Welcome to Ideas Factory
The Ideas Factory is a forum for bright young thinkers, a place where young professionals located in Brussels can come together to discuss pan-European dilemmas or ponder questions that have perhaps fallen off the radar of EU policy-makers.
By discussing, debating and testing ideas at our events or online, you can give voice to your thoughts, differing views and fears related to the ongoing developments in Europe.
The voice of the young generation needs to be listened to and taken into consideration if we want a strong Europe now and in the future.
The Ideas Factory is supported by the European Policy Centre (EPC) and its backbone is composed of the younger generation of EPC analysts.
Events
Euro-Mediterranean Youth Dialogue and Mobility after the Arab Spring
04/04/2012
This Ideas Factory Discussion Forum on 4 April focused on the Euro-Mediterranean Youth Dialogue and Mobility after the Arab Spring events.
The discussion will be started by Bilal Benyaich, from the EuroArab Forum, and will aim to answer questions like:
Has the Arab Spring set up a precedent for youth mobilisation in Europe? To which extent will political change in the region translate into a new Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in the most relevant issues for the youth of both sides? What can the EU and its young generation gain from opening up to those countries and what are the challenges ahead?
The gap between young Europeans and politics: narrowing, growing or just changing?
05/03/2012
The Ideas Factory Annual Seminar will promote discussion on the gap between young Europeans and politics, and whether it is narrowing, growing or just changing. The discussion will be held in the Résidence Palace, in Brussels, on Monday 5 March from 17.45 to 20.00.
Come and discuss with MEP Emilie Turunen, Ben Borges, member of the Indignados Movement and with the members of the Ideas Factory network, what is your relationship to Europe's politicians and politics!
Are young Europeans becoming disillusioned with politics and politicians? What would be your message to national and European policy-makers in the middle of this crisis? Do you trust that the political leaders can meet the needs of young Europeans? To what extent and how effectively can social media and social movements promote more participatory democracy? What are the best ways to engage young people in European politics and get their voice heard?
Equality at work - between generations and genders
14/12/2011
Young thinkers participated in an Ideas Factory debate about equality at work - between generations and genders on Wednesday 14th December. In order to meet the challenges and enjoy the benefits related to Europe’s ageing demographic trend requires increasing the participation rate of both women and older people in the labour markets. Some of the issues discussed at the meeting included: Could more be done to promote gender equality and to increase participation of older people in the labour market? Are there big differences between EU Member States in promoting equality? What is the role for employers and us as employees in promoting employment of women and older workers?
The meaning of European solidarity - where are we heading?
11/07/2011
Young thinkers participated in an Ideas Factory debate on The meaning of European solidarity - where are we heading? on Monday, 11 July. The concept of European solidarity has been called in to question recently. The events of the Arab spring have given a new focus to freedom of movement and migration concepts, creating tensions both between member states and at the EU level. Questions surrounding the Eurozone and aid packages to Greece have highlighted political and economic aspects of the European project, adding an urgency to reassess the prospects of the Euro. The discussion featured a keynote speech from John Wyles, columnist for the European Voice; Managing Partner of ECO-European Communications; former Financial Times journalist and former EPC chief strategy coordinator.
Discussion Forum
Does Germany know what its national interest is?
17/02/2012
Last week, at an event on 'The Maastricht Treaty – 20 years later', Joachim Bitterlich, former adviser to Helmut Kohl, warned that talking about Eurobonds would only increase Euroscepticism in Germany – which, as I see it, was a fairly explicit call for paying more respect to German domestic politics.
This is well in line with the on-going German strategy of trying to comfort the conservative electorate by pr ...
Young people should just blame themselves
12/01/2011
Faced with high unemployement rates, precarious positions and low salaries, young people have been looking for someone to blame, claiming their right to have a job. And they are not asking for any kind of job, but for a permanent, well paid position, which should also take into consideration their need for family life and leisure.
The argument may sound to someone like ‘well, our parents had it all so why shouldn’t we? ...
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