Your Europe, Your Say! (YEYS)

Benefits & funding

• A return economy-class flight, or a train or bus journey, between the participant’s country of residence and Brussels, arranged by the EESC.
• Hotel accommodation in Brussels for the event.
• Two days inside an EU institution: plenary sessions and workshops with peers from up to 37 countries, plus the EESC’s accident, civil liability and repatriation cover while on its premises.
• Resolutions drafted by participants are carried by the EESC to the EU institutions and to other events.
• Not covered by the EESC: meals, travel from home to the departure airport or station, transfers between the Brussels airport or station and the hotel or the EESC, and personal belongings.
• Every participant must hold their own travel insurance and bring proof of it. EU residents are advised to carry a European Health Insurance Card; participants from candidate countries and the UK arrange their own health cover. Visas are the applicant’s own responsibility.

Eligibility

• Residence in one of the 27 EU Member States, in one of the nine candidate countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine), or in the UK.
• School route: secondary school students aged 16–18, applying through their school, accompanied by a teacher.
• Individual route: young people aged 18–25 applying on their own, including representatives of youth organisations and Brussels-based European Youth Forum delegates.
• A good spoken and written level of English — the whole event runs in English.
• Applicants should ideally not have attended a youth event organised by an EU institution in Brussels, Strasbourg or Luxembourg, including YEYS, in the previous two years.
• Students under the age of majority need the consent of a parent or guardian before the school applies.
• Attendance is in person only; there is no online participation.

Application process

1. 1
   Check the residence condition and pick the route that matches the applicant’s age and status.
2. 2
   Schools complete one online school application form; individual applicants complete the individual form. Schools obtain parent or guardian consent, and any health information, before applying.
3. 3
   Answer the two motivation questions that every applicant is asked in the form.
4. 4
   Submit before the deadline — 30 November 2025 for the 2026 edition.
5. 5
   The EESC assesses applications on age, gender balance, nationality and residence, any involvement in a civil society organisation, and the strength of the motivation. The decision is final and no reasons are given.
6. 6
   Selected participants are notified — by 15 December 2025 for the 2026 edition — and confirm their registration by the stated date (10 January 2026 for that edition).
7. 7
   Arrange travel insurance, a valid passport or identity card and, where needed, a visa, then travel to Brussels for the full two days.

Program timeline

1. 30 November 2025

   Application deadline for the 2026 edition

2. Selection results announced

   15 December 2025

3. Registration deadline for selected participants

   10 January 2026

4. Event opens at the EESC in Brussels

   19 March 2026

5. Event closes

   20 March 2026

6. The call for the 2027 edition had not been published at the time of writing; past calls have opened in the autumn.