FAST FACTS:
The European Union has selected 11 youths from ASEAN Member States plus Timor- Leste as the Youth Sounding Board for EU in ASEAN (YSBEA).
A young Malaysian at the forefront of the country’s energy transition is selected to serve in the Youth Sounding Board for the EU in ASEAN.
11 youth representatives from ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste in YSBEA will act as a youth advisory group to the EU Delegation to make EU’s external actions and international partnerships more effective and relevant to the ASEAN especially for youth.
A young Malaysian who has been at the forefront in the field of green energy transition, renewable energy and investment, Alicia Tien Weei (25 years old), has been selected to serve on the Youth Sounding Board for the European Union in ASEAN (YSBEA) for the 2024-2025 period alongside other youth from ASEAN Member States and Timor-Leste.
“The selection of YSBEA members is an acknowledgement of their outstanding leadership qualities and impressive achievements. YSBEA will provide a consultative space and platform for the youth to strengthen the European Union’s strategic partnership with ASEAN. YSBEA participation will make the actions of the European Union more relevant and effective for young people,” Ambassador of the European Union to ASEAN, H.E. Sujiro Seam said.
“Young people make up a third of the population of the ASEAN region. Young people are change-makers and essential partners in ensuring the success of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Youth have an important role to play in deciding the future of this region: to build a better future that is greener, more inclusive, and digital. YSBEA members participation reflects their testament and commitment to make a difference.’’ Ambassador Seam added.
During a courtesy call with the YSBEA members, Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs of ASEAN Nararya S. Soeprapto highlighted the pivotal role of the youth in contributing to the achievement of key development goals within the region, noting that the ASEAN youth population accounted for around 34% of the overall population in 2020 and is projected to peak in 2038. He emphasised that ASEAN recognises the crucial role of youth as key drivers of growth, as reflected in the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the Development of the ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision. This statement, adopted by ASEAN Leaders at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in May 2023, underscores the importance of empowering youth to actively participate in shaping the future of the region.
As the founder of Asia Discovery, Alicia has been working to advance Southeast Asia’s energy transition through social development and renewable energies. “I am aware that sustainability and green transition is one of the top priorities of the EU-ASEAN partnership. As strategic partners, ASEAN and the EU might have differences and similarities that we can learn from each other. Through YSBEA, I believe that we can further exchange ideas and learn from each other among ASEAN youth friends and also from the EU on green energy and sustainability.”
The Youth Sounding Board is expected to contribute to EU external actions and international partnerships, focusing on political priorities such as climate change and human development and boost youth engagement in the region.
Through the end of 2025, these selected cohorts will engage in a series of online and offline consultations with the Delegation of the European Union to ASEAN on youth-related policies and are expected to influence EU external actions and international partnerships on key political priorities, including climate, environment and energy; digital infrastructure; gender equality; human development; migration and displacement; peace and governance; and sustainable growth and jobs.
Globally, YSBEA is among 30 Youth Sounding Board groups established by other EU Delegations worldwide that are part of the Youth Action Plan (YAP) for EU external action. The YAP serves as the EU’s guiding framework to promote meaningful youth participation and empowerment globally for sustainable development, equality and peace. Focussing on three core areas of action: Engage, Connect and Empower, the YAP is a timely endeavour to engage young people in EU external actions.
This article is provided by Landell Mills
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