All young people, including those with lived migration experiences, when given the space and the chance, can lead the way to change.
Guided by this belief, from the 30th of November to the 2nd of December, VOICIFY carried out an advocacy visit to Brussels that brought together staff, member organisations’ representatives, and partner networks in a collective effort to advance meaningful inclusion, equal partnership, and recognition of YREMASUD (young refugees, exiled, migrants, asylum seekers, and undocumented) as an essential active part of European democracy.
The visit embodied VOICIFY’s core values and mission: creating accessible pathways to political participation and decolonising narratives around migration through capacity- and skills-building and EU-level advocacy.
Concretely, the programme included preparatory learning which focused on the functioning of the EU and advocacy, complemented by debates on decolonisation and decoloniality. Following this preparation, participants engaged directly with EU institutions through: a meeting with representatives of DG HOME and DG JUST at the European Commission, an exchange with MEP Benedetta Scuderi at the European Parliament, and a practical simulation exercise at the European External Action Service.
The Preparation: Knowledge That Enables Action
The visit started with a training that provided participants with not only the necessary knowledge to navigate complex and systemically discriminatory European institutions, but also the tools to promote access and meaningful engagement within their own communities and fundamental advocacy strategies.
Specifically, they delved into the different roles and responsibilities of the European Commission, the European Parliament, and other EU bodies and, most importantly, explored the mechanisms these institutions already implement to engage civil society in policy-making, such as:
- “Have Your Say”, the portal for citizens and stakeholders to contribute and give their data, consultations, and recommendations on the EU Commission’s initiatives;
- “European Citizens’ Initiative”, the mechanism that allows EU citizens to directly propose laws to the EU Commission if their initiative gathers at least one million signatures from at least seven member states;
- “European Parliament Plenary Webpage”, where all plenary debates can be followed live.
The sessions did not simply explain how the EU and its mechanisms work, but fostered reflections on why they function the way they do by analyzing how representation and power are structured. Focusing on decolonisation and decoloniality, participants examined how historical systemic inequalities still influence whose voices are considered in policy-making and explored strategies for YREMASUD to reclaim agency.
The European Commission: Where are YREMASUD in the European Policy-making Process?
The first opportunity to apply what was learned and transform knowledge into action came at the European Commission, where VOICIFY and participants in the advocacy visit engaged in a meeting with officials from DG HOME and DG JUST.
After presenting VOICIFY’s #PartOfEurope 2025 report, the first EU-wide consultation of 40 YREMASUD-led organisations, the dialogue with European Commission representatives focused on moving from recognition to concrete change by centring and embedding YREMASUD voices and lived experiences within Commission policymaking processes.
VOICIFY and its partners underscored that YREMASUD’s inclusion and meaningful participation needs to be continuous and structural rather than symbolic or occasional. They called for a permanent role for the organisations led by YREMASUD in every field of policy, not just migration, and recognition of their expertise in education, employment, digitalization, climate, and culture. They also added that inclusive and responsible language on migration was essential to shift narratives, urging EU institutions to counter dehumanizing and hate speech.
These demands were acknowledged by representatives of the European Commission, who pointed out difficulties with existing institutional structures and frameworks. Under the current EU Anti-Racism Action Plan, the Integration and Inclusion Action Plan, and the Expert Group on the Views of Migrants, work to advance YREMASUD involvement in the EU Commission is being carried on; however, resources are still insufficient and not that accessible. They underlined the need for better coordination across Directorates-General and emphasised that permanent change requires continuous dialogue, pressure, and long-term commitment.
The European Parliament: YREMASUD in a Shrinking Civic Space
The advocacy visit concluded with a briefing with Greens/EFA MEP Benedetta Scuderi at the European Parliament, which focused on how recommendations in report #PartOfEurope 2025 can improve participation in democracy for youth with a lived migration experience and make democracy in Europe stronger in general.
The dialogue covered overall trends in youth participation in EU decision-making in 2025, underlining a tendency towards moving from tokenistic participation to real participation through meaningful involvement in projects such as the new European Youth Charter, Youth Dialogues, and Youth Check.
A specific focus was put on marginalised and underrepresented youth, such as YREMASUD, and on an intersectional policy-approach towards access to housing, education, mental health support, and equity in society.
Another important aspect of the discussion was the increasing scrutiny and pressures faced by NGOs, particularly those working with racialised communities, across Europe, and the strategies to defend civic space, adoptable by both civil society and the EU Parliament.
Advancing Together: a First Step
VOICIFY’s advocacy visit proved that in order for participation to have meaning, it takes both critical preparation and institutional engagement.
This visit marked an important step in a much longer path towards facilitating inclusive, fair, decolonial participation structures and transforming migration narratives. Lastly, it reiterated a key message: when people with migration experiences have space, recognition, and support, they do not just participate in the change, they lead it.
