Europe’s future shouldn’t be discussed only in Brussels, capitals, and university lecture halls. With Youth Enlargement Stops, we’re bringing the EU enlargement debate directly to rural communities across Austria, Czechia, France, Germany, and the Netherlands!

Through a series of 2-day local civic dialogue events, we’ll bring together young people, farmers, entrepreneurs, local authorities, civil society representatives, and businesses to explore one big question: What does EU enlargement mean for our communities, our livelihoods, and Europe’s future?

From agriculture and jobs to regional development, economic opportunities, security, and defence, participants will explore how enlargement could shape their everyday lives. Speakers from EU Member States and candidate countries, including Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia Albania, Serbia and Montenegro, will share perspectives and experiences from across Europe.

Our local events combines expert discussions, interactive debates, practical case studies and hands-on workshops challenging myths and misinformation with facts and official EU data. Dedicated dialogues between young people and farmers will create space for different perspectives, while informal networking over traditional food inspired by candidate-country cuisines will turn European diversity into a shared experience.

And the impact won’t stop when the events end. We’ll develop a practical toolkit for discussing EU enlargement in rural communities, produce short social media videos from each stop, and compile policy recommendations reflecting participants’ ideas and concerns.

Five countries. Local voices. One European conversation. Youth Enlargement Stops aims to make sure rural communities are not left out of the debate, but become active participants in shaping the future of Europe.

Project is implemented within JEF Europe’s new flagship campaign: EU is Loading…

Leoben (Austria)

Aa en Hunze (Netherlands)

Saint Pierre en Auge (France)

Bautzen (Germany)

Uherské Hradiště (Czechia)