New Delhi: The first Youth Sounding Board for EU in ASEAN (YSBEA) was inaugurated on Monday by the Ambassador of the European Union to ASEAN, Sumanjaro Seam, an ASEAN press release stated. This event will strengthen the cooperation between the European Union and ASEAN Member States in the areas of sustainable development, that upholds the rights of the people in ASEAN.
The YSBEA is composed of 11 young activists from across ASEAN Member States and Timor Leste. The inauguration of the YSBEA is part of the 3-day onboarding phase of the Youth Action Plan (YAP) for EU external action.
“The YAP serves as the EU’s guiding framework to promote meaningful youth participation and empowerment globally for sustainable development, equality and peace. Focussing on three core areas of action: Engage, Connect and Empower, the YAP is a timely endeavour to engage young people in EU external actions.,” added the release.
The YSBEA will provide a platform for young people to interact with the European Union and contribute to the development of its strategic partnership with ASEAN. YSBEA will act as a youth advisory group to the EU Delegation. The establishment of the YSBEA represents a significant step forward in the EU’s efforts to promote youth participation in its foreign policy and development actions.
The YSBEA is the first of its kind in ASEAN, and it is expected to play a vital role in strengthening the cooperation between the EU and its Member States in the areas of sustainable development, climate change, digital technology, gender equality, and human rights. The board is expected to provide a platform for young people to interact with the European Union and contribute to the development of its strategic partnership with ASEAN.