COMPASS

COMPASS connects young people, especially those from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds, with EU policymakers, academics and industry leaders, turning distant debates about European competitiveness into accessible, participatory experiences. The project runs in three phases: Connect, Engage and Empower.

Why this project

Despite their demonstrated civic commitment, many young Europeans remain excluded from formal decision-making, particularly in complex policy domains such as EU competitiveness, economic governance and strategic autonomy.

Objectives

• Equip young people with the knowledge and critical thinking to navigate EU economic policy.
• Create structured dialogue between youth and decision-makers on competitiveness.
• Co-create concrete policy proposals grounded in shared insight.
• Feed youth perspectives into the European response to the Draghi Report.

Activities

• Local Civic Incubator Labs building knowledge of EU economic policy.
• Structured Competitiveness Dialogues between young people and decision-makers.
• A high-level European Forum in Brussels with youth delegates.
• Collaborative drafting of a Youth Strategy Paper on EU Global Competitiveness.

Expected results

These are the results the project set out to produce. They are commitments made in the application, not outcomes already achieved.

• A Youth Strategy Paper on EU Global Competitiveness with long-term policy recommendations.
• Local Civic Incubator Labs established across the partner countries.
• Structured Competitiveness Dialogues involving youth and policymakers.
• Increased civic and economic policy literacy among participating young people.

Who it is for

Young people aged 18 to 30, particularly from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds; EU and national policymakers; academics and industry representatives.