The EU Youth and Sustainable Development Forum was held in the “Green Zone” of the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex as part of the events accompanying the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17). The forum brought together young people, policymakers, experts and representatives of Armenian and European institutions.
The event was organized through the cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia, EUNIC Armenia and the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) to the EU Delegation to Armenia.
The speakers included Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Krystyna Tatarian, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Armenia Václav Štěrba, EU Delegation Program Manager Annette Kracht, Young European Ambassador (YEA) Lia Kalforian, and Youth Advisory Council (YAC) member Madlen Dokhoyan.
In her remarks, Deputy Minister Krystyna Tatarian emphasized the need to transform public attitudes towards the protection of nature and biodiversity, highlighting the importance of fostering a responsible approach to the environment.
“We must learn to take seriously the things we often take for granted. Some things are given to us free of charge, yet their value is immeasurable. We sometimes confuse price with value. Nature, however ordinary it may seem, is in fact an extremely complex and valuable system, and we must recognize the importance of protecting it,” the Deputy Minister noted.
Addressing the ways to expand youth participation, Krystyna Tatarian highlighted the significance of establishing the necessary legal and institutional frameworks. She noted that Armenia’s Law on Youth Policy lays the groundwork for developing young people's potential, ensuring their voices are heard and enabling their participation in decision-making processes.
The Deputy Minister also stressed the importance of youth centres and the continuous development of youth workers’ professional capacities in encouraging young people's initiative and ensuring their active engagement. She further noted that the new law formally recognizes youth work as a profession and establishes its official status.
Krystyna Tatarian placed particular emphasis on the principle of “For Youth, By Youth”, stressing that young people should have the opportunity to set their own priorities, develop the skills they need and implement their own initiatives.
Referring to biodiversity conservation, the Deputy Minister noted that youth centres have also become involved in environmental initiatives. As stated by her, protecting nature and biodiversity is now among the priorities of the younger generation, and programs in this area must continue to receive support, including beyond COP17.
The forum was held in an interactive “Fishbowl” format, allowing participants to engage directly in discussions and exchange ideas. Topics included biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, raising young people's environmental awareness, developing green skills, and strengthening Armenia–EU cooperation to ensure more active youth participation in environmental initiatives.