On 30 and 31 March, 100 students and 39 teachers from all 28 EU Member States and the five EU candidate countries (Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey) met at the EESC in Brussels for Your Europe, Your Say! 2017. Before the event, the 33 schools, selected by drawing lots, had been visited by an EESC member who helped prepare the students to the discussions. This year's theme was Europe@60: Where to next?
The event was formally opened on the evening of 30 March by Luis Planas, EESC secretary-general and Gonçalo Lobo Xavier, EESC vice-president, who reminded the students that they are our present and future, and Europe needs them. The EESC vice-president encouraged the young people to use this unique chance to mingle with their European peers, apply their foreign language skills, learn about each other and make new friends.