On the occasion of Europe Day, Claudiu-Daniel Tamaș (RO/PES) organises a EU Local Dialogue entitled “Our Europe, Our Future: Building Together What Comes Next” on 8 May 2026 in the Meeting hall of the Bistrița‑Năsăud County Council, bringing the European conversation closer to young people and local communities.
The event invites participants to reflect on a fundamental question: what is Europe beyond institutions, policies and headlines - and what role do citizens play in shaping its future? As a member of the European Committee of the Regions, Claudiu‑Daniel Tamas will engage in a direct exchange with citizens from Bistrița‑Năsăud, highlighting how local and regional voices contribute to European decision‑making. The discussion will challenge the idea that European institutions focus only on large‑scale policies, showing instead how smaller regions and cities are represented and heard at EU level.
A strong focus will be placed on young people - their opportunities within the EU and their responsibility in shaping its future. The dialogue will also address the complexity of the European project, exploring questions of unity, solidarity, national sovereignty and collective decision‑making, without simplifying difficult debates.
The event will feature Professor Dr. Gabriela Ciot from Babeș‑Bolyai University, Cluj‑Napoca, who will explain the EU in clear and accessible terms: why it was created, how its institutions work, why unity is sometimes difficult, and why the EU matters for young people today - through education, mobility, volunteering, work and freedom of movement.
Looking ahead, the discussion will invite participants to consider how global change and uncertainty will shape Europe’s future - and whether that future can be consciously shaped by engaged citizens. The aim is to move young people from observers to contributors, recognising their place at the heart of the European project.