Understanding Democratic Erosion from the Ground Up: Perspectives from Youth & Civil Society Organising
Saturday, 25 April
11:45 – 13:15
Room: Magritte (+ Delvaux)
We talk a lot about how democracy is “under pressure” across many fronts – but what does that actually look like on the ground? This session brings together activists, Greens, and civil society actors to unpack democratic erosion across Europe beyond the headlines. Starting from real frontline experiences, participants will explore the lived experiences and emotional drivers of resistance in small groups, from culture wars and the far right to organising under pressure and shrinking civic space.
The session builds toward a shared diagnosis of today’s political landscape – and a critical question to carry forward: where are progressive movements falling short when it comes to defending and advancing our vision of democracy, and what needs to change?
This is part one of a two-session journey (followed by Resilience and Momentum – What’s Working for Progressive Youth Movements?), this session can stand alone or be taken as a pair.
This session is organised in collaboration with the Federation of Young European Greens (FYEG) and GEF Greenhouse alumni & FYEG.
Speakers
Zoya Miari, Palestinian-Ukranian Storyteller and Peace Ambassador
Zoya is a Palestinian-Ukrainian Peace Ambassador and storyteller. Her life journey has given her a unique perspective, having experienced two wars and becoming a refugee twice. Through these experiences, she discovered the transformative power of storytelling and the ability of individuals to shape their own narratives and the world around them. To share this vision, Zoya founded “Waves to Home,” a global storytelling movement aimed at changing the world through personal & collective stories. She is currently writing her first book, sharing her story as a message of hope and inner freedom. Zoya aspires to become a Positive Psychologist to help others create meaningful lives despite the traumas they have been through and to bring them back to life.
Stephen de Ron, Local Councillor, Member of the European Committee of the Regions
Stephen de Ron is a lawyer and law teacher with a strong commitment to democratic values, sustainability, and civic education. Passionate about the intersection of law and education, he believes in the power of legal knowledge as a tool for empowerment and democratic resilience. Stephen is an active member of the Green Executive Committee of the Greens Luxembourg and currently serves as Vice‑President of the Greens and Progressives Group in the European Committee of the Regions. In the CoR, he is the rapporteur for the opinion on the European Democracy Shield and previously acted as rapporteur on the Rule of Law, contributing to debates at the heart of Europe’s democratic future.
Vesna Jusup, Board member, Green European Foundation; Director of Operations, European Center for Digital Action
Vesna Jusup holds a Master’s degree in Art History and Museology from the University of Belgrade. She began her career at the National Museum of Belgrade before fully accepting that her passions lay in activism and politics. She joined the Serbian Young Greens in 2006 and has been actively contributing to the Green movement ever since. From 2011 to 2015, Vesna served as Network Coordinator at CDNEE, investing her efforts in building the capacity of the Green movement in Eastern Europe. In 2015, she joined the European Green Party, first as Member Parties Relations Manager and later as the Head of the Policy, Strategy, and Capacity Development Unit. She is currently the Director of Operations at the European Center for Digital Action, supporting efforts to digitally upscale the progressive movement across Europe. Vesna is a passionate book nerd, a loyal museum visitor, and a proud mom of a five-year-old who already shares her love of books.
Facilitator: Andrej Zlatović, Federation of Young European Greens
Born and still living in Belgrade, where I also finished my bachelor’s studies in archaeology at the University of Belgrade as well as currently studying a master’s in culture studies. Having been active in different political and non-formal ecological groups for years, I joined the Green Youth of Serbia in 2022 and afterwards the movement which became the Green-left Front. During that time I also became engaged with the Young European Greens (FYEG) first during the campaign for the European elections in 2024 and then ran for the executive committee, currently finishing my mandate as co-spokesperson. Additionally, I also have the privilege of working at the Center for Green Politics as a Project Coordinator.
