On 27 May 2025, Romanian students engaged in a youth consultation focused on identifying key areas for cooperation and addressing the challenges that affect both their local communities and broader cross-border collaboration. The discussion revealed a strong sense of civic responsibility, empathy, and creativity among participants.
Students agreed that cooperation is essential for solving everyday community problems. They emphasized the need for better support for families and access to school psychologists to improve mental health among young people. Many highlighted the role of student councils and organizations such as AIESEC in promoting youth leadership and active involvement in school life.
Environmental protection emerged as another top priority, with students supporting cleanup activities and awareness campaigns on sustainability. They also underlined the importance of anti-bullying and drug prevention initiatives, calling for joint efforts between schools and families. Beyond these, participants mentioned the need to strengthen community cohesion, ensure a fair social transition, and improve accessibility for people with disabilities.
When discussing barriers to cross-border and transnational cooperation, students pointed to ethnic tensions, prejudice, and religious differences as persistent causes of division and misunderstanding. They noted that incitement to violence and contrasting opinions often make collaboration difficult. A shared frustration was that countries tend to manage their own issues in isolation, without seeking or offering mutual assistance—limiting both empathy and progress.
An example mentioned during the consultation came from a debate in Brussels on air pollution, where students observed that participants from other regions were unaware of local environmental challenges—a reminder of how lack of communication and awareness can weaken international cooperation. Additionally, language and cultural barriers were cited as major obstacles to building strong, lasting connections.
In the final part of the session, students shared their dream cooperation projects—a mix of creative and socially conscious ideas:
- Meetings between local authorities and young people with disabilities to discuss and improve accessibility in public institutions;
- A playful but symbolic idea of cross-brand cooperation, such as merging KFC meals with McDonald’s sauces, illustrating how collaboration can break traditional boundaries;
- Joint community projects to address stray animal management, environmental protection, and domestic abuse awareness.
These ideas reflected a consistent vision among participants: cooperation should be inclusive, compassionate, and action-oriented, bringing together diverse actors—from schools and families to businesses and authorities—to create a more supportive and connected society.