Young & European is an international project week for secondary school students on European citizenship and decision-making.

We focus on European citizenship in general and European decision-making in particular. During these international project weeks, Alden Biesen welcomes three schools from three different European Union countries. Each school will send twelve students, accompanied by two teachers. The students are aged 17-18 and in their final years of secondary school.

During Young & European, Alden Biesen aims to be a meeting place for young people from various European countries. Through a joint educational program, we introduce them to Europe in a tangible way. Specifically, each school will give a presentation on a European theme and debate it with the other schools. We conclude with the role-playing game "The European Council of Ministers," where each student can briefly imagine themselves as a minister.

Young people return home with more than memories:

• They become acquainted with European values, develop respect for each other's culture and background and understand each other's opinions.

• They gain insight into the different educational systems

• They get to know each other's political, economic and social positions

• They are introduced to the role and importance of the European Union: the European institutions and the decision-making process (in particular the European Council of Ministers)

• They train individual and social skills such as presentation, listening and debate skills

• They work together in an international team

Would you like to participate in Young & European with your school? You can register again via this page starting in early March 2026.