COMpetitiveness Policy for Accelerating Sustainable Solutions

forthcoming

COMPASS (COMpetitiveness Policy for Accelerating Sustainable Solutions) is a transnational youth engagement project that aims to tackle the growing democratic and social divide in Europe by empowering young people — especially those from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds — to participate meaningfully in shaping the EU’s economic and political future. In a context marked by geopolitical uncertainty, the green transition, and rapid digitalization, the EU stands at a crossroads where inclusive policymaking is more essential than ever. Yet, despite their demonstrated civic commitment, many young Europeans remain excluded from formal decision-making processes, particularly in complex policy domains such as EU competitiveness, economic governance, and strategic autonomy. COMPASS addresses this challenge by creating inclusive, high-level platforms that connect young people with EU policymakers, academics, and industry leaders, transforming distant policy debates into accessible, participatory experiences across 8 EU countries with a wide geographic representation (Belgium, Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, Romania, Slovakia, and Lithuania). The project is built around three interconnected phases — Connect, Engage, and Empower — aligned with the EU Youth Strategy. It introduces local Civic Incubator Labs that equip participants with the knowledge and critical thinking skills to navigate EU economic policy. These labs feed into structured Competitiveness Dialogues, where youth and decision-makers co-create concrete policy proposals based on shared insights. The project culminates in a high-level European Forum in Brussels, where young delegates collaboratively draft a Youth Strategy Paper on EU Global Competitiveness, offering long-term policy recommendations in response to the Draghi Report.