New Horizons. Europe’s Enlargement, Sustainability & Climate Issues & High Education

“Dialogue & Action: EU Enlargement, Sustainability and Climate Issues” is a youth-driven discussion taking place on 28 November 2025 from 17h to 18h at UPF (Campus Ciutadella). The event explores how the next phase of EU enlargement intersects with Europe’s climate ambitions, sustainability commitments, and the future of higher education. By placing climate action at the centre of the conversation, the event connects the geopolitical evolution of the EU with the urgent need for a more resilient, sustainable and climate-aligned Europe.

Format of the Event

Climate-focused moderated roundtable led by you as the EU Climate Pact Ambassador, Francesc Almendros Viladerrams, ensuring sustainability and climate issues remain central throughout the discussion, together with panelists Sira Nin Junkersfeld, President of the Euroregional Youth Assembly, and Nil Cassany Redorta, President of the UPF Student Council.

Introductory remarks outlining the European Climate Pact, the Green Deal, and why enlargement matters for achieving climate neutrality, followed by short opening reflections from Sira Nin and Nil Cassany on the youth perspective of EU enlargement and its environmental implications.

Guided conversation with youth leaders—Sira Nin, Nil Cassany, and the audience—on how the EU can expand while strengthening environmental commitments and maintaining climate ambition.

Interactive audience segment engaging students directly to capture young people's climate priorities, fears, expectations, and proposals for linking EU enlargement with sustainability and climate action.Closing highlights delivered by you as moderator, summarizing the most important youth-led ideas shared by Sira Nin, Nil Cassany, and participants for a greener, fairer, and more climate-resilient European future.

Core Topics:

• EU Enlargement & the Climate Agenda: How new member states influence emissions, climate targets, and environmental standards.
• Sustainability as a cornerstone of EU integration: Aligning enlargement with biodiversity protection, circular economy, and just transition principles.
• European Green Deal implications: How enlargement affects energy transition, renewable deployment, and climate governance.
• Youth climate leadership: Empowering young people to shape sustainability policies and local climate solutions.
• Higher Education for a Green Future: The role of universities in preparing climate-conscious citizens and researchers.
• European Climate Pact in practice: How ambassadors and youth organisations can strengthen community climate engagement.

Objectives of the Event:

• To elevate sustainability and climate issues as essential pillars of discussions about Europe’s enlargement.
• To connect young voices with EU climate tools, including the European Climate Pact and the Green Deal.
• To foster collective reflection on how Europe can expand while maintaining climate leadership.
• To empower youth participation in designing sustainable, climate-aligned policies at both EU and local levels.
• To inspire practical climate engagement through the example and role of the EU Climate Pact Ambassador, strengthening awareness of community-based climate action.