Youth Policy Dialogue with Commissioner Hadja Lahbib

Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, with the support of the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) and the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) will hold the first EU Youth Policy Dialogue on Preparedness on 26 February 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. 

The young participants will have the opportunity to share their views, express their ideas, and engage in active discussions with Commissioner Lahbib on citizens’ risk awareness, disaster and health preparedness from a youth perspective. These exchanges will contribute to shaping the EU’s enlargement policy and programming initiatives, ensuring that young people’s voices contribute to the process. 

Under the theme Preparedness starts with youth, the dialogue will touch upon young people’s priorities, including:

• specific challenges young people experience when it comes to being aware of risks,
• how young people can support prevention and preparedness work,
• listen to their views on policy initiatives in the field of emergency preparedness and societal resilience.

A follow-up report was published summarising the discussions and capturing the participants’ ideas. The purpose of this report is to make sure the issues raised during the debate are noted and considered in related policy actions.

Read the full report - Youth Policy Dialogue Report Commissioner Hadja Lahbib