Expanding on past youth summits held in Reykjavik and Oslo, this summit will be a key moment for young people across the region to connect and shape the future together.
Welcome to the happiest country for youth
Organized by the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania, in collaboration with the Lithuanian Youth Council and The National Council of Swedish Children and Youth Organisations, the summit’s mission is to establish a lasting tradition of youth-led initiatives that inspire cooperation and action across the Nordic-Baltic region.
“This summit is a crucial opportunity for young people to not only make their voices heard but to be key architects of the region’s future. We’re happy to host this summit in Lithuania, which has been recognized as the happiest country for young people,” said Helén Nilsson, Director of the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania.
The summit is initiated and financially supported by the Nordic Committee for Children and Young People (NORDBUK) and the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Empowering youth voices with purpose
The two-day event will focus on addressing critical issues impacting the region’s youth, including democracy, climate, youth well-being, peace and security, and governance. Participants will work in policy groups to draft actionable recommendations, ensuring the summit has a direct impact on decision-making across the region.
When addressing the youth delegates, Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania, noted that in recent decades Nordic-Baltic cooperation has been a prime example of like-minded countries acting together. “My hope is that this summit will advance this teamwork on a youth level. Youth involvement was crucial both during the Covid pandemic and after the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine. We will need even more of it to sustain and promote the democratic spirit of our societies. Now it is up to you to join forces and work on regional integration. Start today”, urged the President.
“You are here as you have valuable contributions to give. As you know, our world is changing rapidly: Peace is challenged, we have an increasingly aging population, an anxious youth, a climate crisis and digital transition that demand new solutions while simultaneously a declining trust in central institutions. This requires a strengthening of our Nordic model, and fundamental, bold, changes to our society”, said Karen Ellemann, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, during her welcome speech to summit participants.
More than 60 experts and 15 workshops led by leading organizations such as Nordregio, the Nordic Welfare Center, and the World Health Organization will offer insights into the challenges and opportunities facing today’s youth, driving discussions that will shape the summit’s outcomes.
Creativity and sustainability
The concept of youth creating content for their peers in a way that speaks to them has been fundamental. That’s why the summit’s visual identity, was developed by design students from the Vilnius Academy of Arts. The winning concept incorporates unique alphabet characters from Nordic-Baltic languages, symbolizing unity in diversity.
As part of the Nordic Council of Ministers Vision 2030, which aims to make the Nordic-Baltic region the most sustainable and integrated in the world, the summit will adhere to the highest sustainable standards, following the Nordic Green Roadmap to minimize its environmental footprint.
