Liberal Hack 2025
This event is set to take place in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 13 to 15 June 2025.
Deadline Extended !
Register through the following form available here before Friday, 18 April 2025 at 10h00 CEST (Brussels time)!
The Liberal Hack 2025 aims to challenge young liberals like you to explore the future of EU Enlargement. As the EU continues to expand, it faces critical questions on how to effectively integrate new member states while maintaining its core values of democracy, human rights, and sustainable development. How can we ensure that new countries are successfully integrated into the Union? What policies and strategies can help strengthen Europe’s unity as it grows? These are the challenges you’ll tackle together, aiming for solutions that contribute to a stronger, more inclusive Europe.
Our target audience is young European liberals (aged 18-35), primarily members of LYMEC Member Organisations and Individual Members, but also ELF members, NGOs, think tanks and the general public.
EU ENLARGEMENT
Policy Areas
At the Liberal Hack, you will deepen your understanding of the various aspects of EU Enlargement by exploring the challenges and opportunities from multiple perspectives through an engaging Hackathon format. During the event, you will collaborate with other young liberals to develop creative and liberal solutions.
To express your team preference, you will have the opportunity to rank the topics in the registration form, ensuring you can focus on the area that interests you the most. The five main areas are:
EU Institutions
As the EU continues to expand, the structure of its institutions will need to evolve. This team will be challenged to propose innovative ways to reorganise the EU's decision-making process and institutional framework to accommodate new member states. How should the balance of power between the European Commission, Parliament, and Council shift? What new mechanisms or processes could be introduced to ensure fair representation and efficient governance as the Union grows?
Economy & Budget
The integration of new Member States brings new economic challenges, particularly when it comes to the EU’s budget and cohesion policy. This team will explore how best to deploy the EU’s cohesion funds to support the economic development of new members while ensuring financial sustainability. How can we adapt the EU budget to ensure both existing and new member states benefit equally, without overburdening the Union’s budget?
Migration
The Western Balkans are often referred to as ‘transit countries’ due to their strategic position in migration routes to the EU. With the potential for these countries to join the Schengen Area, this team will explore the implications of this shift. What impact would their inclusion have on migration flows, border security, and the Schengen system? What risks could arise, and what measures can be taken to mitigate these challenges and ensure smooth integration?
Culture and Education
EU Enlargement presents an opportunity to foster greater cultural exchange and strengthen educational ties between member states. This team will focus on how the EU can support cultural and educational integration for new members. How can we ensure that cultural differences are respected, while also promoting a shared European identity? What programs or initiatives could be introduced to enhance cross-border education and cultural understanding within an enlarged EU?
Climate Change
As the EU expands, the challenge of addressing climate change becomes more complex, especially with the inclusion of countries at varying stages of environmental policy development. This team will focus on how the EU can ensure a unified approach to climate action in an enlarged Union. What policies or strategies can be introduced to support new member states in meeting EU climate goals? How can we ensure that all regions contribute to a sustainable future while respecting their diverse starting points and challenges?
Expected outcomes
Learn
Gain a detailed understanding of the goals and challenges of EU Enlargement, while discussing areas for improvement and new strategies for integration.
Challenge yourself:
Win a special prize and a trip to Brussels to present, develop, and discuss the main conclusions of the Hackathon with MEPs!
Contribute to EU Policy
Your ideas will be featured in a booklet distributed to relevant policy-makers to help shape both LYMEC’s and broader European policy!
Applications:
- Please complete the following form available here before Friday, 18 April 2025, at 10h00 CEST (Brussels time).
- The applicant must be between 18 and 35 years of age.
Participation fee: There will be no participation costs, meals and accommodation will be fully covered.
Travel reimbursement: There will be travel refunds by ELF after the event to at least partially reimburse your travel expenses to and from Sarajevo. Participants must buy their own tickets and request a reimbursement after the event. Please keep all original receipts, tickets, invoices and boarding passes. If those are missing, the travel refund cannot be processed.
Participants need to be at least 18 years old at the start of the event. By registering for this event you agree to our updated privacy policy and understand that your personal data will be shared with the European Liberal Forum, the implementing partner, and hotels for administrative purposes. You also agree your name to appear during the online event to other participants and to a broader public during live-streamed sessions.
We are happy to look into alternative ways of participating in our events for economically difficult, disabled or less literate participants in order to maximise the opportunities for all. Please contact us at office@lymec.eu if you would like to look into the possibilities available.
The event is organised by the European Liberal Forum. 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.
By participating in an ELF event, you commit to abide by the European Liberal Forum’s Code of Conduct, which includes a zero-tolerance policy for all forms of harassment, violence, bullying, discrimination, or any similar harmful behaviours. Link to the Code of Conduct: https://liberalforum.eu/elf-code-of-conduct/. Events organised by European Liberal Youth (LYMEC) and ELF (European Liberal Forum) may be audio- and video-recorded as well as web-streamed. A photographer and/or a cameraman, contracted by LYMEC, may have access to the meeting room in order to take pictures and videos for communication and publication purposes. Videos and pictures taken by the photographer and/or cameraman, contracted by LYMEC, may also be published on the LYMEC website and on related social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc.). They may also be used in other media and means of communication in order to pass on information about the event and activities of LYMEC. The European Liberal Forum might also use the pictures, video or audio in their communications.
***Disclaimer: By registering for this event you give your permission for LYMEC and European Liberal Forum to use your picture in their promotional campaigns and materials and communication about the event. Please make it clear in advance if you do not wish your picture to be used by LYMEC or ELF.***