The Visegrad Youth Forum 2018 project under the Euro-Atlantic Center (EAC) has received the prestigious national award of the European Charlemagne Youth Prize 2019 (ECYP2019). The EAC organization was represented by its former president Lucia Kaščáková at the European prize-giving ceremony in Aachen.

The Visegrad Youth Forum is a unique project linking students from V4 to raise their awareness of Euro-Atlantic values, shared history and culture. Arising from the need to inform as many people as possible about these issues, in addition to the traditional three-day conference in Banská Bystrica taking place in 2018, EAC members organized also some accompanying events in each of the V4 capitals. Nowadays, in the rise of populism, Euro scepticism and dissemination of disinformation it is necessary to explain, discuss and look for what unites us, not the opposite, what divides us. With this award, the EAC representative Lucia Kaščáková said: "I am proud that there is a group of young and motivated international students behind such project. I therefore keep my fingers crossed for EAC in the next period, I wish it continues in the set pace and further continues proving to be the leading international youth and security youth organization in Slovakia."

In addition to the ECYP 2019 award ceremony, the four-day-packed program included some informal project presentations among national winners, a tour in the historic city of Aachen and its sights, a debate on Europe and up-to-date challenges with the participation of prominent personalities and, last but not least, the ceremony of awarding the Charlemagne Prize to UN Secretary General António Guterres. The ceremony was also attended by the Spanish King Philip VI. At the same time, the national winners attended the traditional Open Air Festival, where they and the Secretary General stepped out on stage in front of the residents and visitors of Aachen.

Authors of the article: Tomáš Čekme, Lucia Kaščáková

Authors of the photo: James Dowson / UN Climate Change, Mark Hermenau / Land NRW, Lucia Kaščáková and ECYP2019 national winners

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The Charlemagne Prize: Since 2008, the European Parliament in cooperation with the Charlemagne Prize of the city of Aaachen Foundation (Internationaler Karlspreis der Stadt Aachen), has been annually inviting young people from all EU Member States to present their projects for youth, showing active participation in Europe's development. Projects should promote European and international understanding; strengthen the development of a common awareness of European identity and integration, provide role models for young people living in Europe and offer practical examples for Europeans living as one community.

For more information see: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/charlemagneyouthprize/en/introduction.html