people and amplifying their voices in public debate.

MEP Schilling prioritises amplifying youth perspectives, which are often overlooked in policymaking. As a young MEP, she emphasises the importance of directly engaging with young people to ensure their concerns are represented.

Her primary focus is climate justice. She advocates for protecting ecosystems and biodiversity to secure a sustainable future for young generations. Schilling connects environmental priorities with broader social concerns, such as affordable transport, housing, and food, stressing the need for an equitable green transition.

By participating in panels and discussions, she strives to include young voices in negotiations and policy processes, ensuring meaningful participation rather than token representation.

MEP Strolenberg integrates youth perspectives into her policymaking by engaging directly with young people, including young farmers, to understand their concerns. She believes in the importance of involving women in the green and just transition, emphasising that education is the starting point. Her party applies a youth test to all policies, assessing their impact on future generations to ensure inclusivity and long-term thinking.

MEP Sieper has outlined four key priorities to enhance youth participation:

  1. Improving Education: He emphasises the need for better education systems, particularly in Germany, where 16 state-level variations complicate the unified system. MEP Sieper is advocating through his European office to address these challenges and promote new courses on democracy and political systems, as well as digital competencies.
  2. Erasmus+: He strongly supports Erasmus+, which he considers the best program for fostering diversity. Concerned about potential budget cuts proposed by the Council, he is determined to advocate for increased funding through his committee.
  3. Promoting Transparency: MEP Sieper is committed to transparency by uploading all his interactions on YouTube. He requires that any lobbyist requesting a meeting with him agrees to a transparency clause he has established, namely being filmed and uploaded on YouTube during the interaction.
  4. Democratic Participation: He actively engages his community in decision-making processes, such as using Instagram to gather opinions on whether Ursula von der Leyen should serve a second term. He also involves German citizens in drafting his priorities and strategy to ensure their voices shape his program.

MEP Vieira gave four priorities for youth participation

  1. Diversity: MEP Vieira values diversity and is pleased to see greater representation of different age groups within the Green Party and across the Parliament.
  2. Climate: She is committed to advancing climate policies that protect current and future generations. MEP Vieira will fight in the Parliament to maintain and expand its ambition on climate matters.
  3. Fighting for rights and freedoms: She ensures young people are active in the fight for human rights, decent living conditions, standing against racism and sexism, and protecting the rights of LGBTQIA+ people.

Green jobs




MEP Peter-Hansen highlights the importance of involving schools and preparing training programs to equip young people with the new skills needed for the green transition. She stresses that education systems must align with the demands of a greener economy to ensure the workforce is future-ready.

MEP Repp focuses on expanding access to vocational training, higher education, and lifelong learning to enable young people to participate in the green transformation. She emphasises the development of green and digital skills while advocating for linking the European Education Area, Higher Education Area, and Research and Innovation Area to provide quality education and lifelong learning opportunities.

She champions initiatives like Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, working to make them more inclusive and accessible, especially for young people in rural areas. In regional development, she advocates for the “right to stay” concept by investing in local job opportunities, sustainable infrastructure, and high-quality education in less-developed areas. Repp believes that fostering regional growth will empower young people to contribute to the green and digital transitions, strengthening social cohesion and equal opportunities across Europe.

MEP Scuderi prioritises creating quality jobs for young people, emphasising that reindustrialisation can drive stable and better-paid employment. She calls for banning unpaid internships to ensure equitable access to the job market, which aligns with their work as shadow rapporteurs on related initiatives.

She focuses on addressing the skills transition, supporting both workers already in the workforce and marginalised groups, such as young people, women, racialised individuals, and people with disabilities. By taking an intersectional approach, she aims to ensure opportunities reach all groups, fostering equity in the green economy.

Scuderi also links tackling climate challenges with creating a better future for youth. On housing, she advocates for affordable and sustainable housing solutions, including building more social housing, renovating vulnerable homes for energy efficiency, and reducing financial speculation in the housing market. For young people, access to sustainable housing is integral to a fair and just transition.

MEP Strolenberg emphasises the importance of equipping young people with the skills and tools needed to actively participate in the Just Transition through education. She advocates for organising youth citizens’ assemblies to involve young people more directly in policymaking and ensure their input shapes the green transition.

Environmental education







MEP Peter-Hansen engages with citizens, especially young people, through social media, lectures, and talks. She prioritises educating young visitors to the Parliament and sharing insights about the EU’s environmental goals and policies. Her work focuses on achieving climate neutrality by 2050, with renewable energy as a top priority. She emphasises creating an economy that works for people and nature over corporate interests, using her leadership role in the Greens/EFA group to drive these efforts.

As part of her commitment to supporting young people, MEP Repp integrates environmental education into broader youth initiatives. She focuses on making education and mobility more accessible, with plans to expand Erasmus+ and increase its budget to €56 billion by 2028. She also aims to strengthen the European Solidarity Corps, which fosters social cohesion and supports environmental and social projects.

Repp highlights the importance of engaging young people politically through youth parliaments and youth organisations, which provide positive perspectives to counter right-wing ideologies. She sees education and environmental awareness as integral to equipping a generation to tackle future challenges.

MEP Schilling views politics as a societal activity and emphasises the urgency of addressing the climate crisis through education and communication. She stresses that the transition must be socially just and that desirable and meaningful green jobs must be created.

Schilling highlights the importance of communicating the positive outcomes of climate action, such as improved public transport and affordable travel options, which not only combat climate change but also enhance quality of life. By focusing on these benefits, she aims to make the transition more relatable and widely supported.

MEP Scuderi reflects on key victories in the climate fight, including securing ambitious emission reduction targets, but stresses that implementation and education are critical next steps. She highlights the need for substantial investment in the energy transition and advocates for framing arguments around competitiveness and convenience to counter opposition.

Scuderi also emphasises the importance of engaging citizens through accessible narratives, arguing that environmental education and awareness are essential for achieving sustainability and global competitiveness.

MEP Strolenberg promotes environmental awareness and education by engaging with young people and NGOs within and outside the Parliament. She prioritises including youth voices in policymaking and actively uses social media to amplify her advocacy efforts, ensuring broad engagement and visibility.

MEP Sieper acknowledges that climate awareness already exists but emphasises the importance of bringing all generations on board. He values strong partnerships with civil society organisations and focuses on educating people about local opportunities to foster engagement. While global problems require global solutions, he highlights the importance of local perspectives to inspire fresh approaches. MEP Sieper remains committed to advocating his convictions at the Commission to achieve concrete progress.

MEP Vieira believes that effective communication is key to fostering environmental education. To stay informed about developments outside the Parliament, she dedicates 35% of her time to meeting with knowledgeable individuals, including representatives from civil society organisations. Her approach centres on amplifying the voices of those who voted for her and ensuring their perspectives are reflected in her work.

European Degree

MEP Repp fully supports the EU Council’s goal of establishing a European Degree to ensure the uniform recognition of higher education qualifications across Europe. She views this initiative as vital for enhancing student mobility and creating equal opportunities for young people to study and work throughout the EU.

Repp advocates for strengthening initiatives like the European Universities Initiative, which fosters collaboration between universities and businesses to align curricula and qualifications. She also supports the full implementation of the European Education Area, which promotes the recognition of qualifications, skills, and learning periods across borders, ensuring equal access for students from diverse educational backgrounds.

To make the European Degree more inclusive, Repp highlights the importance of integrating non-formal and informal learning into the recognition system. This approach would ensure that all types of education and training are acknowledged, further advancing accessibility and inclusivity for students across Europe.

Erasmus+





MEP Peter-Hansen sees Erasmus+ as an important tool for cultural exchange and friendship. In her view, it helps young people learn about European culture and build lasting relationships. She strongly supports the program’s mission and its potential to connect young Europeans.

MEP Repp is deeply committed to Erasmus+, which she recognizes as a crucial tool for mobility, intercultural understanding, and equal education opportunities across Europe. As part of the S&D group, she advocates for doubling the program’s funding to €56 billion for the 2028-2034 period.

Inclusivity is a key focus for Repp, as she works to make Erasmus+ more accessible to disadvantaged and rural youth while reducing administrative barriers. She also aims to integrate sustainability and digital skills into the program, ensuring it prepares young Europeans for future challenges. By strengthening Erasmus+, Repp seeks to foster a more connected, resilient, and united EU.

MEP Ridel expresses concern over potential cuts to the Erasmus+ budget and calls such developments regrettable. In response, the French delegation in the European Parliament launched a communication campaign and petition to protect the program’s funding. Ridel pledges to fight to preserve and support Erasmus+ throughout the next five years to ensure it remains a pillar of European education and cultural exchange.

MEP Scuderi emphasises the need to strengthen and restructure Erasmus+ to enhance youth participation across Europe. She advocates for increased funding and direct support to national and local organizations, particularly in countries where youth participation is undervalued or underfunded.

Scuderi highlights the political challenges faced by youth organisations, particularly in countries where far-right governments interfere with funding. To address this, she proposes direct EU funding for youth councils to prevent political bias and ensure consistent support across member states. Her ultimate goal is to tackle systemic inequities and ensure that Erasmus+ provides equitable opportunities for young people, enabling them to actively shape their future regardless of their background or country of origin.

MEP Sieper strongly supports Erasmus+, which he views as the best program for fostering diversity and intercultural understanding. Concerned about potential budget cuts proposed by the Council, he is committed to advocating for increased funding through his committee to ensure the program continues to meet its goals.

Future Generations


MEP Repp emphasises the importance of appointing a Commissioner for Intergenerational Justice to address challenges different generations face. She strongly supports Commissioner Glenn Micallef, highlighting his shared vision as a Social Democrat and his unique perspective as the youngest member of the Commission. MEP Repp praises his commitment to including young people in decision-making processes and developing policies with their input, particularly in areas such as intergenerational justice, education, skills development, mental health, youth employment, and mobility programs like Erasmus+ and the European Voluntary Service.

Repp stresses the need for collective action between young and older generations to tackle pressing challenges like climate change, social inequality, and digital transformation. She advocates for mutual understanding and cooperation across age groups to achieve solutions that benefit all and foster a more inclusive Europe.

Regarding Micallef’s mission, Repp identifies his focus on centralising youth issues in EU policy-making as essential. She suggests he engage closely with youth organisations, promote cooperation on topics such as youth employment and mental health, and strengthen the EU youth strategy. She underscores the importance of providing Micallef with the tools and resources necessary to succeed in his role, emphasising his competence, passion, and commitment to youth well-being and intergenerational fairness.

MEP Peter-Hansen strongly supports the concept of intergenerational fairness, emphasising the need to ensure that future generations inherit a planet in better condition than the one we received. She views the role of a Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness as a valuable initiative, provided it is equipped with the right tools and responsibilities.

However, Peter-Hansen cautions that this role must not become a symbolic title with an empty portfolio or act as a substitute for a green Commissioner. During the confirmation hearings, she plans to use her platform to ask critical questions about the Commissioner’s focus, such as whether their priority will be safeguarding the interests of future generations or addressing the concerns of older people.

Profiles

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Call for internal auditors 2025/2026

Call for internal auditors 2025/2026

uneven

volunteering

remote

elected

Start July 2025

Open call for the Internal Auditors 2025/2026

Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) is pleased to announce the open call for internal auditors 2025/2026. The internal auditors will be voted in during our Annual Meeting 2025.

Internal auditors are independent individuals with the function of providing an objective assessment of the organisation.

How to apply?

All interested candidates are invited to fill in the application form including a CV by the 1st June 2025, 23:59 CEST.

Application deadline:

1st June 2025

The Internal Audit (IA) is a monitoring organ. The aims of the IA are:

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Call for board members 2025/2027

Call for board members 2025/2027

10-15 h/ month

volunteering

remote

elected

Start July 2025

Open call for the Executive Board 2025/2027

Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) is pleased to announce the open call for the Executive Board 2025/2027. The members will be voted in during our Annual Meeting 2025 in Prague.

Board members of Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) are responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the organisation, ensuring its activities remain aligned with its mission to unite environmental youth non-profit organisations across Europe.

They supervise the implementation of policies, manage resources efficiently, and represent YEE in various forums to promote international cooperation and raise awareness of environmental issues.

How to apply?

All interested candidates are invited to fill in the application form including a CV and nomination letter from any of YEE member organisations by the 1st June 2025, 23:59 CEST.

Application deadline:

1st June 2025

What you will get?

By assuming the position of a Board Member you will:

Who are we looking for



The Chairperson is, together with the Secretary General, the legal representative of the network. They lead the Board and are chiefly responsible for coordinating its activities, preparing and chairing the Board’s meetings, and ensuring effective communication among Board members.

They represent YEE at official functions and serve as the primary link between the Board, the management of the organisation and the General Assembly.

The Treasurer oversees YEE’s financial affairs, including budgeting, financial planning, and the monitoring of expenditure. They ensure that the organisation’s funds are managed responsibly and transparently, together with the Finance Manager, prepare financial reports, and advise the Board on financial matters to maintain the organisation’s financial stability.

These four Board Members are not assigned specific roles during the election. Instead, after the election, portfolios will be distributed among the Board Members according to YEE’s board policy, skills, and needs of the network.

The Board is composed of six members. The position of a Board Member of YEE is voluntary and remote. 

Learn more about the Executive Board in our Board Members Policy, and more about the current board in their workplans.

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YEE’s Annual Meeting 2025

YEE’s Annual Meeting 2025

from 3rd to 6th July 2025 in Prague, Czechia

Practical information

  • When

    4th July to 6th July 2025

  • Where

    Prague, Czechia

  • Fees

    Fully funded for official delegates

  • How

    Onsite

This event is funded by the European Union.

Have questions?

Get in touch at yee@yeenet.eu

Youth and Environment Europe would like to announce that the Annual Meeting and the General Assembly of YEE will take place from 4th to 6th July 2025 in Prague, Czechia (with travel on 3rd and 6th July in the afternoon).

Hereby, we would like to ask each YEE member organisation to appoint a delegate to represent and vote on behalf of your organisation during the Annual Meeting.

Food, accommodation, and visa expenses for the duration of the annual meeting will be covered in full. Travel expenses will be reimbursed according to the travel limits for respective countries shared with members’ focal points.

Travel expenses and accommodation for an extra delegate are not covered.

How can you join?

News

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Emilie Tamo Kamguia – Candidate for the Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe (2026-2027)

Emilie Tamo Kamguia

Candidate for the Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe (2026-2027)

Contents

Short bio

Nationality: French (with a Cameroonian twist)

Pronouns: she/her

Academic background: Agronomy engineering degree with a specialisation in rural development and a Master’s in Forest and Ecosystems Management

Current job: Blue Book trainee at the European Commission’s DG Environment, working on nature conservation

Youth representation & voluntary experience:

  • ◦ Member of the Youth Scientific Advisory Board of YEE, Member Organisation delegate and former Liaison Officer on Biodiversity 
  • ◦ (Soon former) President of the Euroregional Youth Assembly (AEJ) Pyrenees Mediterranean and member of its Commission on Environment & Sustainability
  • ◦ Board Member of the Mediterranean Youth Council, involved in the working groups on Environment & Climate and Gender & Discrimination
  • ◦ Member of the European Commission Trainees Association’s Diversity & Inclusion subcommittee
  • ◦ Former Vice-President of the Student Events Committee and former member of the Sustainability Commission at ENSAIA (Lorraine University)

My super skills

Unshakable optimism, empathetic leader, skilled mediator and collaborator, project coordination ninja, multitasking master, calm under pressure, quick learner and highly adaptable

Passions & hobbies

Hiking, yoga, bouldering, photography, poetry, painting, fighting for people and our beautiful planet and sunny days!

Why am I running?

We, young people, are the generation that will suffer the most from the consequences of past generations’ inaction on global changes, pollution, and the collapse of biodiversity, as well as their failure to adopt resilient, sustainable, and just systems on a global scale, guaranteeing our future well-being and that of all living beings.

Young people have already expressed their deep concerns and commitment and are calling to be heard by policymakers. Yet, we continue to be represented only marginally and symbolically in decision-making spaces, too often falling victim to youthwashing, where our presence is showcased but our voices remain unheard. I believe that not only do young people deserve a real say, but their vision should also be central in shaping the policies that impact our present and future.

What can I bring to the Advisory Council?

As Youth and Environment Europe (YEE)’s candidate, I bring experience in environmental governance, youth representation, education and advocacy. As an engineer, I have both hands-on technical environmental experience and in-depth knowledge of European and international environmental policies and legal frameworks. My participation in the 53rd meeting of the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ) and the 52nd Joint Council on Youth (CMJ) in Budapest as a substitute has deepened my understanding of the Council of Europe’s unique co-management system.

If elected, I will build upon the work of my predecessor, Agnès, who successfully co-led the environmental portfolio and played a key role in the adoption of the Recommendation on Young people and climate action in 2024, while bringing my own approach. I am to ensure that youth rights, climate and environmental action, and social justice are at the core of the Council of Europe’s policies and funding, making them truly reflect our needs and aspirations as young people, particularly those who are marginalised, and fostering more inclusive and representative decision-making processes.

My priorities

My three main priorities and how I intend to work towards them:

I will place a strong focus on underrepresented youth inclusion in environmental decision-making processes and advocate for the recognition of the right to a healthy environment as a basic human right. I will work to ensure that young people have the tools, platforms, and support they need to be effective agents of change, driving the sustainability agenda forward.



Strengthening meaningful youth participation and intersectional approaches in environmental decision-making processes 

Young people are often excluded from decision-making processes that directly affect their lives, especially the ones from marginalised communities. These communities are also the most severely affected by the impacts of the triple planetary crisis. Climate and environmental justice are therefore intertwined with intersectionality and inclusivity. Moreover, youth must not only be recognized as victims but also as powerful agents of change.

This is why I will advocate for ensuring that young people are not only represented but actively involved in policymaking, ensuring diverse and underrepresented voices are included in a meaningful way, not just symbolically, and going beyond tokenism. This includes promoting an intersectional approach across all youth policies to address structural inequalities and ensure policies reflect the realities of all young people. 

How?

  • ◦ Promoting youth-led solutions and advocating for stronger youth representation in decision-making processes at all levels
  • ◦ Promoting an intersectional approach to ensure policies reflect the realities of all young people, regardless of gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, or geographic location.
  • ◦ Fostering better representation of young people from diverse backgrounds in the youth programmes, projects and activities supported by the CoE
  • ◦ Working towards simplifying policy language to make it more accessible and understandable to young people.
  • ◦ Strengthening youth co-management within the Council of Europe and push for its expansion at national and local levels. 
  • ◦ Contributing to the implementation of CoE existing policies on youth participation and on inclusivity 
  • ◦ Contributing to the development of the roadmap to support the implementation of the Recommendation on Young People & Climate Action across Member States

Advocating for climate justice and the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment

The triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution disproportionately affects young people, who will live with the consequences the longest.  In light of the current geopolitical situation in Europe, particularly the ongoing Russian aggression towards Ukraine, reaffirming young people’s right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is more crucial than ever. 

I will therefore continue working to ensure that climate justice and the right to a healthy environment are recognised as both youth and human fundamental rights, directly linked with health and safety. In addition to the extensive work already done on climate change, I particularly intend to expand efforts on the two other planetary crises of pollution and biodiversity loss, pushing for young people’s reconnection with nature as a well-being issue and for the right to clean, unpolluted air, water and food products. 

How?

  • ◦ Advocating for climate justice and the right to a healthy environment to be fully recognised within the CoE human rights framework.
  • ◦ Contributing to the development of the roadmap to support the implementation of the Recommendation on Young People & Climate Action across Member States 
    • Contributing to the action plan of the Council of Europe strategy on the environment and ensure its coherence with the Recommendation 
  • ◦ Making sure the planetary crises of biodiversity loss and pollution, and their impact on youth, are adequately tackled by the CoE action plan on the environment 

Fostering education, capacity-building and youth empowerment for a green and social transition

For young people to be equipped to lead change and create a just and green future, they need knowledge, skills, and opportunities. In today’s context of widespread misinformation, particularly on environmental and climate issues, it is vital to ensure that young people are empowered to critically assess information and become reliable messengers of climate truth and social justice. 

I will work to ensure the Council of Europe’s youth policies provide young people with tools to engage in both environmental and social governance and to become future-proof individuals, particularly by supporting capacity-building, non-formal and formal education, awareness-raising, and youth-led initiatives focused on sustainability and social justice. I aim to empower youth to take an active role in addressing the triple planetary crisis while also fostering social justice, inclusion, and equality. 

How?

  • ◦ Ensuring that CoE youth policies provide young people with real opportunities to gain skills in environmental and social governance.
  • ◦ Promoting education as a key tool for advancing climate justice, social rights, and sustainability.
  • ◦ Supporting the development of youth-led capacity-building programs that empower young people to take action and become ambassadors and disseminators 
  • ◦ Tackling climate disinformation by promoting media literacy, critical thinking, and accessible, science-based information available for young people 
  • ◦ Contributing to the development of the roadmap to support the implementation of the Recommendation on Young People & Climate Action across Member States

Want to connect or ask questions about my candidacy?

Explore my work at YEE

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Training course on the Right to a Healthy Environment

Training course on the Right to a Healthy Environment

Gain the skills, knowledge, and tools to advocate for environmental justice, engage in policy-making, and create impactful digital storytelling campaigns

Practical information

  • When

    11-19th May 2025

  • Where

    Tsaghkadzor, Armenia

  • Costs

    Accommodation, meals, and travel expenses are fully funded.

  • Deadline

    6th April 2025

Co-organised with

Funded by


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Have questions?

Contact the project lead Ena at ena@yeenet.eu

What is this training course about

Youth and Environment Europe (YEE), in collaboration with Yeghvard Youth Ecological NGO and Utrecht University, invites young climate activists and youth workers to join a fully funded Training Course in Armenia and be part of a broader program on the Right to a Healthy Environment! This transformative program will equip you with the skills, knowledge, and tools to advocate for environmental justice, engage in policy-making, and create impactful digital storytelling campaigns.

Join us if you want to

  • Become an advocate for climate justice – Deepen your knowledge of the triple planetary crisis (climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution) and the Right to a Healthy Environment (RtHE).
  • Gain hands-on experience in strategic advocacy, storytelling, campaigning – learn how to effectively communicate your message through digital campaigns and video storytelling.
  • Turn your ideas into action by developing a local advocacy campaign with mentorship and support.
  • Present your work at the final Symposium in the Netherlands – Showcase your campaign, share your experiences, and contribute to the movement for the Right to a Healthy Environment.

What to Expect?

7 days of learning, sharing and creating inspired by:

🎓 Interactive workshops on climate advocacy, environmental law, and digital campaigns.
🎤 Storytelling & media training to amplify your message and create impactful digital campaigns.
🎬 Hands-on video production to bring your environmental campaigns to life.
🗣️ Simulations & role-plays on negotiating with policymakers and advocating for change.
🌱 Field visit to learn from real-world environmental campaigns.
🌍 Cross-cultural collaboration with youth from across Europe.
📢 Mentoring and support in creating digital local campaigns and sharing insights at the final Symposium in the Netherlands.

Who should apply?

We are looking for motivated and committed participants who:

  • – Are 18-30 years old and residing in Armenia, Albania, Republic of Türkiye, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Netherlands, Portugal, France, Sweden or Serbia.
  • – Are youth workers from our Member Organisations (MOs), rural youth climate activists or university students specialising in environmental law.
  • – Have a strong interest in the triple planetary crisis, advocacy, and storytelling.
  • – Are committed to actively participating all stages of the program: the training, the implementation of a local advocacy project in their community and motivated to join the Symposium in the Netherlands in November, 2025.
  • – Have good English skills (as it is the working language of the program).

Other upcoming events

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Feedback on National Restorations Plans’ format

Feedback on National Restorations Plans’ format

National Restoration Plans (NRPs) are a cornerstone of the Nature Restoration Law (NRL), outlining how Member States (MS) will implement the regulation to achieve its overall targets for 2050 and intermediary targets for 2030 and 2040. The European Commission has proposed a uniform format for NRPs, and this draft is open for public feedback until 7 February 2025.

Summary

What are NRPs?

National Restoration Plans (NRPs) explain how each EU country will implement the Nature Restoration Law and how it achieves its targets for 2030, 2040, and 2050!

What is the problem?

  1. The proposed format fails to recognise youth participation.
  2. It does not offer countries the space to connect nature restoration with intergenerational equity.

What are our recommendations?

Youth Participation

  • Add a “Youth Participation” section
  • Ensure youth voices are documented
  • Promote youth-led initiatives

Youth Contributions to Restoration Targets

  • Recognise youth-led restoration projects
  • Ensure youth have resources to contribute effectively

Intergenerational Equity

  • New section: “Consideration of Future Generations”
  • Make intergenerational equity a required principle in decision-making

Environmentally Harmful Subsidies

  • Public funds shouldn’t support activities that harm biodiversity
  • Concrete plans to phase out harmful subsidies
  • Alignment with EU biodiversity commitment

The European Commission’s proposed uniform format for National Restoration Plans (NRPs) represents a thoughtful and comprehensive framework to support member states (MS) in achieving the ambitious targets set by the Nature Restoration Law (NRL). Nevertheless, reference to a core aspect that is key to the success of this Regulation is missing: youth. This omission is particularly significant, as young people will inherit the long-term consequences of environmental policies and have a crucial role to play in driving innovation, advocacy, and community engagement for successful restoration efforts. We therefore highly recommend the inclusion of the following:

Recognition of Youth Input in the Participation Process for NRPs

We propose adding a distinct priority under section 2.1, titled “Youth Participation,” within the “Public Participation” section. Young people’s lack of participation in environmental decision-making has been evident in the creation of National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs). However, the NRL, and in particular, the NRPs, offer a valuable opportunity to address this gap by ensuring clear and dedicated participation pathways for young people within the NRL framework.

Following this, and for the purposes of Article 15(3(w)), we recommend more specificities to be added under Public Participation, such as subsections categorising the involvement of different stakeholders and the inputs they put forward. This way, the NRPs could provide a detailed explanation of the views expressed per category of stakeholder. We further recommend the addition of a section detailing the participation methods that the states followed (such as public consultations, multi-stakeholder group meetings, deliberations, etc…) and a short summary of each.

Youth Contributions to Restoration Targets

In addition to youth involvement in public consultations, we recommend that the NRP format include specific sections that highlight youth contributions to project implementation, citizen science, and advocacy efforts for restoration. For example, we suggest adding a new point (e.g., 14.5.5) to the format: “Describe the role of young people in the implementation of this measure.” This inclusion would support the alignment of restoration activities with national environmental citizen service programs or youth environmental corps, ensuring that young people are actively contributing to these important efforts.

Intergenerational Equity

We propose requiring MS to explicitly document how their plans address the rights of future generations. Intergenerational solidarity is recognised as a fundamental principle within the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. To incorporate this in NRPs and contribute to intergenerational equity, we suggest the following:

  • Section 4.1.4: Include “intergenerational equity” as an example under “Other potential co-benefits.” Additionally, we support making this section mandatory instead of optional.
  • Section 2.4: Introduce a new section titled “Consideration of Future Generations” to emphasize the importance of long-term planning.
  • Section 14.3.4: Add a new section titled “Intergenerational Benefits” to highlight the advantages of prioritizing sustainability for future generations.

Environmentally Harmful Subsidies

In addition to Section 4.3.2, which gives an indication of the harmful subsidies that may negatively impact the achievement of the goals set under the regulation, we would like MS to explicitly include what actions are being taken to phase out the subsidies in question. We recommend expanding the section to include Subsection 4.3.2.1 titled “Actions taken to phase out environmentally harmful subsidies not in line with meeting the goals of the regulation”. In a parenthesis, examples can be included, such as “…(e.g. market-based instruments and green budgeting and financing tools)”. A reference to the supportive actions a state takes to phase out the specific subsidies, in line with the NRL Article 15(3(v)), would also be a useful addition to the format. This would also contribute to fulfilling Decision (EU) 2022/591 Art 3(2(h)),  according to which MS “shall identify other environmentally harmful subsidies and report them regularly to the Commission”. Incorporation of more information about environmentally harmful subsidies in the NRL would therefore have multiple positive effects. In support of the latter, we would also like to draw attention to Recommendation 9 of a joint CSO statement on the EU budget for biodiversity, which calls for the harmonisation of the identification of environmentally harmful subsidies, and of a reporting mechanism. Lastly, we would like to draw attention to point 3.2 of NAT/926 of the EESC’s own initiative opinion titled “A comprehensive strategy for biodiversity at COP16”, which highlights the urgency of phasing out environmentally harmful subsidies for the purposes of biodiversity governance.

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This feedback was jointly developed by

Learn more about the EU Nature Restoration Law

National Restoration Plans (NRPs) are a cornerstone of the Nature Restoration Law (NRL), outlining how Member States (MS) will implement the regulation


Read More

YEE and other youth organisations have sent this letter to European Parliament Members, ahead of the plenary vote on the Nature Restoration


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Join us and over 200 NGOs and ask your decision-makers to adopt a solid and urgent implementation of the law that can


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Call for a project assistant

Project assistant

304 hours in total To be distributed unequally*

16.46 EUR per hour (gross)

remote within EUROPE

until October 2025

Start March 2025

Project lead for a short-term assistant on the triple planetary crisis

YEE is seeking a project assistant to support a project lead of a short-term project called Understanding the Triple Planetary Crisis through the Lens of the Right to a Healthy Environment (RtHE).

*This remote position involves an uneven workload from 1st March to 31st October 2025, with the following working periods:

  • March-May 2025: 76 total hours (app. 25 per month distributed unevenly with an average remuneration of 411.5 EUR per month);
  • August-October 2025: 228 total hours (76 per month distributed unevenly with an average remuneration of 1250.96 EUR per month).

Application deadline:

19th February 2025

Background

The project Understanding the Triple Planetary Crisis through the Lens of the Right to a Healthy Environment (RtHE) addresses the triple planetary crisis—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—focusing on how young people across Europe experience and respond to its varied impacts.

Recognising that these crises transcend borders, the initiative aims to raise awareness, foster solidarity, and empower young people through education, cooperation, and advocacy. By enhancing cross-border knowledge sharing and promoting the right to a healthy environment (RTHE), the project seeks to build a united and strategic youth response to environmental challenges, emphasising the importance of regional and social contexts.

Key objectives include raising awareness of regional differences in experiencing these crises, equipping young people with the skills to advocate for environmental rights, fostering collaboration among youth organisations, and encouraging local and global environmental actions. The project prioritises rural and vulnerable young people across Europe, ensuring inclusivity and diverse representation. Innovative approaches, such as cross-geographical dialogue and visual storytelling, will showcase the role of youth in driving environmental change and strengthen their contributions to a sustainable future.

Responsibilites

The project assistant will support the project lead in carrying out the project activities including:

Candidates we are looking for

The ideal profile:

Requirements

Equal Opportunity

YEE is committed to diversity and inclusion and strongly encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups.

Selection Process

Interested candidates should submit the application form by 19 February 2025 to be considered for the position. Selected candidates will be asked for a remote interview during the week of 24 to 28 February.

For any questions regarding the selection process, contact yee@yeenet.eu.