Beyond Stereotypes: The New Generation Shapes the European Debate

The notion that young people are passive, antisocial, and apolitical is nothing more than a stereotype. The intensive media training held in Sofia as part of the “Our Eye on the EU” project served as proof of this. Over the four days (June 7–10, 2026) of the event, organized by “BlueLink,” more than 40 young people from 8 European countries demonstrated maturity, critical thinking, the ability to acquire knowledge and skills, teamwork in an international environment, a keen interest in European issues, an uncompromising stance toward shortcomings in the public sphere, and—last but not least—an active perspective on the future of the EU. This is the second international event within the framework of the 24-month project.

The event was opened by the Bulgarian host—Pavel Antonov, managing editor of “BlueLink”—as well as by Nikos Papakostas from Inter Alia (Greece). The two presented the European Citizens' Initiative (ESI), for which BlueLink has become an ambassador since 2026. “We are delighted to have you here as representatives of the new generation. The world we live in will increasingly become your world,” Antonov told the participants. For his part, Papakostas presented the development of the Our Eye on the EU project, including its new formats. “This is an excellent opportunity for young people to understand how the public sphere functions in the EU,” he added.

Photo: BlueLink

The two facilitators told the attendees that the goal of the training was to provide the young people with solid knowledge and skills that would be useful to them both professionally and personally. “Once this training is over, you’ll be able to do so much more,” Antonov said succinctly. Despite the intensive nature of the training, however, the project’s goals extend beyond the acquisition of new skills. Nikos Papakostas provided an example of this, noting that as a result of the project’s first event (May 3–6, 2026) in Athens, two different policy papers on European matters were drafted and sent to the relevant institutions in Brussels.

Throughout the event, many topics related to contemporary journalism and European issues were discussed. For example, a large part of the first day was devoted to storytelling—why it is important, what makes a story interesting and captivating, and so on. Pavel Antonov explained the methods for developing and telling stories in the contemporary media environment, as well as the role and functioning of the “newsroom.” Nikos Papakostas highlighted the reality and dangers of self-censorship in the media and NGOs. For his part, the renowned Greek scholar and professor of media sociology, Professor George Pleios of the University of Athens, analyzed the difference between the accurate media reporting of facts and their framing and dramatization. Pavel Antonov raised the issue of emotions in journalism, as well as the ability of algorithms in the digital environment to fuel conflicts on social media. “It is important that journalists do not contribute to divisions in society. With all our differences, we ultimately live in one society,” Antonov stated.

Some of the media topics discussed focused on the practical aspects of conducting interviews, working with sources, covering events, holding press conferences, and participating in media briefings, among other things. One of the particularly useful practical exercises was the opportunity for groups of participants to conduct thematic simulated briefings, taking on the role of European institutions, while the others asked them journalistic questions. The selected “virtual” topics were challenging and weighty. Among them, for example, were an epidemic spread of hantavirus, European regulation of AI, relations between the EU and Israel, and the rule of law in member states. The opportunity to gain a different perspective was valued by the young people, who carried out the mission of both sides in the exchange with confidence.

Photo: BlueLink

One of the training days was devoted to briefings and Q&A sessions, during which participants had the opportunity to listen to and ask various questions of professionals from different fields. Among the presenters was Daniel Popov from the non-governmental organization Bankwatch, who presented a key European topic—the process of preparing the new EU financial framework (2028–2034). Popov was unequivocal that young people must be involved in planning at the European level because the future of the EU directly affects them. “By the time the financial framework under discussion ends, today’s 18-year-olds will be working adults with children,” he noted. For her part, Dr. Gergana Geshanova from the Coalition for a Life Without Tobacco and Nicotine (“Say No”) spoke about the efforts and challenges in the fight against nicotine addiction in Bulgaria. Cassandra Sert from the legal team at “BlueLink” presented aspects related to the GDPR and responsible data handling from the perspective of the media and civic initiatives. As an added value, the briefings themselves were used for a practical exercise—participants discussed the approaches and presentation methods used by the presenters.

In line with current media and social trends, a significant portion of the event was devoted to video content creation and visual storytelling methods in general. As part of the training, participants viewed and discussed several video clips created in advance by members of the individual national groups. The videos covered a variety of European topics, including migration, the balance between freedom and security, and the functioning of food supply chains in the EU.

The event also took a further significant step toward developing the participants’ video skills. The young people underwent structured and targeted training on the basics of creating visual content—including lighting, shots, transitions, editing, structure, and so on. After completing this type of “film school,” the participants put their new skills into practice by dividing into groups and filming short thematic videos.

The four-day event concluded with the participants completing challenging practical tasks, and each of them received a certificate of completion.
 

Photo: BlueLink

The primary objective of the “Our Eye on the EU” project is to enhance participants’ skills and critical thinking, transitioning from theoretical concepts to practical editorial work and the creation of multimedia content. The project involves a long-term and in-depth analysis of European policies during the 2026–2027 period, equipping young people with tools to critically evaluate information and counter disinformation in political discourse.

The project is implemented with the support of the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values (CERV) Program. Activities are coordinated by the Greek organization Inter Alia in a consortium with the BlueLink Foundation (Bulgaria), the Romanian Youth Movement for Democracy, Coglobal (Spain), Europiamo (Italy), the European Network of Young Media Makers (Germany), the Geremek Foundation (Poland), the Szubjektiv Ertekek Alapitvany Foundation (Hungary), and the University of Athens (Greece).

The initiative aims to strengthen international cooperation and give young people a voice in shaping the European debate.

You can read more on the topic here.

European Citizens’ Initiative Event (ECI)