Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is having a serious impact on youth in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region, alongside broader trends of democratic backsliding and shrinking civic space, with long-term consequences for young people’s well-being, safety, and prospects for meaningful civic engagement. In Ukraine, Russia’s war of aggression continues to profoundly affect the lives of young people, including their access to education, and has led to the displacement of around 2.4 million of young individuals. Beyond the war context, the enabling environment for youth organisations has deteriorated in several EaP countries. In Azerbaijan, politically active youth and youth organisations have increasingly become targets of the regime, in particular those advocating for LGBTQI, gender equality and inclusion. Similarly, in Belarus, many youth organisations have been liquidated alongside other CSOs, reducing almost to zero the number of registered youth organisations remaining in the country.
The official opening of EU accession negotiations gave Moldovan and Ukrainian young people a European perspective. Meanwhile, in Georgia, despite the EU candidate status, the government intensified the crackdown on civil society and youth organisations and reduced their space to operate safely. In response to the growing repression, Georgian youth have been at the forefront of the struggle, taking to the streets and sending a strong, unmistakable signal in defence of democracy.
Electoral campaigns ahead key elections in Moldova and Georgia have been marked by aggressive disinformation campaigns spread via diverse channels, including through online platforms and social media. Anti-EU campaigns in EaP countries, often supported by Russia, underline the importance of strengthening resilience of young women and men against interference and supporting youth media literacy.
In this context, youth civic spaces play an important role by enabling young people to participate in public life and engage in reform processes aimed at democratic transformation. In the EaP region, the Armenian Parliament continues to be the most inclusive to youth, with over two thirds of its members aged 45 or younger. New youth policies in Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine have been scrutinised by youth organisations and civil society actors to strengthen young people’s resilience and promote their engagement in policy-making affecting their lives. In these countries, youth civic space creates opportunities for young people to promote democratic governance reforms, gender equality, human rights, fundamental freedoms, and anti-discrimination efforts. Inequalities, including gender inequality, have a profound impact on youth affecting access to resources, opportunities, and overall well-being.
By highlighting youth civic spaces the 5th EaP Youth Conference aims to inspire young women and men to become active agents of change in their countries. The Youth Conference will bring together over 100 EU and EaP youth representatives from diverse backgrounds, national Youth Councils, and relevant stakeholders, to discuss the importance of youth civic spaces in the EaP countries.
The EaP Youth Conference will act as a forum for youth to identify policy synergies across the EaP region, share good practices and address common challenges, and provide a platform for creating networks and developing cooperation with young representatives from the EU and EaP region.
