The COMECE Youth Net gathered in Brussels in June 2026. (Photo: COMECE)
Young delegates of the COMECE Youth Net, nominated by the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union, gathered in Brussels from 3 to 5 June 2025 for a meeting dedicated to dialogue, exchange and reflection on key challenges affecting young people across Europe. Photo Gallery
Over the course of three days, delegates discussed a wide range of issues from local, national and European perspectives, including the role of young people in public debates, opportunities available to youth and the challenges facing younger generations in contemporary society.
The meeting also provided participants with the opportunity to visit the European institutions and engage directly with some of their representatives. In a discussion with Member of the European Parliament Miriam Lexmann, delegates reflected on democracy, values and the future of Europe at a particularly sensitive moment marked by growing societal polarisation, the challenges posed by populism and increasing external interference in democratic processes.
The Youth Net also met with Vincent Depaigne, Coordinator for Article 17 TFEU at the European Commission. The exchange allowed delegates to gain deeper insight into some of the issues currently shaping the dialogue between Churches and the European Commission. Particular attention was given to the rise of hate speech and antisemitism in Europe, as well as to the European Union’s efforts and instruments aimed at addressing these phenomena.
Throughout the meeting, participants also had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the work of the COMECE Secretariat through dedicated policy discussions with COMECE advisers Friederike Ladenburger and Marek Mišák. The exchanges focused on COMECE’s advocacy activities in the fields of artificial intelligence, mental health and loneliness, as well as peace, security and the role of the European Union in a world marked by growing geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts and increasing instability.
The programme further included meetings with representatives of several Catholic organisations engaged in advocacy and dialogue with the European institutions in Brussels. Delegates were welcomed by Pax Christi International, Don Bosco International, the Jesuit European Social Centre (JESC) and the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE), gaining valuable insights into the contribution of faith-based organisations to European policymaking and public debate.
The Brussels meeting also provided an opportunity to reflect on the future development of the COMECE Youth Net and its role in supporting the work of the COMECE Secretariat. Participants discussed ways to further strengthen the network’s contribution and ensure that young people’s perspectives continue to inform the Church’s engagement with European policies and institutions.
Launched in 2022, the COMECE Youth Net is a network of young delegates aged between 18 and 35 nominated by the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union. The network supports the work of the COMECE Secretariat by reflecting young people’s diverse sensitivities to contemporary political and social challenges.