From Tromsø to Europe

EFIL Advocates for Inclusive Youth Mobility at EYFGA 2026

 

Last weekend, Andrew Ormsby represented EFIL at the European Youth Forum General Assembly 2026 in Tromsø, this year’s European Youth Capital 2026. 🇳🇴🇪🇺

As EFIL’s official voting delegate at the General Assembly, Andrew joined nearly 100 youth organisations from across Europe for a weekend of dialogue, decision-making, and collaboration focused on the future of youth engagement in Europe. The Assembly brought together young leaders, civil society organisations, and policy advocates to discuss some of the most pressing issues affecting young people today — including democratic participation, international mobility, inclusion, and access to meaningful learning opportunities.

Alongside Josef Burker, who represents EFIL on the Advisory Council on Youth at the Council of Europe and serves as a member of the EFIL Youth Advisory Council (YAC), EFIL actively contributed to key discussions and decisions throughout the Assembly.

Among the major highlights of the weekend were:

• ✅ The election of a new President and Board of the European Youth Forum
• ✅ The welcoming of GoFor as a new member organisation
• ✅ The adoption of new policy motions, including support for a motion led by Erasmus Student Networkaddressing visa barriers that limit young people’s access to inclusive learning mobility opportunities
• ✅ Strengthening cooperation between organisations promoting pupil mobility, intercultural exchange, and non-formal education across Europe

The General Assembly also highlighted the energy, creativity, and ambition of Tromsø as European Youth Capital 2026 through its “True North” initiative. The programme showcased how youth-led participation and regional collaboration can empower young people and strengthen communities across Northern Norway.

For EFIL, participating in spaces such as the European Youth Forum General Assembly is an important opportunity to ensure that the voices of young people engaged in intercultural learning and mobility are represented at the European level. These conversations directly shape policies and initiatives that influence how accessible, inclusive, and impactful international learning experiences can become for future generations.

We are proud to see EFIL represented in these important European youth spaces and remain committed to advocating for accessible, inclusive, and meaningful international learning opportunities for all young people.