On Democracy in the Heart of Democracy

On March 18–19, 2026, an international study visit titled “Democracy at the Heart of Democracy” took place in Brussels. The event was organized as part of the D‑EFFECT project—“Lessons in Civil Society Democracy”—funded by the Interreg South Baltic program. The event was attended by 61 people from five countries in the Baltic Sea region, including young people, chaperones, and representatives of project partners from Poland, Lithuania, Denmark, Sweden, and Germany. The trip served as a reward for participants in the project activities and the creators of films submitted to the international competition “Camera! Action! Democracy!”, which aimed to encourage young people to reflect on the role of democracy and their influence on public life.

The visit was organized by the Association of Polish Municipalities – Baltic Euroregion in cooperation with the “Światowid” European Meeting Center in Elbląg, with the aim of broadening participants’ knowledge of how European Union institutions function, strengthening the competencies of local government representatives, and fostering international and cross-sectoral cooperation. Participants had the opportunity to learn about the mechanisms of key EU bodies, as well as to take part in discussions on democratic values, the role of youth in public life, and the opportunities that European programs offer to young people and local communities.

The visit’s program included a series of meetings and activities that allowed participants to experience democracy in practice. The delegation was welcomed by Simona Constantin, a representative of Commissioner Michael McGrath’s office, who discussed the objectives of the European Democracy Shield. The young people then visited the European Parliament and the Parlamentarium, learning about its structure and how it operates. A meeting was also held with MEP Michał Wawrykiewicz, during which the young people could ask questions about parliamentary work and the challenges facing the EU. The next item on the agenda was a group lunch at Place Jourdan, followed by a tour of the Parlamentarium. In the evening, the participants attended a dinner for the entire consortium, preceded by a walk and a group photo.

On the second day, the delegation visited the House of Eastern Poland, where the film competition’s closing gala and a presentation of the winning entries took place, as well as a meeting with Piotr Adamiuk, the Polish Consul in Brussels. Next, the participants took part in a discussion with Minister Małgorzata Banat-Adamiuk on the functioning of the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Poland to the European Union. The program also included a lecture by Oana Maria Licu on the Erasmus+ program and the European Solidarity Corps, introducing young people to opportunities for mobility, volunteering, and skills development. Another key element of the day was an international workshop led by expert Kacper Chyła, focusing on a common evaluation framework and a system of cross-border engagement in the context of preparations for future Democracy Festivals. In the evening, participants attended a dinner for the entire consortium, preceded by a walk and a group photo.

The study visit to Brussels was a key stage in the implementation of the D-EFFECT project, one of whose main outcomes is the development of the concept of annual Democracy Festivals based on the YDF method. These events bring local communities together, strengthen civic dialogue, and increase residents’ engagement in public life. Young people’s direct contact with European institutions, diplomatic representatives, and experts created a unique space for experiential learning, the exchange of best practices, and the building of a shared identity based on democratic values. The visit to Brussels confirmed how important it is to involve young people in decision-making processes and to create real opportunities for them to participate in public life at the local, national, and European levels.