Meeting young people is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. From Palermo to Bologna, Torino to Rome, I meet students, young workers and entrepreneurs, full of ideas, ambition and optimism. But I also hear their doubts, about politics, about the slow pace of change, about whether they truly have a future in Europe.<\/p>\n
That concern is growing. In last year\u2019s European elections, youth turnout dropped across the Union. The most recent Youth Eurobarometer<\/em> survey revealed that only 8% of young people have ever contacted a politician about an issue they care about. Most say they do not believe it would make a difference. That should be a concern to all of us.<\/p>\n I know for a fact that young Europeans are not indifferent. From what I see, they are deeply engaged with the big challenges of our time, and in many ways more active than ever before \u2013 just not necessarily in traditional politics.<\/p>\n They want Europe to take action, to tackle rising prices and climate change, to create quality jobs, and respond to growing insecurity. But they are also asking for something more basic: for politics to work, not only in theory, but in practice. Whether consciously or not, large parts of our societies are beginning to lose faith in democracy itself, in the idea that our systems are still capable of delivering real results.<\/p>\n That is the task before us. That is the responsibility that rests on our shoulders, all of us elected officials. The European Union must show that it can respond to the concerns that shape young people\u2019s daily lives. We must listen attentively, and we must act with purpose. We risk losing an entire generation if we fail to explain clearly not only what we are doing, but why we are doing it.<\/p>\n But getting our message across is more difficult in today\u2019s information landscape. Young people are spending more time online than ever before, and three out of four say they have been exposed to disinformation or fake news. In an age of algorithms and deepfakes, trust in institutions is shaped not only by policy decisions, but by how those decisions are filtered, portrayed and sometimes unfortunately distorted in the digital space.<\/p>\n This is where independent, reliable media has a critical role to play. Media like Il Foglio<\/em>, which earlier this year became the first daily newspaper in the world to publish an entire edition produced using artificial intelligence. That bold experiment sparked a wider conversation, about the potential of new technologies, about the future of journalism, and how we protect space for facts and truth in our democracies.<\/p>\n Europe is responding. We are driving research, innovation, and upskilling in the AI field, while at the same time setting the highest regulatory standards for AI worldwide, in order to ensure that young people can benefit from AI in a safe way.<\/p>\n We are investing in media literacy, in critical thinking, and in digital education, because the best way to protect people \u2014 and especially young people \u2014 from disinformation is to ensure they can access accurate information, recognise manipulation, and make informed choices. The ability to assess sources is becoming more important than ever.<\/p>\n But that alone is not enough. If we want young people to stay engaged, we also need to make Europe a place where they build their future with confidence. That means removing barriers to innovation, cutting unnecessary red tape, and fully unlocking the potential of our single market, particularly in strategic sectors like energy, capital and defence.<\/p>\n Italy has everything it takes to thrive. During my recent visits to the Leonardo Supercomputer at the Tecnopolo Bologna and to Bergamo\u2019s Kilometro Rosso innovation district, I saw remarkable creativity, talent and European ambition. Across our Union, we have some of the world\u2019s best universities, world-class researchers, and over half of all Nobel laureates. But talent needs the right conditions to grow, and that means making the right investments, not only in projects, but also in people and skills.<\/p>\n This is why the next seven-year EU budget is so important. If we want Europe to lead \u2014 in AI, in clean technologies, in research \u2014 then we have to match our ambitions with resources. The European Parliament has consistently called for stronger investment in youth mobility, in education and in employment initiatives aimed at younger generations.<\/p>\n The European Parliament is delivering. We have adopted reforms to streamline regulation, support start-ups, improve access to finance, and expand programmes that allow young people to study, train and work across borders. But we must go further, and we must go faster.<\/p>\n When President Mattarella visited the European Parliament earlier this year, he met with young trainees who are just beginning their careers in the European institutions. He described the Parliament as \u201cthe centre of gravity connecting the institutions and citizens.\u201d That is a responsibility we do not take lightly. It means making democracy work, visibly and tangibly, for every European.<\/p>\n As a mother of four boys, I want them to find their future here, in Europe. I want them to grow up in a Union that believes in them, supports them, and equips them to succeed. I know I am not alone in that.<\/p>\n The next generation is ready. Now it is our job to meet them where they are, with action, with answers, and with the confidence that Europe, and democratic politics, can still be a powerful force for good in their lives.<\/p>\n Because if we want young people to stay, to lead, and to shape the future of our continent, we must offer them something real to believe in \u2014 a project of peace, of progress, and of unlimited opportunity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Meeting young people is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. From Palermo to Bologna, Torino to Rome, I meet students, young workers and entrepreneurs, full of ideas, ambition and optimism. 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