{"id":284,"date":"2025-10-08T17:09:48","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T17:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yodec.rotineret.ro\/?p=284"},"modified":"2025-10-09T09:59:57","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T09:59:57","slug":"15-may-2025-youth-consultation-in-romania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yodec.rotineret.ro\/index.php\/2025\/10\/08\/15-may-2025-youth-consultation-in-romania\/","title":{"rendered":"15 May 2025 \u2013 Youth Consultation in Romania"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On 15 May 2025, Romanian students participated in a youth consultation addressing the challenges and opportunities of living near a border. The discussion evolved from initial concerns about safety to a broader reflection on cooperation, public services, and the need for more inclusive and responsive institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At first, many participants viewed life near a border as a disadvantage<\/strong>, expressing concerns that border communities are the most exposed during conflicts or wars<\/strong>. This sentiment reflected current geopolitical anxieties<\/strong> and a growing awareness of regional security risks<\/strong>. However, as the dialogue progressed, students began to recognize several advantages<\/strong>, such as cross-border shopping<\/strong>, affordable goods<\/strong>, and the positive effects of tourism<\/strong> from neighboring countries. Ultimately, they agreed that while risks exist, living near a border also brings unique opportunities<\/strong>, especially in mobility, economic activity, and cultural exchange<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When identifying areas where cooperation is most needed<\/strong>, participants emphasized public service quality<\/strong>, particularly the efficiency and reliability of police forces<\/strong>, which many felt were inadequate or unresponsive<\/strong>. They also highlighted traffic congestion<\/strong> and its link to air pollution and reduced quality of life<\/strong>, as well as the need to modernize education<\/strong>\u2014through updated teaching methods, improved resources, and more inclusive learning environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although participants could not name a specific Interreg project<\/strong> from their region, they demonstrated awareness of EU youth programmes<\/strong> such as Erasmus+<\/strong> and DiscoverEU<\/strong>. This indicates a degree of engagement with European initiatives but also exposes a communication gap<\/strong> regarding Interreg\u2019s visibility and local relevance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students also discussed several practical barriers to cooperation<\/strong>, including the inefficiency of police services<\/strong> in handling cross-border incidents, weak enforcement of environmental laws<\/strong>, and uneven regulations affecting border commerce<\/strong>. They pointed out that such inconsistencies limit sustainability efforts<\/strong> and complicate economic exchange<\/strong>. One participant also mentioned the lack of coordinated management of stray animals<\/strong> in border regions, an issue requiring greater cross-border collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In imagining their \u201cdream projects,\u201d<\/strong> participants proposed creative and pragmatic ideas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n