Bringing Europe to STudents and back. Youth participation in EU institutional communication policies

ongoing

EU institutional communication is crucial in promoting active citizenship, enhancing participatory democracy, and shaping a stronger European identity, especially among younger generations. This aligns with the European Commission's priorities for 2024-2029, which emphasize putting citizens at the heart of EU democracy and integrating them into policymaking. Beyond ensuring transparency in the activities of EU institutions, fostering democratic debate, strengthening the EU's credibility, and improving awareness and perception of the EU’s global role are essential. In this context, the BEST project is designed to empower students as proactive promoters of communication and awareness-raising initiatives on EU issues. By combining education and participation, it activates a virtuous circle of learning, encouraging students to put knowledge into practice. It primarily targets university students but also involves specialists such as local institutions, civil society organizations and communication professionals. It aims to implement and share good practices through dissemination and public debate. To achieve these goals, BEST integrates traditional teaching with innovative and inclusive approaches, including interactive events, workshops, and civic engagement experiences. Moreover, it fosters international networking, creating cross-border connections that enhance students’ understanding of EU policies. Expected outcomes include a stronger presence of European communication policies in university curricula, a reinforced European identity among students, and an increased capacity to implement communication initiatives on EU issues. It also contributes to the development of civic competencies and transversal skills essential for navigating the complexity of the EU legal and value system. Its main output will be an innovative teaching model for European communication, designed to promote active citizenship and effectively integrate EU-related topics into higher education.