The Young Leaders’ Meeting 2026, brought together young liberal leaders from LYMEC’s Member Organisations across Europe from 11-12 September to exchange experiences, share best practices and develop common policy perspectives on EU Strategic Autonomy, with a particular focus on energy security.
The meeting explored how the European Union can strengthen its long-term resilience, diversify and secure its energy supply, and maintain its economic competitiveness while upholding liberal democratic values. The programme combined interactive exchanges, expert input, policy development and collaborative drafting of a final YLM Statement.
The main sessions included:
- Welcome and agenda-setting, with contributions from ELF and LYMEC leadership.
- Best Practice Sharing World Café, focusing on fundraising, communication and policy work.
- Developing Youth-Led Policy Solutions, during which participants worked collectively on proposals for the final statement.
- The EU’s Energy Strategic Autonomy Agenda, presented by Dr. Antonios Nestoras, Founding Director of the European Policy Innovation Council (EPIC).
- Final Roundtable and Editing Session, dedicated to refining the YLM Statement.
- Strategic Autonomy & Energy Security Q&A, featuring Stientje van Veldhoven-van der Meer, Minister of Climate and Green Growth.
- Approval and Signing of the YLM Statement, concluding the event.
Dr. Antonios Nestoras, Founding Director of the European Policy Innovation Council (EPIC), provided an expert perspective on the EU’s Energy Strategic Autonomy Agenda. His contribution helped participants understand the strategic, economic and geopolitical dimensions of Europe’s energy security and the need for a resilient and diversified energy future. Stientje van Veldhoven-van der Meer, Minister of Climate and Green Growth, took part in the Strategic Autonomy & Energy Security Q&A, giving participants the opportunity to engage directly with a senior policymaker.
The discussion connected the broader concept of European strategic autonomy with concrete challenges in the field of energy and climate policy. Martine Van Schoor facilitated the interactive sessions, including the World Café on fundraising, communication and policy development. These sessions encouraged participants to exchange practices based on their experience as leader of their organsiation.
The main outcome of the meeting was the development and adoption of a shared LYMEC Statement on EU Strategic Autonomy and Energy Security. The statement brings together the perspective from Members Organisation and their policy recommendations representing a common position of the young liberal leaders involved in the meeting.
Stay tuned to find out more about the Joint Statement!
The event is organised by the European Liberal Forum in cooperation with the European Liberal Youth LYMEC. The event received financial support from the European Parliament. The sole liability remains with the organiser. The European Parliament is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
Young Leaders' Meeting 2026 - Energy Security on the Agenda