Newcastle-upon-Tyne welcomes the EU-UK ‘Voices of the North’ Youth Dialogue

For a change, the European Delegation to the UK’s web-team has invited a student journalist, who attended the youth gathering, to write a report for us on how the day went – enjoy! 

On the spot reporting by Emma Hunter: 

The Angel of the North and the seven bridges of the Tyne provided the backdrop for the 2025 EU-UK Voices of the North Youth Dialogue on 21st March in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The result of a collaboration between the EU Delegation to the UK, NCL Europe and Newcastle University European Society, the event offered young people from The North the opportunity to connect and express their views on the future of the UK-EU relationship. 

Themes of the day: 

The overarching theme of the event was the challenge of making youth voices heard on a European level, particularly in a post-Brexit landscape. Invitees Jaime de Villota, EU Delegation to the UK, Nigel Harkness, Newcastle University Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Julia Ward, former MEP, Chris Stokel-Walker, journalist and author, Lucy Hulme, Young Labour National Committee and National Policy Forum Youth Representative, and Dr Noelia Cacheiro, lecturer at Newcastle University expressed themselves passionately and insightfully on the topic. 
 

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The event began with small group discussions. Participants introduced themselves to specialists and were invited to reflect on issues central to EU-UK relations, from access to career opportunities including for UK nationals with Anna Huth of the European Parliament Liaison Office to the UK to dismantling barriers to politics faced by marginalised people with Lucy Hulme. 

Danny Brown, from the National Youth Agency, reflected on the benefits of increased independence for youth councils, whilst Cameron Thompson highlighted the significant positive impact EU structural funds had in the North. Julie Ward compared the EU’s culture of compromise to the UK’s Brexit politics, just as Mr De Villota was hopeful for stronger UK-EU relations. Finally, Madeleina Kay highlighted the success of projects by European Movement. 

Time to hear everyone: 

Then young people were truly given the floor. Participants were given the chance to state and explain the issues affecting them most in their daily lives, the topics most important to them, their impressions on of the consequences of Brexit and their ideas for continued UK-EU cooperation.

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Turning to the challenges being faced – starting with Disinformation: 
 

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A panel session moderated by Nihal Ahmed (Newcastle European Society), followed, with Chris Stokel-Walker speaking poignantly on the dangers posed by disinformation to democracy and the changes in education needed to combat this. Jaime De Villota underlined his support of UK-EU mobility, whilst Lucy Hulme urged for more funding to break down barriers to democratic participation. Both Noelia Cacheiro and Julie Ward expressed the need for improved education to increase political literacy. 

 

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Following this, participants were able to pose their own questions to the panel and gain insights into combatting fear and anti-migrant rhetoric, the future of the Erasmus+ programme and preventing disinformation in the media.

Ending on a positive note: 

The event closed on a note of hope, reflecting a deeper understanding of young people’s concerns and the eagerness of UK youth to engage with the EU. Maggie Castro Fulara, President of Newcastle European Society, closed the event.