22 March 2022

An EU energy system but also a reform of the Treaties, EU institutions closer to citizens and more Europe in schools.

These are some of the topics shared by the young people of Pavia and Catania, protagonists of the "Incontriamoci a ..." workshops held on 14 March and 18 March 2022, respectively, in the universities of the two cities.

Energy is one of the most sensitive issues at the moment, as a result of the crisis generated by the war in Ukraine. Pavia’s students suggested creating a European energy network both for production and purchase from third countries, and the establishment of a European regulatory authority. Catania’s students, on the other hand, proposed establishing a European energy system based on green energy sources, taking into account the specific characteristics of the territories concerned (e.g. exploitation of geothermal energy in eastern Sicily).

Several reflections focused on European democracy. While the topic of European Parliament’s strengthened powers unites both North and South of Italy, young Sicilians proposed transnational lists in the EU elections and a European referendum on key topics for EU citizens. The students from Pavia, on the other hand, proposed overcoming the right of veto and creating a supranational financial institution for crisis management.

Their respective territorial contexts obviously influence the reflections of the young European citizens met. It is not surprising, therefore, that Catania’s students called for greater cooperation in the fight against mafias and harmonisation of national legislation on the subject, as well as the reform of the Dublin system aiming, among other things, to strengthen solidarity between Member States in the control and reception phases.

And then a call that certainly encourages those who, like the Department for European Policies, have been engaged for months in promoting the Conference on the Future of Europe: permanently guaranteeing citizens the opportunity to voice their opinions and contribute to building tomorrow’s Union.