The European Commission’s Directorate General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) is responsible for formulating the EU’s international partnerships and development policy. Under the leadership of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen, DG INTPA is working together with partner countries across the world to achieve sustainable development and reduce poverty, promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across the world.

Created in 2021 with a two-year term, the current cohort of the Youth Sounding Board (YSB) of DG INTPA is composed of 25 young people coming from across the world and with a deep commitment to youth engagement and empowerment.

The YSB advises the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships and DG INTPA on youth participation and empowerment in EU external action. YSB members also exchange and advise on EU external action in areas such as employment, education, training and entrepreneurship, environment and climate change, human rights and democracy, peace and security, digitalisation and technology, gender, social inclusion and health, peace and security, culture, arts, media and journalism.

The YSB creates opportunities for young people to express their views, connect and exchange. It allows young people to have an influence on EU external action and international partnerships and thereby contributes to make EU action more participatory, relevant and effective for young people in EU partner countries.

The continuation of the YSB is one of the institutional commitments foreseen in the Youth Action Plan (YAP) in EU external action to step up meaningful youth participation. Adopted in October 2022, the YAP is putting forward a vision and partnership with young people as essential actors of change for more democratic, equal, inclusive and peaceful societies.

With the mandate of the current cohort of the YSB ending in July 2023, the European Commission’s DG INTPA is launching a new call for candidates to renew it.

Applications have to be submitted in English online by 23:59 CET on 26 April 2023 via EUSurvey.