Danube Youth Council

The Danube Youth Council (DYC) was first established in October 2022 to provide a platform for involvement of young people to make their ideas and viewpoints heard and considered on a political level.

Youth Council members may propose concrete actions and projects and suggest topics, bring ideas to the attention of high-level politicians from EUSDR states and regions, contribute to the EUSDR priorities and policies, raise attention for the special features of their regions at the transnational level and participate in EUSDR events as well as international and EU related youth events.

The DYC is composed of 28 members in total, 2 members from each Danube Region country, who are selected for a mandate of one year, which can be extended for another year.

Members of the DYC have to chose at least one Priority Area that they’re particularly interested in.

In Priority Area 8, we have 5 interested Youth Council members, who we would like to introduce:

My name is Pejo Bosnić, and I’m turning 25 this year. I proudly call both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia my homelands. I grew up and completed my primary and secondary education in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I have completed my studies in Business Economics at the Faculty of Economics in Osijek, Croatia.

As a young economist, I’m professionally focused on project writing, energy, and sustainability, particularly their impact on economic competitiveness. I’m also an entrepreneur, co-owner of a company in Croatia, and co-founder of an association dedicated to sustainability issues. As an economist, I challenge stereotypes about the discipline’s societal impact, constantly seeking innovative solutions to enhance community and regional development.

I am Ratin Sazedul, 21 years old and I come from Heidelberg, Germany. I am currently studying economics at the University of Heidelberg and am particularly interested in international politics and youth participation alongside my studies.

My interest in these topics led me to become involved in the Danube Youth Council. I find PA 8 particularly exciting in the context of the wide-ranging EUSDR. The focus on “competitiveness” is of crucial importance for economic growth and the promotion of innovation in the entire Danube region. I find it very interesting to see how this topic is integrated into a cross-border strategy and how the practical implementation of such a topic is organised. I am looking forward to learning a lot from PA 8, its structures and its people and thus gaining a better understanding of competitiveness in the Danube region.

I’m Bence Bíró, I’m 27 years old and recently graduated from the International Economics and Business master’s program at Corvinus University in Budapest. Currently, I work at the Hungarian Ministry of Energy.

I consider the Danube Youth Council as a unique regional initiative for representing the opinions of young people, meeting with decision-makers, and advocating for youth interests on topics concerning the Danube Region. Additionally, it provides an excellent community of ambitious young individuals with various interests from 14 countries in the region.

I joined PA8 because I’m highly interested in the functioning of the innovation ecosystem and cooperation among different sectors. I also find it crucial to address the SME sector as it plays a significant role in the Central European region, and I believe strong SMEs are essential for sustainable economic development and a healthy economy.

I have several personal connections to the topic, as I was a startup entrepreneur myself, and currently, I am active in the civil sector. Alongside the Danube Youth Council, I serve as the president of a youth NGO, the Square of Youth Association, where we mainly facilitate international mobility for young people within the European Union. Through the association, I am also a member of the Danube Youth Organization Network.

My name is Philip Tudor and I am a 20-year-old student from Vienna, Austria.

I am one of the founding members of the Danube Youth Council and have been acting as its spokesperson for the first year of its establishment. In my life I had the opportunity to engage myself in a wide variety of fields. Ranging from supporting the local student council to representing my country at international events regarding international economics and foreign affairs.

We must ensure that the circumstances of one’s birth do not determine one’s destiny. That is the reason why I decided to become engaged in youth policies. In order to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be heard, a lot of work has yet to be done.

I am sincerely of the opinion that my background from a commercial college and my past experiences can be of help in further strengthening the cooperation of Priority Area eight with its stakeholders. Moreover, providing the perspective of the youth on the topics of digitalization and sustainability can benefit both the enterprises and the employees alike.

My name is Danil Rodionov, and I am from Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. I hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Moldova State University. Additionally, I have a master’s degree in audit from Moldova State University and corporate governance from Stefan cel Mare University from Suceava (România). Currently, I work in European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as part of the sustainable infrastructure team.

I chose to be part of Priority Area (PA 8), which focuses on competitiveness in the Danube region because I am deeply committed to fostering sustainable economic growth, innovation, and regional cooperation. The Danube region has significant potential for development, and I believe that I can contribute to the improvements that would enhance the region’s long-term prosperity