The Progressive Youth Network on European Policy (PYNEP) is a new training program for future progressive policy-makers interested in shaping European politics and decision-making, which was realised from November 2024 to April 2025. The goal was to strengthen the voice of young people through training in policy-making practice and sharing progressive values in European policy-making.

The programme brought together young leaders aged 18–30 from across the EU, empowering them to strengthen their political critical thinking and learn how to write real policy proposals.

Participants focused on two key topics:

• Mental Health and Young People – What can the EU do to improve the mental well-being of the young generation?
• Climate and Economic Policy – How can Europe achieve a just green modernisation?

As part of the programme, we hosted a three-day visit to Brussels, featuring workshops with our partners at FEPS Europe and a policy visit to the European Parliament.

25^th November 2024

During the first meeting of the PYNEP Programme, we focused primarily on introducing the main task that participants would be working on over the following months. Each participant presented their chosen topic, which included “Mental Health and Young People” and “Climate and Economic Policy.”

We had the honour of welcoming Prof. Jan Rovný from Sciences Po in Paris, who kindly agreed to serve as a patron of the PYNEP Programme. Prof. Rovný guided participants through the structure and functioning of EU institutions and offered initial insights and recommendations for their projects.

Following the first session, participants began developing their deliverables. In December 2024, we organised a two-day visit to Brussels (přidat hypertext na BRUSSELS VISIT), marking the next phase of the programme.

20^th January 2025

Following the visit to Brussels, we held the second session of the programme with all participants. This session focused on a structured peer review, facilitated by Director Tomáš Petříček and Junior Analyst Lukáš Drobec.

Each participant was paired with a fellow colleague and tasked with reviewing one another’s work. The peer review included constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement, encouraging mutual learning and collaboration.

In the weeks that followed, participants were asked to finalise the first drafts of their policy papers and submit them to Director Tomáš Petříček, who provided detailed professional feedback. His guidance helped participants refine their research questions, sharpen their arguments, and further develop the quality of their proposals.

Day 1

Participants had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of EU policy-making through direct engagement in Brussels. This visit provided hands-on training and valuable insights into how European institutions operate and how young voices can shape European policies.

The programme began with a visit to the European Parliament, where participants explored the structure and functions of the EU’s key institutions. This visit served as a foundation for the practical sessions that followed, enabling participants to contextualise their policy work within real institutional frameworks.

The core part of the Brussels session took place at the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), where participants engaged in a series of workshops and discussions, including:

• A workshop on influencing policymakers: This session focused on the role of the European Parliament in the policy-making process and provided practical advice on how to advocate for policy change effectively.
• A discussion with David Rinaldi, Director of Studies and Policy at FEPS, who introduced the participants to the internal structure, functioning, and policy-making approach of the foundation.
• A meeting with Sophie Amalie Stage, Secretary General of the Young European Socialists (YES). She offered valuable insights into the role of youth organisations in European politics, the importance of youth engagement, and strategies for placing youth issues on the political agenda. The discussion also covered the connection between youth policy-making and the European Commission’s agenda-setting process.

This Brussels visit marked a key moment in the PYNEP programme, equipping participants with real-world knowledge and experience to enhance their own policy proposals. It also strengthened their understanding of how progressive change can be achieved within European institutions — and the essential role that young people play in that process.

Day 2

The second and final day of the Brussels session was dedicated to the participants‘ policy proposals, marking an important milestone in the PYNEP programme.

The day began with a fruitful peer review session, during which participants exchanged feedback on their draft proposals. This collaborative format encouraged critical reflection and helped strengthen the quality and clarity of each policy paper.

In the afternoon, the group held a meeting with MEP Brando Benifei, a representative of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) Group in the European Parliament. The discussion focused on the group’s initiatives and priorities related to mental health and climate change—the two central themes of the PYNEP programme. MEP Benifei also shared insights on how young people can effectively engage with EU institutions and influence progressive policy-making.

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Abstract

In 2024, the Progressive Analytical Centre (PAC) launched the Progressive Youth Network on European Policy (PYNEP), a training and mentoring programme designed to equip young Europeans (aged 18–30) with practical policy-making skills and critical political thinking. The programme aimed to empower participants to actively shape European policy through evidence-based proposals aligned with progressive values.

Participants selected one of two thematic areas:

Mental Health and Young People – addressing the EU’s role in improving youth mental well-being

Climate and Economic Policy – proposing pathways for a just green transformation in Europe

CONTENTS:

EUROPEAN CLIMATE JUSTICE: Tackling inequity in the EU ETS – Rayan Mama

EUROPEAN CRITICAL RAW MATERIAL STRATEGY: Driving sustainable industrial autonomy – Ulysse Gounelle

ADVANCING GENDER EQUALITY THROUGH THE GREEN TRANSITION FUND: Policy recommendations – Zsanett Gréta PAPP

MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS: A Comprehensive EU Approach to Supporting Youth Well-being – Kacper Łata
This publication showcases the best policy proposals produced during the programme. These works reflect a deep understanding of complex EU policy challenges and highlight the voices and ideas of the next generation of European changemakers.

Read the full publication below: