European Charlemagne Youth Prize Opens for Applications

The prize rewards projects conducted by young people that promote European and international understanding.

The European Charlemagne Youth Prize is awarded annually by the European Parliament and the Foundation of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen.

The prize recognises and rewards youth-run projects that promote European and international cooperation and understanding. It highlights the work young people do to strengthen European democracy and supports their active participation in shaping the future of Europe.

Projects could focus on the organisation of various youth events such as, but not limited to, youth exchanges, simulation games, youth political festivals, exhibitions, trainings, online projects, or similar exercises. Eligible projects should demonstrate exceptional achievements in the following areas:

  • Promoting European and international understanding based on democratic values, such as respect for human dignity, freedom, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights.
  • Promoting a shared sense of European identity and European integration.
  • Encouraging other young people in Europe to become democratically engaged.
  • Offering practical examples of Europeans living together as one community.

Groups and individuals aged 16 to 30 years old from EU Member States and who are involved in projects with a European dimension are eligible to enter. Organisations are also eligible.

A project can be either national (ie carried out in one Member State and targeting participants from this one Member State) or international (ie carried out in more than one Member State and/or targeting participants from more than one Member State). In either case, a project can only be submitted in one EU Member State, meaning applications for international projects must be submitted in the Member State that the project has the closest link to.

Prizes of €7,500, €5,000 and €2,500 are awarded to the three winning projects. Representatives of all the 27 selected national projects are invited to a four-day trip in Aachen, Germany.

Applications should be submitted via the online registration form by the 13 February 2022 deadline. Projects can be submitted in all official EU languages.

(This report was the subject of a ResearchConnect Newsflash.)