EU Inaugurates First Youth Sounding Board for EU in ASEAN (YSBEA)

[CharlieH]

 

EUROPEAN UNION Delegation of the European Union to ASEAN

Jakarta, 26 August 2024

 

Press Release

 

EU Inaugurates First Youth Sounding Board for EU in ASEAN (YSBEA)

 

 

Jakarta, Indonesia – Today, H.E. Sujiro Seam, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to ASEAN officially inaugurates 11 youth representatives from ASEAN Member States and Timor Leste as the first ever cohort of the Youth Sounding Board for EU in ASEAN (YSBEA). The establishment of YSBEA is an initiative aimed to boost young people’s engagement in EU-ASEAN cooperation to act as a youth advisory group to the EU Delegation.

 

H.E. Sujiro Seam, Ambassador of the EU to ASEAN, said, “The selection of YSBEA members is an acknowledgement of their outstanding leadership qualities and impressive achievements. YSBEA will provide a consultative space and platform for young people to strengthen the European Union’s strategic partnership with ASEAN. YSBEA participation will make the actions of the European Union more relevant and effective for young people.”

 

“Young people are change-makers and essential partners in ensuring the success of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Youth have an important role to play in deciding the future of this region: to build a better future that is greener, more inclusive, and digital. YSBEA members’ participation reflects their testament and commitment to make a difference,” added Ambassador Seam.

 

YSBEA members had the opportunity to pay a courtesy call to Nararya S. Soeprapto, Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs of ASEAN.

 

DSG Nararya highlighted the pivotal role of the youth in contributing to the achievement of key development goals within the region, noting that the ASEAN youth population accounted for around 34% of the overall population in 2020 and is projected to peak in 2038.

 

He emphasised that ASEAN recognises the crucial role of youth as key drivers of growth, as reflected in the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the Development of the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision. This statement, adopted by ASEAN Leaders at the 42^nd ASEAN Summit in May 2023, underscores the importance of empowering youth to actively participate in shaping the future of the region.

 

 

 

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of the Youth Sounding Board for EU in ASEAN (YSBEA),” said representative from Cambodia, Vichny Chanchem. “I look forward to collaborating with like-minded fellow YSBEA members to strengthen EU-ASEAN cooperation on sustainable development that upholds the rights of the people in ASEAN.”

 

These 11 individuals are young activists who are passionate in the fields of the environment and climate change, education, science and technology, human rights, gender, entrepreneurship and health. The inauguration of YSBEA is part of a 3-day on boarding phase consisting of an induction and mentorship programme on environment and energy; digital and infrastructure; gender equality; human development; migration and forced displacement; human rights, peace and governance; as well as sustainable growth and jobs.

 

YSBEA is among 30 Youth Sounding Board groups established by other EU Delegations worldwide as part of the Youth Action Plan (YAP) for EU external action. The YAP serves as the EU’s guiding framework to promote meaningful youth participation and empowerment globally for sustainable development, equality and peace. Focussing on three core areas of action: Engage, Connect and Empower, the YAP is a timely endeavour to engage young people in EU external actions.

 

Profile of YSBEA members 2024-2025 is available here: https://euinasean.eu/ysbea-member-profiles/

 

For more information on the EU Youth Sounding Board initiative: https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/youth/youth-sounding-board_en

 

For more information on the Youth Action Plan: https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/youth/youth-action-plan_en

 

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About the European Union (EU)

 

The European Union (EU) is the economic and political union of 27 Member States with a population of 448 million. Together, the EU has built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development while maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedom. In 2012, the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for advancing the goals of peace, reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe. The EU is the world's largest trading bloc, and the world's largest source and destination of foreign direct investment. Collectively, the EU and its Member States are the largest donors of Official Development Assistance (ODA), providing more than half of ODA globally.

 

The 27 Member States of the EU (in protocol order) are: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.

 

Find out more on: http://eeas.europa.eu/asean

Microsite: https://euinasean.eu

 

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Media Contact: [email protected]

 

About ASEAN

 

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967 and constitutes ten Member States: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. On 31 December 2015, the ASEAN Community was formally established. The ASEAN Secretariat is based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

 

Find out more on: https://asean.org

 

ASEAN social media channels:

Twitter:  @ASEAN

Facebook: @aseansecretariat

Instagram: @ASEAN

LinkedIn: The ASEAN Secretariat

 

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