European Youth Capital


The European Youth Capital is the title awarded by the European Youth Forum to a European city for the period of one year, during which it is given the chance to showcase, through a multi-faceted programme, its youth-related cultural, social, political and economic life and development. The
European Youth Capital is an initiative by the European Youth Forum, and the first capital was chosen in 2009. Since 2014, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe is an official endorsing partner the European Youth Capital title. The current, capital for the 2020 calendar year is Amiens.

Goals

The European Youth Capital aims in promoting intra-European co-operation between young people. Among the most important aspects of the institution is the betterment of everyday life of the youth in the city selected as youth capital, not just for the duration of the festivities, but in the long term. Additionally, participation of the youth in the design and implementation of the plans for each capital of youth is encouraged by the EYC. Ensuring that the youth are informed and actively involved in society and given opportunities for a better future is also a priority for the EYC initiative. Tourism and increased international prestige are some of the additional benefits of being named European Youth Capital.

Capitals (2009–2022)

Since 2009, there have been next European Youth Capitals:
YearCityCountryNotes
2009Rotterdam Netherlands
2010Turin Italy
2011Antwerp Belgium
2012Braga Portugal
2013Maribor Slovenia
2014Thessaloniki Greece
finalists: Ivanovo, Heraklion,
other candidates: Barcelona, Konya, Perm, Trabzon
2015Cluj-Napoca Romania
finalists: Ivanovo, Vilnius, Varna
other candidates: Katowice, La Laguna, Badajoz, Ganja, Lecce and Perm
2016Ganja Azerbaijanother candidates: Varna, Vilnius, La Laguna and Badajoz
2017Varna Bulgariaother candidates: Cascais, Galway, Newcastle and Perugia
2018Cascais Portugalother candidates: Kecskemét, Manchester, Novi Sad and Perugia
2019Novi Sad Serbiaother candidates: Amiens, Derry/Strabane, Galway, Manchester and Perugia
2020Amiens Franceother candidates: Chișinău, Klaipėda, Timișoara and Villach
2021Klaipėda Lithuaniaother candidates: Chișinău, Greater Nicosia, Varaždin and Yaroslavl
2022Tirana Albaniaother candidates: Baia Mare, Kazan, Poznań and Varaždin