European youth to bring ideas about mobility and transport to Brussels

“European youth to bring ideas about mobility and transport to Brussels”

• 46 young delegates from across Europe to come to Brussels and discuss the future of mobility and transport with EU and industry leaders
• Delegates selected by an independent selection committee through an online competition run at www.futuremobilitynow.com
• High level speakers, participants and delegates to gather for a unique, interactive event on 23 June in Autoworld, Brussels

The young delegates were chosen by an independent selection committee in connection with the “Our Future Mobility Now” project organised by the automobile manufacturers in Europe. The event in Brussels marks the launch of a continuous dialogue with the next generation of young Europeans. 

The selected delegates are between 18-30 years old and come from 15 countries across Europe (Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, France, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Belgium, Sweden and Turkey). The students and young professionals secured their participation by sharing articulate views on one of the following questions: how do you imagine mobility to be in about 15 years from now; what could or should commercial transportation look like, and; what role will the transportation industries play in our communities? Over a period of just 6 weeks, over 250 entries were sent in, covering a rich variety of ideas from the designing of ‘intelligent’ roads and the integration of social media into vehicles, to a shift from car ownership to car usage, or from fossil fuels to electricity. Applicants also explored the efficient use of commercial and public transport, and the future of mobility in urban communities.

The young delegates will meet in Autoworld, Brussels, on 22 and 23 June within a unique setting of workshops, idea labs and an interactive exhibition, followed by a debate with the European automobile industry CEOs, EU Commissioners and other European policy makers. The workshops will focus on topics such as ‘New Mobility Services’, ‘Skills for the Future’, Urban Communities Tomorrow’ and ‘Future Technologies’, culminating in a “Book of Ideas” to be presented at the plenary ‘Summit’ in the afternoon of 23 June. For interviews with the young delegates, or for information about how to attend the event, please contact Sigrid de Vries, +32 2738 73 60/59, sv@acea.be.

A programme of the event is enclosed. The “Our Future Mobility Now” project is organised by the 16 major vehicle makers in Europe through their trade association ACEA. The goal of the campaign is to build and sustain a continuous and pan-European dialogue about the future mobility and transport and closely connected topics, such as the importance of a matching manufacturing base and skills in Europe. After the event, the dialogue will be continued online at www.futuremobilitynow.com as well as with on-site activities across Europe. The event in Brussels will be held in close cooperation with the EU ‘Youth on the Move’ project promoting mobility in education and training throughout Europe.