On November 16, 2023, Anastasia Akritidou participated as a speaker at the event “European Elections 2024: The Importance of Our Participation”, organised by United Societies of Balkans at the Manolis Anagnostakis Hall of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, as part of the European project EASY-EU. The event brought together citizens of all ages from Thessaloniki and the surrounding areas.
What we discussed
Anastasia Akritidou presented the framework of the European elections and the importance of active civic participation. The presentation addressed key questions that concern many citizens: when and how European elections are held, what the role of MEPs and the European Parliament is, and how political groups are organised within it. The global agenda of the 2024 European Elections was also examined through the lens of the major challenges of our time.
Particular emphasis was placed on why our vote carries real weight, and on how political participation goes beyond the ballot box — it is a continuous process of engagement and advocacy. We also explored Europe’s connection to sustainable development, ESG criteria, and the green future being shaped through decisions made at the European level.
The event also featured Elina Azopoulou from United Societies of Balkans and Michalis Goudis from the Heinrich Boell Foundation, offering valuable perspectives from the fields of civil society and political analysis.
A conversation worth continuing
What stood out that evening was not only the content of the presentations, but the quality of the dialogue that followed. Youth abstention from elections, the challenges of independent living, and the role of green policies in shaping our everyday lives became the subject of meaningful discussion.
Europe is not something that happens far away from us. It is shaped by our choices, our participation, and our voice. The European Elections of June 2024 were an opportunity — and events like this remind us why it is worth seizing it.
