Young European Greens gather in Dublin

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

The role of nuclear power during a transition to clean energy is amongst the topics to be debated by more than 100 young political activists gathering in Dublin this week.

The general assembly of the Federation of Young European Greens (FYEG) is being hosted over three days in the capital.

The event brings together the youth wings of all European Green Parties and Green Youth Organisations to debate the group FYEG’s core policy positions and elect the Executive Committee for the year ahead.

Members of the FYEG span from Ireland to Azerbaijan and Cyprus to Norway.

Amongst other key items on the policy agenda over the course of the weekend are resolutions clamping down on greenwashing, support for Ukraine and its EU ascension, and an immediate ceasefire and two-state solution to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

Irish Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman, who was a founding member of the party’s youth wing Óige Ghlas, said: “It’s incredibly rewarding to see the organisation growing from strength to strength and building strong ties with its European counterparts.

“Hosting the FYEG general assembly is a significant milestone, deepening ties with our European partners.”

The FYEG is the official youth wing of the European Green Party, which forms part of the European Parliament’s Greens-European Free Alliance group.

The youth activists credit themselves with championing progressive pieces of legislation and policy positions, particularly on LGBTQIA+ rights, migration and social inequality.

Bennedetta Scuderi MEP, an outgoing co-spokesperson of FYEG, said the hosting of the general assembly was evidence of the European group’s support for the Greens in Ireland, with the upcoming European Green Party Congress also being held in Dublin in December.

Ben Ryan, an officer of Óige Ghlas, said the FYEG general assembly played an important role in Green collaboration across Europe.

Mr Ryan, who is a candidate for the Executive Committee of the FYEG, added: “All of the young people here are concerned about the future of our planet and are actively playing their part in trying to solve the global crisis of climate change.”