Youth Dialogue on Self-Determination, Minority Rights & Democratic Peace
This event gathered youth voices to discuss self-determination, minority rights and democracy.
This event hosted at the European Parliament advocated civic engagement to build democratic peace. This is not built not only through institutions, but through the active political engagement of all peoples, and specially the youth.
The dialogue will be lead by youth activits and decision makers from Quebec, Basque Country, Silesia, Cornwall, Alsace, Catalonia and Scotland .
It was a great opportunity to reflect on the future of places like Quebec, Scotland, Alsace, Cornwall and other places where elections are happening in 2026 and for comparative dialogue on how electoral processes can either advance or constrain democracies.
Transatlantic exchange brings in perspectives from Quebec where questions of minority rights, indigenous sovereignty, and federal autonomy offer both parallels and contrasts to European experiences.
Program
13 May 2026
Welcome
- Vicent Marza: Greens/EFA MEP, Valencian Country.
- Marta Bainka: Coppieters Foundation Bureau Member, Silesia.
- Julien Faucher: Bureau Member Comité national des jeunes du Parti Québécois, Québec.
- Maxence Helfrich: EFA Youth Secretary General, Jeunes Unser Land, Alsace.
Living Self- Determination: Youth Voices from Nations Within States
This first panel grounds the dialogue in lived political experience. Speakers from Quebec, Scotland, Wales, and Cornwall will reflect on what it means to pursue self-determination within a larger democratic state: through elections, referendums, and everyday political engagement. Beyond formal mechanisms, they will speak to the cultural and generational dimensions of their movements: what motivates young people to organise, and how minority and stateless-nation identities shape political participation in practice.
SPEAKERS
- Rosalie Berube: Bureau Member Comité national des jeunes du Parti Québécois, Québec.
- Maxence Helfrich: EFA Youth Secretary General, Jeunes Unser Land, Alsace.
- Marta Bainka: Coppieters Foundation Bureau Member, Silesia.
- Jowan Nutte: Coordinator Kernow Rydh, Cornwall.
MODERATOR
- Gabriele Violino, EFA Youth Bureau Member, Patto PASG, Friuli.
Referendums as Democratic Tools: Process, Legitimacy and Recognition
The second panel takes a more analytical lens, examining referendums as instruments of democratic governance. By bringing together representatives from contexts where referendums have been held, contested, or denied, the discussion will explore what makes a referendum legitimate, internationally recognised, and politically sustainable. Special attention will be given to the gap between democratic aspiration and legal frameworks, and to what the international community owes peoples seeking to exercise their right to self-determination through the ballot box.
SPEAKERS
- Carolanne Boileau: Bureau Member Comité national des jeunes du Parti Québécois, Québec.
- Maria Perez i Rosso: EFA Youth Bureau Member, Jovent Republica, Paisos Catalans.
- Olaf Stando: EFA Youth Bureau Member, Youngs Scots for Independence, Alba.
- Ekhi Aiartza: Political Advisor, EHBildu, Euskal Herria.
MODERATOR
- Maxence Helfrich, EFA Youth Secretary General, Jeunes Unser Land, Alsace.
Practicalities:
When: Wednesday 13 May 2026 at 15:00
Where: European Parliament, Room 5E1 ASP
For those in need of temporary access to the European Parliament the meeting point is Splanade de la Solidarité at 14:00.
Language:
The event will be held in English, and French. Interpretation will be provided.
Program:
Please find here the program of the event.
Press:
Media inquiries can be addressed to info@coppietersfoundation.eu
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This event is a joint initiative of EFAY and Coppieters Foundation.
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This event is is financially supported by the European Parliament. The European Parliament is not liable for the content of the event nor for the opinions of the speakers.
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Background picture from Neeqolah Creative Works