“I want young people to influence the decisions we take.”

On Thursday, 1 June 2023, MEP Irena Joveva welcomed to the European Parliament in Brussels representatives and students of the Celje School Centre, who are implementing a Jean-Monnet Action run under the Erasmus+ programme that aims to support teaching, learning, research and debates on various aspects of the European Union. On the occasion, she was also interviewed for their podcast, in which she underscored that she is trying to make young people aware that they can influence decisions affecting them directly or indirectly.

The first topic of conversation was young people and their attitude towards the European Union. The MEP pointed out that in the upcoming European elections, the first generation of Slovenes born inside the European Union will have a chance to cast their votes. She remarked that many people take the benefits and advantages of the European Union for granted, but that they should not, and that the alienation has also been caused by a part of politics.

‘‘I don’t want to sound patronising, but I want young people to know that they can influence the decisions we take. After all, these decisions are important for them, they are the ones that will shape the future’’

That is why Joveva believes it is particularly important that politics is practised by people who care and that people of all ages are genuinely involved, because different generations bring different perspectives, different energy and enthusiasm for change. She added that it is up to politicians to make this a reality. She is committed to leading by example, demonstrating again and again how the European Union can be brought closer to young people and to everyone else, namely by listening and by hearing them.

Joveva explained what her working schedule looks like, as she travels abroad and back to Slovenia at least twice a week, while having a two-year-old daughter at home. She admitted that this is not easy, but it is a challenge she has learned to accept. Responding to a question about her recent activities concerning the Slovenian language and Apple, she said that although the story is unfolding slowly, in the absence of pressure, it would move even slower. On the subject of standing again in next year’s European elections, she said:

‘‘I want people to assess my performance during this term. It is up to the people to do that. And above all, I hope that they will evaluate my work on the basis of all five years, not only the final month or the final year. I do my work in exactly the same manner as I did at the beginning, and I will continue to do so until the end of the campaign.’’

She concluded the conversation with a message to secondary school students, urging them to be persistent in their goals, curious, active, but at the same time respectful, curteous and considerate to everything and everyone – fellow human beings, animals and the world.

You can listen to the full conversation here under number 8 (Irena Joveva – conversation in Slovenian language)