Youth Participation and Democracy Award category

Europe Unlocked

Title of the Project

Europe Unlocked

Organisation

E35 Foundation for international projects

WEBSITE

https://e-35.it/en/front/

Project link

Project dates

2025-02-01

2025-12-31

What is it about?

Europe Unlocked is a participatory project promoted by Fondazione E35, which manages the Eurodesk service at the local level, and implemented in 2025 in the Province of Reggio Emilia, a medium-sized territory in Northern Italy. The area is characterised by a strong tradition of civic participation but is geographically distant from European decision-making centres, making access to EU information and opportunities less immediate for young people.

The project aims to strengthen awareness of European citizenship as a combination of shared values, rights, responsibilities and opportunities, while fostering dialogue between young people and the wider local community. Its main objective is to empower young people to become informed and active European citizens by improving access to reliable information on the European Union and encouraging critical reflection on key European challenges such as climate change, security, mobility, conflicts and civil rights.

The primary target group is young people aged 14–25, especially secondary school students, including young people with fewer opportunities and from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds and peripheral areas. At the same time, the project engages citizens of all ages through open public activities, expanding its territorial impact.

An element of Europe Unlocked is a participatory survey addressed to young people and the wider community. The survey collects perceptions, interests and priorities related to European citizenship and informs the themes explored in school-based and public activities, ensuring that interventions reflect youth voices and community needs.

At the core of the project is the European Young Multiplier pathway, the flagship initiative of the Italian Eurodesk network. This pathway targets students aged 16–18 and combines youth information on EU institutions, rights and mobility programmes with non-formal education and peer learning. Participants are encouraged to act as information multipliers within their schools and peer groups.

This strengthens European citizenship locally.

How is this project relevant to the specific category?

Europe Unlocked – Shaping European Citizenship directly contributes to the thematic category Youth Participation and Democracy by placing young people at the centre of democratic dialogue, civic reflection, and participatory processes related to the European Union. The initiative goes beyond information provision by empowering young people to take an active and visible role in shaping content, identifying priorities, and influencing how European citizenship is discussed and promoted at the local level.

Youth participation is embedded from the very beginning through a participatory survey addressed to young people and the wider community. The survey gathers perceptions, interests, and concerns related to European citizenship, democracy, and current European challenges, and directly informs the themes explored in school-based and public activities. In this way, young people actively influence project decisions and ensure that activities respond to real needs, strengthening relevance and democratic legitimacy.

A strong leadership dimension is developed through the European Young Multiplier pathway. This pathway is specifically designed to train young people not only as informed citizens, but also as active multipliers within their schools and peer groups. Through non-formal education, peer-to-peer learning, and youth information methods, participants deepen their understanding of EU institutions, democratic processes, rights, and participation opportunities. They also acquire communication and facilitation skills, enabling them to share information, stimulate debate, and promote participation among other students, thus exercising concrete leadership roles in their educational environments.

Democratic engagement is further reinforced through interactive school workshops and thematic evening events open to the wider community, inspired by young people’s inputs and co-designed with local partners. Finally, youth ownership is enhanced through a call inviting young people to design the project’s visual identity, increasing their sense of agency and visibility. By combining leadership and participation, Europe Unlocked empowers young people within democracy.

What was the impact of the project?

Europe Unlocked generated a significant impact on young people and the wider local community by strengthening access to information, participation and dialogue on European citizenship at the local level. The project helped make the European Union more understandable and relevant by linking EU values, policies and opportunities to everyday life and local contexts.

Overall, the project directly involved around 880 young people, including approximately 800 students reached through the school-based workshops What EU does for me across the province, and 80 young people participating in the European Young Multiplier pathway.

For young people, the project increased awareness of the European Union, its institutions and its concrete impact on daily experiences. Through non-formal education activities such as the European Young Multiplier pathway and interactive school workshops, students improved their understanding of democratic processes, European values, fundamental rights and opportunities related to mobility, participation and active citizenship. Participatory methods and digital tools supported active engagement, critical thinking and open discussion, enabling young people to express their opinions and engage more confidently with European topics. Many participants reported increased confidence in discussing European issues with peers and greater motivation to explore EU opportunities, reinforcing a peer-to-peer multiplier effect within schools and youth networks.

A key element of impact was the participatory survey, which gave young people a concrete role in shaping the project’s themes and priorities. Seeing their interests reflected in the activities strengthened their sense of ownership and recognition as active contributors rather than passive recipients. This approach was further reinforced through the creative call for the project’s visual identity, promoting youth empowerment, creativity and visibility, and supporting a clear by young people for young people approach. 

At community level, Europe Unlocked fostered intergenerational dialogue on European citizenship and strengthened cooperation among local youth, education and institutional stakeholders.

Did the project have any green focus?

Although Europe Unlocked was not conceived as an environmental project, sustainability and eco-friendly principles were integrated as a transversal approach in both its content and organisation. Environmental sustainability emerged as one of the main topics of interest through a participatory survey involving young people and citizens, reflecting current European priorities. Climate change and environmental responsibility were included among the themes discussed during school activities and events, encouraging participants to reflect on the role of European policies and individual action. The project adopted several eco-friendly measures, prioritising digital tools for communication, registration and participation in order to reduce printed materials. When physical materials were necessary, their use was limited and planned. Activities were organised locally across the province to minimise travel and were hosted in existing public spaces, avoiding additional environmental impact. Through these choices, it promoted sustainability as a shared European value and a key element of active citizenship.

How did you ensure Eurodesk's visibility in your project?

Eurodesk’s visibility was ensured throughout Europe Unlocked thanks to the active role of the Eurodesk Agency of Reggio Emilia, promoted by Fondazione E35 and the Municipality. The European Young Multiplier pathway, a fully Eurodesk-branded initiative, used official materials, visual identity and digital platforms. Dedicated modules explained Eurodesk’s mission, role and services as a European youth information network. Eurodesk directly contributed to designing and delivering school workshops and youth activities, systematically integrating information on European mobility, participation and opportunities. Through direct interaction with young people, Eurodesk strengthened its recognition as a key local youth information point across the local territory.

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