Europe is Winning Over Young People

This video is powered by the European Cultural Foundation. Young people feel more connected to the EU than ever before, and we at EU made simple completely understand why. Bulgarian Europe coins. It's amazing. The main story talks about between France and the EU was of course the Merkasaur trade agreement. Corruption is finally being investigated by the EU in Greece. In Hungary, we have seen major political shift. Big part in the Netherlands is actually located below sea level. Climate change has real impact on us. So yeah, the European Green Deal is actually having real impact here. Standing right here in the most important rail hub in Romania, which is modernized using EU funds. want to know that we're protected and that I'm safe here in Poland. Germany and Europe as whole have seen better days when it comes to export. But there is some hope on the horizon. French industry is going to benefit from this EU merur trade deal, but that's not talked about at all. Bulgaria is officially member of the Euro zone. It is still strange feeling for me, but in good way. According to the Euro Barameter, 61% of young Europeans feel optimistic about the EU's future, and 60% believe it has had positive impact on society. And we need to celebrate that today on this awesome Europe Day that we have today. And we've built network of young Europeans across the entire continent. And for Europe Day, we're asking one very simple question. What things do you like the EU has done over the last year? And also, what would you like to see happen next? Let's start off with something that gets underestimated. Europe's economic strength. Because Europe really is an industrial superpower. Now talking about industrial superpowers, we have to talk about Germany, right? Do we actually have to talk about Germany or is this just some relic of good old times? We are here in Munich where still one of the hearts of the German car industry is beating BMW. BMW, Germany and Europe as whole have seen better days when it comes to export. But there is some hope on the horizon as the EU has some mega trade yields in the pipeline. That's right. In recent months, the EU has been pushing so hard on major new global trade deals with India, with Australia, and especially the EU Merkasur agreement. deal that nearly collapsed several times. This can revitalize our economy and make us more independent from our two biggest trading partners, China and the USA. Many European countries depend on one another. And if France or Germany is in recession, then the other party is going to suffer too. And that is why the merkasur trade deal is such good idea. Finally getting Germany out of its recession, out of its economic stagnation, which will be great for the French economy and revitalizing the European economy as whole. The EU is still one of the world's biggest trading powers. And single market, home to over 440 million people, is the foundation of that strength. It means jobs, innovation, and strong social security. But our single market is not yet complete and we'll get into that later. And it isn't just economy and trade and jobs. According to the Euro Barameter, 65% of young Europeans are satisfied with how democracy works here in the EU. And we were able to witness this live only couple of weeks ago. In Hungary, new political actor Peter Muyar mobilized millions of people in very very short time. Tissa really has shaken up the political system as Victor Orban has now been voted out after 16 years in power. This matters lot. Around 20 billion euros in EU funds have been frozen. And with real change, including reestablishing the rule of law, media reforms, and joining the European Public Prosecutor's Office, there is hope this money could finally be unlocked and used where it's actually needed. And with Orban out, Europe has lost major blocker. And calls to finally abolish the veto unonyimity principle are getting louder. And it's not just Hungary. Democratic pro-European parties have won all across Europe, fueled by votes from young people. Like in Romania about 12 months ago, voters chose clearly pro- European direction with Nikkasur done. And that has real consequences. pro-EU, pro-democratic government means one thing, closer ties with Brussels and more access to EU support. And that's not abstract. It shows up in everyday life. For example, transport. I'm standing right here in the most important rail hub in Romania in Brashov which is modernized using EU funds so that the rail that connects the Black Sea to the rest of Europe goes through here. Funds are being used to modernize existing locomotive and train cards ensuring that highpaying jobs remain here in the country. And that really is crucial crucial point because according to young people one of the EU's main strengths is access to EU funded programs and support. This actually sits at 30%. Programs like Horizon Europe and the European Innovation Council alone channel around two to four billion euros each year into startups and innovation, helping young people get ideas off the ground. Russia's invasion of Ukraine brought war back to Europe. Breaking news at 11. Russian invasion of Ukraine is underway as troops move in. And with it, very simple realization. Cooperation is no longer optional. It's essential. In fact, over 90% of young people want the EU to be more united. And staggering 69% expect the EU to strengthen its role in protecting citizens against global crisis and security risks. Here in Poland, you can really feel what this is about. We are right at the EU's front line. And that's why EU support really matters. It's all about countries working together on defense and supporting each other because it goes both ways. We protect the EU and the EU protects us. want to know that we're protected and that I'm safe here in Poland. And to be honest, the EU has responded with sweeping sanctions against Russia with joint ammunition procurement through ASAP and with deeper defense cooperation and coordination under SAFE. SAFE includes up to€50 billion euros in EU backed loans to help countries invest defense together and strengthen their capabilities. And there are so many European countries other than just Poland taking advantage of this. But security today isn't just about borders and armies. It's also about energy. It's about resilience. And ultimately, it's about climate. All right, I'm walking just walking through Razam right now and yeah, the Nether is basically on the water. Climate change is real. But luckily, we've seen lot lot of progress throughout the years to becoming more carbon neutral. Things like electric cars, they are pretty much everywhere. It's not even future thing. It's just normal. And the city in general feels cleaner and cleaner and greener and greener. big part of our public transport system is actually run on renewable energy. So yeah, the European Green Deal is actually having real impact here with targets and actually being met. With its fit for 55 package, the EU is pushing ahead with one of the biggest economic transformations in its history. Aiming to cut emissions by at least 55% by 2030, scaling up renewables and reducing reliance on imported energy, something young people care about very deeply. And so far the EU more or less anyway is delivering in making our continent greener. Now to be honest, Europe is not perfect. And think it's very important that on Europe day we look at both the achievements of things the EU has achieved but also what it can become and what there's still to do. And we here at EU made simple see four big points. Orban is gone. Great. But we still have leaders like Robert Fitzo in Slovakia and others that are quite happy to use the veto. So what we need to do now is move from unonymity to qualified majority voting and more and more voices are actually calling for this. Launderline said it the other day and so did Germany's foreign minister Johan Vadaful. Second, the EU needs to grow and bring in more countries, for example, Montenegro, where we'll be on the ground in the coming days to see how far the accession process has really come, but also the other Balkan countries, Moldova, Ukraine, and yes, why not Iceland and Norway, and who knows, one day, maybe even Canada, because if we don't build closer relations to these countries around the world, other world powers definitely will. And then of course there's single market. huge success but still so incomplete especially in services digital and capital markets. Barriers are holding Europe back here. There's so much potential and we can make our economy grow so much if we were to remove these tears among ourselves. And then there's security where we need to address true common defense. Some are already talking about European army as next step and us here at EU made simple think that makes lot of sense. So these are all the topics that matter deeply to young Europeans. And you see Europe Day is celebrated every year on May the 9th and marks the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. The idea was simple but revolutionary cooperation instead of conflict. And today Europe's strength isn't just political or economical. It's about something more human. Freedom, exchange, and culture. And that's exactly what the European Culture Foundation supports. Bringing people from all over our continent together across borders. mean, just have look at our team. These are Europeans and nearly half live in different EU country than where they were born. For them, Europe with open borders isn't some abstract concept. It's basically everyday life. The freedom to move, to live, and to connect across borders really is one of the EU's greatest strengths. Thank you so much for watching, and this video was powered by the European Culture Foundation. This foundation grows sense of European belonging by developing and supporting cultural initiatives that bring people together, inspire hope, foster democracy, and imagine shared future for Europe. And they have done this since 1954. Since few years, they are calling for cultural deal for Europe to finally put culture and heritage at the top of the EU's agenda and commit 2% of the EU budget to strengthening this European culture. think that's good idea because confident Europe starts with culture people want to live in. If you want to learn more, check out the Cultural Foundation in the link below. Thank you so much for watching and thank you to all of our presidents supporting the channel. 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