Vice-president of the European Commission debates youth participation and democracy in Portalegre

On the afternoon of April 12th, the vice-president of the European Commission, Věra Jourová, will participate in an event at Jardim da Avenida da Liberdade, in Portalegre, which will bring together coordinators of the Europe Direct Centres, Summer CEmp alumni, elements of the EU countries, projects that encourage democratic participation and local youth.

Organized by the Representation of the European Commission in Portugal, in collaboration with the Centro Europe Direct Alto Alentejo (whose host entity is the Instituto Politécnico de Portalegre), the Municipal Council of Portalegre and the Office of the European Parliament in Portugal, this initiative will give young people in the debate on the challenges and achievements of the European Union and how to protect democracy. It also seeks to promote synergies between networks and projects that encourage active citizenship.

After a dialogue with the vice-president facilitated by questions and sharing from young people and a moment of short project presentations, participants will try out the board game “Values ​​that move me” in teams. This game, developed by the European Parliament Office in Portugal in partnership with the Unidos.eu community and the European Parliament Ambassador Schools, allows you to discover more about the EU, European values ​​and opportunities, while solving challenges and traveling through several European countries.

These moments will be open to the public, with registration recommended using this form until April 4th for young people, in groups or individually, who want to actively participate in the dialogue or present their project.

The main objectives of the visit to Portugal are to promote more concerted action in defense of democracy, against disinformation, namely through the Digital Services Regulation, in the protection of plural and independent journalism and in the promotion of free, fair and resilient elections. In this sense, the visit program (still under development) will also include meetings and round tables with elements of the new Portuguese government and the main parties interested in these topics, such as regulatory entities, media and journalists, academics and think tanks.

Program (subject to change):

16:15 Reception at Avenida da Liberdade Garden, Portalegre

16:35 Welcome by Sofia Moreira de Sousa, Representative of the European Commission in Portugal, Fermelinda de Jesus Pombo Carvalho, Mayor of Portalegre, and Luís Loures, President of the Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre

16:45 Dialogue and presentation of projects on democracy and youth participation with Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission for Values ​​and Transparency

18:00 Activity “What the EU does for me and what I do for the EU” through the board game “Values ​​that move me”

19:00 Cultural moment to celebrate 50 years of democracy in Portugal