Young Democrats for Europe

Updated on Oct 20, 2023

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Formation 2007 (2007) President Antoine Carette Treasurer Bettina Schwarz		Type Centrist Pro-European Secretary General Asier Areitio
Headquarters Rue de l'Industrie 4 1000 Brussels, Belgium

The Young Democrats for Europe (officially (French) Jeunes Démocrates Européens) is the youth wing of the European Democratic Party. The seat of the organisation is Brussels.

History

It was announced on 9 May 2007, the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, and formally established at its first Conference on 22 September 2007 in Vilnius, Lithuania. The founding members are the youth wings of the seven EDP founding parties:

Youth of the Daisy - Democracy is Freedom – The Daisy (Italy)

Young Democrats - Democratic Movement (France)

Alternativa Giovanile - Popular Alliance (San Marino)

Europaiko Komma (Cyprus)

Jaunimo organizacija DARBAS (Lithuania)

Cesta Změny (Czech Republic)

Euzko Gaztedi (Basque Country)

In 2008, the 1st Congress of YDE was held and Andrea Casu (Italy) was elected as President, Ophélie Spanneut (France) as Vice President, Justina Vitkauskaite (Lithuania) as Secretary General and Xanthi Kapsosideri (Cyprus) as Treasurer.

On July 1, 2011 there was the celebration of the 2nd Congress of YDE in the European Parliament in Brussels. There was the election of the new Bureau to drive the organization towards ambitious political challenges in Europe. Marco Cappa (Italy) was elected as President. He was helped in his mission by three Vice Presidents: Helene Courade (Executive - France), Donata Janusauskaite (Lithuania), and Marios Kaminarides (Cyprus). The Secretary General chosen by the Congress was Miren Martiarena (Basque Country). She was supported by the Vice Secretary General Lisa Gualtieri (San Marino). The Treasurer was Adeline Blais (France).

The congress approved the entry of new full member organizations: Mladi Europania (Slovakia), Demokraticke Forum Mladeze (Slovakia), Związek Młodzieży Demokratycznej (Poland).

On March 22, 2014, YDE President Marco Cappa resigned.

In July 2014, UDI Jeunes (Youth wing of Union of Democrats and Independents) joined YDE as observing member.

In September 2014, the 3rd Congress was held in Bilbao. A new Board was elected with Miroslava Demkova (Slovakia) as President, Mathieu Camescasse (France) as Secretary General, Johannes Meiners (Germany) as Treasurer, and Jeremy Coste (France) as Spokesperson. They will be helped by 4 Vice-Presidents (Italy, France, Basque Country and Cyprus) and 2 policy officers.

Two organisations joined YDE as full members at this Congress: UDI Jeunes (Youth wing of Union of Democrats and Independents) from France, and Youth of National Forum from Croatia.

In October 2016, the 4th Congress was held in Paris. Antoine Carette (France) was elected as President and a new member organisation - Union of Centrists' Youth - from Greece joined the organisation.