“There is so much to learn and do throughout Europe”
Interview Erika Marielle Leone

Erika Marielle Leone is French and was an IVY reporter in Interreg POCTEFA in Jaca (Spain) last year. There, she had the opportunity to learn a lot about cross-border cooperation and find out more about mobility programs. She now works as an Erasmus+ officer in France and helps young people find internships opportunities as part of the Erasmus+ VET (vocational education and training) programme.

To gain personal insights into the just-started European Year of Skills, we interviewed Erika to learn more about her path and her passion for helping young people hon their competences.
Here some questions and a summary of her replies:
 
Why did you choose to volunteer – which we see as an activity one does to share his/her skills to the benefit of a clear objective like promoting cooperation? And what would you say to others who might be thinking of volunteering?
I really like to travel and I think there is much to learn from it. Also, it was a good way to learn more about cooperation, a new field for me. To those who would like to share their skills I say “Do it!”. It’s such a great experience, you will not be alone. Just do it!
 
During your time as an IVY volunteer, you have organised a Citizens Engagement Activity[1]. Has this opportunity helped you develop or put into practice new or some specific skills?

This was the first time for me organising a webinar and it was really interesting! I learned to manage people, manage time, bring in new people, spread the word, manage questions and involve decision-makers - so a lot of management! […] I was with another volunteer, trying to create this experience. And  that was also a new learning experience, to work with someone. And that was about new skill, too: decide on an idea together, find common ground, reach an agreement. And also of course all the knowledge – in our case mountain sustainability.
 
2023 is the European Year of Skills. What would you like to see in terms of skills development for young people in Europe? What do you expect from it?
I would like to see more young people being aware of the opportunities that we have. […] And for young people, to get out of their comfort zone. For those who like travelling, it’s easy for us, but for those who don’t, maybe they don’t know about these opportunities, and maybe if they knew, they would dare more. So, I’d like for more young people to have access to these opportunities.

What is your best memory as an IVY Volunteer?
The webinar I organised and also the connections I made, the people I met and all I have learned.


Watch the full video of the interview to Erika here to discover how from IVY she decided to go into youth mobility, how she wants young people to be more aware of opportunities and what could be done more in the field of Interreg for young people.
 

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On the 6^th of February a powerful earthquake of 7.8 magnitude struck the region of Gaziantep in Turkey, also affecting neighbouring Syria, with over 46,000 people having died in this tragedy. “Our thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones and the brave first responders working to save lives”, stated the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and the Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, while mobilising search and rescue teams is support of Turkey.
 
Regrettably, another neighbouring region of the European Union continues to suffer with the ongoing and increasing attacks from Russia to Ukraine. In an attempt to look to the future, Volodymyr Zelenskyy asks to speed up the procedure for Ukraine to join the EU. While no promises can be made on this, support to Ukraine is granted as Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen announced in a visit to Kyiv in early February.
At the same time, different approaches are taken towards the aggression’s countries: On the one hand, addressing civil society and supporter of democracy, the Council of Europe has developed an action plan to support Belarusian democratic forces. On the other hand, sanctions towards Russia’s channels of disinformation are introduced.
 
European leaders seem to be concerned with growing irregular border crossings, and discuss the introduction of policies for migration control which threaten to build a European fortress.
 
Many interesting initiatives are being brought forward by the Council of Europe in the meantime:

• the Council’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) has launched a new “Committee of Ministers Recommendation” on equal rights of intersex people, focusing on legal gender recognition and the right to respect for private life, preventing and combating discrimination and stigmatisation based on sex characteristics.
• its Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE) reinforces freedom of expression with the newly adopted Opinion which draws up recommendations for judges across Europe and emphasises the duty to speak up in defence of judicial independence and constitutional order whenever democracy, separation of powers or the rule of law are threatened.
• its Steering Committee for Human Rights in the fields of Biomedicine and Health (CDBIO) has prepared a new Recommendation that underlines the importance of ensuring non-discrimination, e.g. by prioritising on the basis of medical criteria and respecting the principles of accountability, transparency and inclusion for all patients, according to general human rights.

Events organized for the European Year of Skills:
The European Year of Skills has officially started, with the aim of boosting lifelong learning. Expected results are the empowerment of people and companies to contribute to the green and digital transitions, and support for innovation and competitiveness. Here you can find all updates and events organized under the EYS initiative: https://year-of-skills.europa.eu/index_en

The UNDER 30' podcast series
UNDER 30' is a podcast series developed by a co-operation programme between the European Commission and the Council of Europe in the field of youth, in order to brings research results, explores trends in young people's lives and themes relevant for youth policy and practice. Check it out!
 

Next Youth Manifesto call
24 February 2023, 12:00 – 13:00. Join a group of young people, coordinated by staff of the European Commission, who exchange on initiatives and possible ways to make Interreg more in line with young people’s expectation. To access the call, ask us for the link writing to ivy@aebr.eu 

Registrations for EYE2023 are open. Take part!
The European Youth Event 2023, taking place on 9 and 10 June, brings together at the European Parliament in Strasbourg and online thousands of young people, to share and shape their ideas on Europe’s future. This year also IVY will be present to show how young people are active in territorial cooperation. You can register to the event by 24 February: https://european-youth-event.europarl.europa.eu/en/take-part/

URBACT: Cities Forum 2023 happening soon in Turin
The Cities Forum is an event taking place in Turin on 17 March, with the aim to exchange on the urban dimension of Cohesion Policy. Under the theme “Together for green and just cities” this year’s edition will put a spotlight on recent EU developments, policies and initiatives which engage cities. Register by 27 February: https://urbact.eu/events/cities-forum-2023

Register to the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE programme conference
The conference “Cooperation is central for a more cohesive central Europe in transition”, organized by the Interreg programme Central Europe will take place in a hybrid format online and in Vienna on 22 March 2023. Read more and join the conference: https://www.interreg-central.eu/event/programme-conference-2023/

Citizens' Engagement Activity : “CrossEdu“
Friday, 3rd March 2023 from 3.30 pm to 7 pm at Polo Toti, Trieste, Italy. “CrossEdu“ aims at showcasing how Cohesion Policy contributes to creating knowledge and tools for diversity and intercultural education in a multi-ethnic area, overcoming administrative and governance challenges. A panel discussion with cross-border cooperation experts and project beneficiaries as well as a world-Café workshop will take place. The event will be held in person in Italian and Slovene. More information and registration here. 

Conference “Life in border regions: tackling the challenges”
17 April 2023 (in Brussels and online). The European Cross-Border Citizen's Alliance (CoR, AEBR, MOT and CESCI) organises this conference to look at obstacles that still limit life in border regions: https://cor.europa.eu/en/events/Pages/challenges-border-regions.aspx