The Lublin European Youth Capital 2023 celebrations are drawing to an end. It’s time to sum up what has been done and achieved throughout the year to empower young people. On 27 November, the Centre for the Meeting of Cultures hosted the EYC Grand Finale Gala. During the event, the keys were officially handed over to Ghent (Belgium) as the EYC 2024, and the European Youth Forum announced the winner of the EYC 2026 title. It went to Tromsø (Norway), which won ahead of İzmir (Turkey), Malaga (Spain), Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Vila do Conde (Portugal).
As the European Youth Capital 2023, we worked to strengthen the ties between young people and Lublin, and made some permanent changes in the city's youth policy. Attentive to the needs of young people, we created a network of friendly spaces that have attracted a lot of visitors – about 10 thousand – so far. This is clearly a success and proof that our efforts have been well-targeted. To continue on this positive track, we allocated PLN 4.5 million to support youth projects and cooperation between young people and the city in 2024. We’re finishing work on a document that will guide Lublin's development as a place offering young people ample growth opportunities - said Beata Stepaniuk-Kuśmierzak, Deputy President of Lublin for Culture, Sport and Participation, President’s Plenipotentiary for the European Youth Capital.
The event was streamed live on social media in Polish, with sign language and English interpretation. In the evening, the Theatre Square saw the Fire Party show. At the City's invitation, the Grand Finale Gala was also attended by “European Solidarity Workshop: EU Integration and Ukraine” participants. Organised by the European Youth Forum, the Polish Board of Youth Organisations and City of Lublin, the event took place on 28 November at the Lublin Conference Centre.
Bringing together representatives of several dozen youth organisations from all over Europe, this annual event was held in Lublin – the European Youth Capital 2023. The Conference discussed topics around including youth organisations in the process of Ukraine's integration with the EU with a view to identifying areas in which these organisations could promote integration. The event also ran workshops on supporting Ukrainian youth in and outside their home country by developing ideas and project proposals that could be implemented in the future.
Another event hosted by the Centre for the Meeting of Cultures on 27 November was the City, NGO and Youth Cooperation Fair. In attendance were NGOs, student councils from Polish secondary and tertiary educational institutions, and representatives of the future European Youth Capitals: Ghent (2024), Lviv (2025) and candidates for the 2026 title. The Fair provided a platform to establish local, regional and international cooperation, as well as to share experiences and good practices working with and for young people.
The EYC 2023 Summary Festival will run until the end of December, featuring nearly 40 events focussing on volunteering, grant programmes, School Participatory Budgets and leadership programmes. The Centre for the Meeting of Cultures will put on a photo exhibition entitled “The Young Lublin – European Youth Capital 2023”, showcasing the key EYC projects. The photos will be on display in the foyer to the Opera Hall (first floor) until the end of this year.
