How Irish youth are shaping EU Policies

At Irish Girl Guides, we believe in giving young people a platform to share their perspectives and ideas. This article was written by Katie, one of our Senior Branch members, who participated in the Young Voices Summertime 2025 – Connecting EU with YOUth event organised by NYCI last summer. Katie brings a passionate and insightful perspective on how Irish youth are connecting with the European Union, so dive in and enjoy her piece!

On the 26th of June, young changemakers from across Ireland came together at the 2025 ‘Young Voices Summertime – Connecting EU with YOUth’ event to discuss and debate the issues affecting the youth of Ireland.

The day started with group connection questions and an acknowledgement of the respectful and positive environment that we like to create at Young Voices events.

Empowering youth in EU decision-making

Focusing on the connection between the EU and young people in Ireland, everyone was given the opportunity to put forward recommendations for youth-friendly decision-making in relation to new and existing policies.

Tips included:

• Making information on government policies accessible to young people;

• Ensuring the use of appropriate language;

• Encouraging and empowering young people to advocate for their rights.

The seven core values of the EU

The seven core values of the European Union, such as the Rule of Law, ensure the equality and security of rights of everyone regardless of their position or status. Those values promote peace, cooperation and provides stability to the development of the EU.

Young people at the event made lobbying speeches in their own words about what these values meant for them and the significant roles each one plays in democratic decision-making.

Did you know? The story of Gaeilge in the EU

The Irish language only became a fully recognised, working language in the EU in 2022.

When Ireland joined the EU in 1973, Gaeilge was considered a treaty language, meaning only the treaties were translated into Irish. Upon request in 2007, this decision was revisited and from then on, a select number of documents were translated into Irish.

With the advances in technology and the rise of Irish natives securing positions in EU governance, Ireland formally requested a gradual phasing-out of the derogation in 2015 and full parity was granted in 2022 with Gaeilge becoming readily available along with the EU’s other 23 official languages.

Katie, one of our Senior Branch

The Young Voices Summertime 2025 event highlighted the power of Irish youth in shaping the future of Europe.

From pushing for more accessible policies to celebrating Ireland’s cultural identity within the EU, young people are showing that their voices matter, and they are being heard.

At Irish Girl Guides, we encourage our Guides and Senior Branch members to take part in opportunities like this, where they can make their voices heard and advocate for change. We are so proud of Katie for the passionate and insightful way she represented us at this event.

Gaeilge version:

Ar an 26ú Meitheamh, tháinig gníomhaithe óga ó gach cearn d’Éirinn le chéile ag ócáid ‘Young Voices Summertime – Connecting EU with YOUth 2025’ chun ple agus díospóireacht a dhéanamh ar cheisteanna a bhaineann le daoine óga in Éirinn. Ar dtús báire, cuir gach éinne aithint ar a chéile agus chruthaíomar postaeirí faoin dtimpeallacht dearfach agus ómósach a chruthaímid ag ócáidí ‘Young Voices’!

Ag díriú ar cheangal an AE le daoine óga in Éirinn, tugadh an deis do chuile duine moltaí a chur chun cinn maidir le cinnteoireacht i ndáil le beartais nua agus atá ann cheana & conas é a dhéanamh níos oiriúnach don aos óg. I measc na leideanna a tugadh bhí; eolas a chur ar fáil ar bheartais rialtais ar bhealach atá inrochtana do dhaoine óga; úsáid teanga chuí a chinntiú & daoine óga a spreagadh agus a chumachtú chun seasamh lena gcearta.

Cinntíonn an 7 Croí Luachanna msh Riail an Dlí san Aontas Eorpach comhionannas agus slándáil cearta do chách, is cuma cén údarás nó stádas atá acu. Cuireann sé an tsíocháin, an comhar agus an chobhsaíocht chun cinn i bhforbairt an AE. Rinne daoine óga óráidí lobbála ina bhfocail féin faoina dtuairimí féin ar na dlíthe agus an ról tábhachtach a bhíonn ag na dlíthe i gcinnteoireacht dhaonlathach.

An Raibh a Fhios Agat?

Ní raibh an Ghaeilge ina dteanga oifigiúil agus oibre ar chomhchéim leis na dteangacha eile san AE go dtí 2022. I 1973, nuair a ghlac Éire mar bhallraíocht don AE, teanga conarthaí a bhí inti agus níor aistríodh ach conarthaí go Gaeilge. Ar iarratas ó Éirinn i 2007, athbhreithníodh an cinneadh seo agus thosaigh an AE ag aistriú roinnt doiciméad roghnaithe go Gaeilge. Le dul chun cinn teicneolaíochta agus méadú ar líon Éirinnigh ag fáil postanna i rialtais an AE, rinne Éire iarratas oifigiúil i 2015 chun an díolúine a bhaint de réir a chéile. Bronnadh comhionannas iomlán i 2022 agus tá Gaeilge ar fáil anois go hiondúil le 23 teanga oifigiúla eile an Aontais Eorpaigh.