Gediminas (18) took part in our workshop in Vilnius, Lithuania, in 2014. He attends International Baccalaureate course at Vilnius Lyceum and is dreaming of being a professor at university in the future. His interests are literature, politics and board games.

For me, “My Europe” is…

a huge incredible space, where I can feel free to travel, free to express my opinion, free to create, a space where I can feel the value of myself.

If you could, what would be the first thing you would change in Europe?

Though it wouldn’t be easy, the very first thing that should be changed in Europe is the attitude of the European citizens towards the European Union itself. Nowadays, we conceive Europe as some different organism, as device that gives money (in case of the newer members), steals our money (in case of Germany or France) or wants to destroy our national identity (in… in every case I think…). And in my opinion, this point of view is absolutely wrong. What Europe needs is a strong conception that Europe is not some third person, Europe is US.

Activities for the Youth Council:

Member of the Working Group on Culture

Silvija (19) took part in our workshop in Vilnius, Lithuania, in 2014. She attends Vilnius Mykolas Biržiška gymnasium and enjoys arts, music, literature as well as travelling. As many of her peers, she has not decided on a particular profession just yet; but Silvija would love to devote her life to a job that would serve the community, allowing her to challenge her abilities and intelligence.

For me, “My Europe” is…

free, versatile, creative space for people to live, study and cooperate while creating a strong European community.

If you could, what would be the first thing you would change in Europe?

Firstly, I would try to redefine the European identity. Remind the members of the Union our shared values, strength that lies in our versatility and the need to seek for the common good united.

Activities for the Youth Council: Member of the Working Group on Education

David Fernández Peña is 16 and studies at IES Alameda de Osunaand in Madrid in Spain. He is interested in technology and sports.

For him, Europe is…

A totally democratic place.

If you could, what would be the first thing you would change in Europe?

I would like to improve the diplomatic relationships between countries, something that is very important at times like now where the whole European Union is economically weak.

Paula Ordónez is a 16 year old student from Madrid, Spain. She likes sports, a healthy lifestyle and loves traveling. She also likes photography and spends quite some time photographing everything that surrounds her. As a teen living in a capital, one of her passions is to go shopping or going out with friends. Yet, she always has time to spend with her family, which is what she loves most. In addition, she enjoys reading in her spare time and is interested in both fashion and design. In the future, she would like to be an architect or a designer.

Irene Herruzo Villamor (16) is a student at I.E.S. Alameda de Osuna and interested in scientific advances, biology and chemistry. She likes to practice sports and carry on a healthy live. Moreover, she enjoys being enrolled in debates at school to express her thoughts in a free manner. Irene’s dream is to study medicine at college and get a job to work as a doctor or volunteer in other countries.