Key challenges, findings, European policy linkages, and recommendations
On 1 July 2026, a roundtable on digital youth work and young people’s participation in EU policymaking was held at the Lifelong Learning Platform, Rue des Deux Églises 14–16, Brussels. The event was organised by the Democracy and Human Rights Education in Europe Network (DARE Network) and the Lifelong Learning Platform.
At the event, the DIYW-ROAD project presented its policy recommendations and discussed them with advocacy experts working in the fields of education and civil society.
- Better regulation of online platforms and the consistent implementation of measures to protect young people (and all Europeans), strengthen a peaceful, pluralistic and open infosphere on social media, and promote the use of artificial intelligence in education and society should be a priority, but currently it is not.
- In line with the objectives of our project, it is important to learn from the past. We therefore need to integrate reflective and critical thinking about digital services, platforms and artificial intelligence more consistently into our concepts of digital literacy.
- We must align artificial intelligence and technology in education with pedagogical goals, the objectives of democratic digitalisation and digital sovereignty, and “invest” in them rather than simply “spend” money on them. In other words, we need new, more decentralised European approaches instead of becoming dependent on monopolists or naively spending money on “more” AI-driven educational technologies.
About the Topic
Digital transformation, sustainable development, and young people’s participation in politics may appear to be separate issues, but in fact they are key questions for the future development of democratic policymaking in the European Union and its Member States.
The EU plays a leading role in regulating digital markets, protecting fundamental rights, and shaping climate and environmental policies. These policies have a direct impact on the lives, opportunities and democratic participation of young people — both today and in the future.
Democracy is deeply affected by the decisions we make about regulating the internet space and addressing climate change. For this reason, these policies are highly relevant to education for democratic citizenship (EDC) and youth work.
In this area, the European Union is of particular importance. More than in almost any other policy field, it is the EU that sets the standards and determines the pace and direction of development.
At the same time, this means that digital education, youth work and training must also continue to evolve. In an age of polarisation, information disorder and the dominance of digital platforms, it is more important than ever not to limit ourselves to protecting and educating users who merely know how to use individual applications and technologies.
We need to foster competent citizens who understand the internet and the processes of digitalisation, and who actively contribute to building a democratic culture in the digital space. This requires a more systematic, critical and European understanding of what is “digital”.
A Democracy and Human Rights Perspective
The DARE Network, together with the partners of the project Digital Youth Work – Rights-sensitive, Open, Accessible, Democratic (ROAD), organised this discussion to present the project’s outcomes.
The analysis carried out within the project was presented, together with feedback from young people and education professionals on their vision for digital education and youth work. Their messages to political institutions and decision-makers were also discussed.
The project is supported by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Commission.
Co-funded by the European Union
