Austrian Youth Programs Expand EU Engagement

EU Youth Ambassador Hanna Reiter, representing the Austrian state of Styria, participated in the Youth Policy Dialogue “Young Voices for Europe” in Lyon on 16 July. She and fellow delegates discussed issues such as affordable housing, digital safety, democratic participation, mental health and sustainability, aiming to shape the EU’s next Youth Strategy starting in 2028.

In Lower Austria, 165 young people received free Interrail tickets under the fourth round of the “Discover EU” initiative, part of a broader program that awarded 817 Austrian winners from 5,896 applicants. Governor Johanna Mikl‑Leitner and EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner praised the scheme as a way for youth to experience European countries by train and deepen their sense of European identity.