The European Youth Forum (YFJ) General Assembly (GA) took place in Rotterdam (Holland) on 13-15 November 2008. The event that was hosted by YOUR WORLD – Rotterdam European Youth Capital 2009 was attended by EFAy coordinator Lucy Collyer and Vice Presidents Andreas Dahlén and Thomas Leys.

Over 200 young delegates from National Youth Councils and International Non Governmental Youth Organisations gathered in Rotterdam to elect a new Bureau for
2009-10 and adopt a Work Plan and budget for the coming two years. The General Assembly also adopted different policy documents during its working sessions that will shape its actions in representing youth interests towards its partners in Europe.

The General Assembly approved a proposal for a new youth agenda for the European Union stating YFJ's main expectations of the next mandate of the European Parliament and the European Commission (2009-2014). The EFAy welcomes the adoption of a common proposal and sees the initiative as a strengthening of a common European youth policy.

Along with YFJ GA delegates the EFAy were invited by the Club de Madrid to participate in an evening event of the First Global Forum on Leadership for Shared Societies.
During this event, the "young leaders of tomorrow" had the opportunity to share their experiences and ideas with some of the former and current leaders of the world, officials from international organisations, international experts and civil society leaders.

The EFAy look forward to continue working closely with YFJ and its members. Being a young European today means having common experiences and shared responsibilities. Therefore the EFAy takes an active part in the process of building a future Europe.

European Youth Forum website
http://www.youthforum.org/

Article by EFAy in a YFJ publication "Recognition and self-determination for a European-wide democracy"

http://www.youthforum.org/Downloads/Press_publications/yo/2008/YO_futureagenda.pdf

The EFAy were invited to attend the l'Union Démocratique Bretonne (UDB) 29th annual conference this year by the Jeunes of UDB (youth of UDB).

The Conference took place in the Breton town of Plevin on the 8th and 9th November 2008 and was attended by EFAy coordinator Lucy Collyer and EFAy President Rhisiart Tal-e-bot. At the conference a number of resolutions were passed, which included significantly, a resolution that allowed for a representative of the youth branch of the party to take up a place and hold voting rights on the new UDB Bureau.

Among the speakers at the conference was Alain Retière, the United Nations Director of the new CLIMSAT centre in Brest. Mr Retière presented the work of the CLIMSAT and the importance of its location in Brittany as a centre of satellite services in the fight against climate change. As part of his address, Mr Retière argued that the future of the Breton environment lay in greater autonomy for Brittany.

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot also addressed the conference. In his speech, the EFAy President outlined the role of the organisation and how it was structured. He also emphasised the importance that young people have on the European dicision making process, saying:

"Europe was founded on mutual forms of understanding...by participating in the European debate we can help to create the Europe of the future and with it a more prominent role for the young people of our nations and regions."

Jeunes of UDB (youth of UDB)

Union Démocratique Bretonne

Video of UDB Conference

Video link explaining the work of climsat (in French)