Following a call for projects launched last year in the framework of the European Year of Youth, 75 projects from young people have been selected for funding under the #EUTeens4Green initiative, for a total budget of more than €723.000, around €10.000 each.
- 04 April 2023
Through these projects, people between 15 and 24 years old living in 44 regions benefiting from the Just Transition Fund in 21 Member States will promote and raise awareness of the green transition. Each project will be run in groups of individuals or by youth associations until Spring 2024. A broad range of actions will be supported: from educational workshops and in loco visits in areas in transition, to green activities, like gardening, farming, and development of circular economy solutions in the food, waste and energy sectors, but also competitions and gaming on green topics.
The initiative aims to empower youth and increase their participation in the decision-making process for an inclusive green transition.
Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, said: “I am very glad to see that the adventure is about to start for these young people, their group of friends and their association. They will bring fresh energy in schools, local communities, and cities. We will not remain indifferent to their enthusiasm, and we will support them to overcome difficulties and to succeed. At the end, we will learn from their unforgettable journey. We want an inclusive green transition. Young people have a key role to play in getting us there.”
Background
In November 2021, the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy launched a call for proposals in order to select a beneficiary in charge to organise and manage a call for projects dedicated to teens, between 15 and 24 years old and resident in territories with have characteristics to be eligible for the Just Transition Fund. EUTeens4Green is one of the four flag initiatives that the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy prepared in the context of the 2022 European Year of Youth.
A consortium composed of Startup Europe Regions Network; Youth and Environment Europe, CEE Bankwatch Network with the support of Generation Climate Europe was selected to manage the initiative entitled “EUTeens4Green – A new generation of youth ambassadors for an inclusive green transition,” with a budget of almost € 1 million.
197 applications from 22 out of the 27 Member States (no applications were received from Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Italy, Sweden) were submitted to the call organized by the consortium. Among the 164 of these that fulfilled the criteria (aged between 15 and 24 years old and residency/establishment in a Just Transition territory), 75 have now been selected.
The Consortium has informed applicants about the result of evaluation. Following confirmation by the selected applicants of participation to this initiative, the consortium will explain in details to young people the conditions to receive financial support and will sign a participation agreement with them. Minors will indicate an adult as legal guardian. With the signature of the agreement, i.e. early April 2023, young people will receive a certificate of EUteens4green youth ambassadors and will start implementation.
The list of selected projects is available at website of the EUTeens4Green initiative.