Ahead of International Youth Day, the European Commission announced today the 25 young people selected to be members of the second edition of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) Youth Network. The network was established in 2022 to deepen understanding of the EU in the Overseas Countries and Territories, to build stronger ties with the young people living there, and to enhance their involvement in the EU–OCT partnership.
“The Overseas Countries and Territories are special outposts of the European Union, and I find it important that especially youth are involved in shaping our unique partnership. The Youth Network is supporting the implementation of the three pillars of the EU Youth Action Plan in the OCTs: engage, empower, connect. The experience we had with first edition of the Youth Network was very positive, and I can see this becoming a permanent tool for enhancing ties between OCT youth and strengthening their collective voice. I wish to extend a warm welcome to all the new members 2023–2024”, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen said.
During their one-year mandate, the Overseas Countries and Territories Youth Network members get an opportunity to meet and network with a wide range of like-minded young people, participate in a week-long study visit to Brussels, and attend dialogues with EU political leaders. They also contribute to further shaping the activities of the network and the topics and priorities it covers. A key moment of the first edition was members presenting the Youth Declaration at the EU–OCT Forum in Noumea, New Caledonia, in November 2022.
The second edition of the network (2023–2024) is composed of 19 women and 6 men aged between 20 and 28 years. They come from all the 13 Overseas Countries and Territories:
- Aïsha Mari Romero, Delaiah Tromp and Maurielle Marie-Jose Tromp from Aruba
- Jeny Molina from Bonaire
- Sebel E.L.F. Antoin, Sophia Isabelia Marie Vermaas and Stephanie Walroud from Curaçao
- Hinamoe Grace Deirdre Christina Brotherson from French Polynesia
- Elie Castang from the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
- Maja Napartok Sandgreen Bourup and Louis Chemnitz from Greenland
- Noémie Marie Suzanne De Saint Quentin, Leïa Gurrera, Soanile Titaina Moal and Hugo Nguyen from New Caledonia
- Francine Zagers from Saba
- Valentin Dantec from Saint Barthélemy
- Elisa Cecchetti and Joshua De Lizaraga from Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Suverei Tearr from Sint Eustatius
- Roberto Samuel Patrick, Shanica Romney and Riddhi Samtani from Sint Maarten
- Kinaukovi Sonia Polutele and Aurélie Selui from Wallis and Futuna
Over the past few years, the EU has put more emphasis on pro-actively engaging with young people to foster sustainable development worldwide. The Youth Action Plan in EU external action, adopted in October 2022, formalises this vision of partnership with young people as essential actors of change for more democratic, equal, inclusive and peaceful societies.
