The Câmara Municipal da Maia organized the conference "EU2429 – European Priorities and Local Action", under the motto "Stronger Together", bringing together local and European decision-makers, mayors, municipal experts, young people, and citizens to discuss bringing the European Union closer to citizens, as well as the role of municipalities in implementing European policies.
The Secretary of State for European Affairs, Inês Domingos, warned that, although Portuguese people show high trust in the European Union, a perception of distance from its institutions persists. She defended the need to more effectively use available instruments to create bridges between institutions and communities, highlighting the role of municipalities, the European Parliament, and European funds in promoting territorial cohesion, as well as warning about the changes planned in the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
Young leaders actively participated in the debate, including Isabel Lobo and Ana Santos, ambassadors of the European Commission Summer School in Portugal, and João D'Assis Cordeiro, president of the Association Political Factual XXI. The young people shared experiences about civic participation and agreed on the importance of improving information and engagement, especially for those who still do not fully understand the impact of the European Union on their lives.
The interventions highlighted the benefits of programs like Erasmus and DiscoverEU in promoting cohesion among young people from different countries, but warned that these benefits do not always reach the people who need them most. Social media, such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, were pointed out as essential tools to communicate with new generations, with the discussion culminating in the reflection that building a stronger Europe depends on active participation and the exchange of experiences among Europeans.
