The third day of CAP a l’Europa Inclusiva in Brussels began with an intensity that matched the significance of the institution we were about to explore. Our focus turned to the European Commission, the executive engine of the Union, the body responsible for transforming proposals into policies and ensuring that the ideals of European cooperation take concrete form. Understanding its role was essential to understanding how Europe functions not only in theory but in practice.
Before entering the Commission itself, our group engaged in an immersive session at Experience Europe, a space designed to introduce visitors to the EU’s priorities, mechanisms, and aspirations through a polished, interactive narrative. Yet what could have been a simple informative experience became, for our group, an opportunity for critical engagement. The diversity of backgrounds represented added a depth to the reflection that no exhibition could anticipate. As we moved through the displays, it became evident that certain narratives, although well-intentioned, may resonate differently depending on one’s personal history. Some elements inspired confidence in the European project; others invited scrutiny. What mattered most was the space we created to examine these narratives together, recognising both their value and their limitations.
This critical lens accompanied us as we stepped inside the European Commission for a series of dialogues with officials working at the core of EU policy. The contrast between the curated exhibition and the direct institutional exchange sharpened our understanding: Europe is built not only on ideals, but on negotiation, interpretation, and the constant effort to reconcile diverse experiences within a single political framework.
Our first conversation was with a representative of the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. Far from a technical presentation, the session offered a clear, structured explanation of how the Commission functions, how decisions evolve, and how policy areas seemingly distant from everyday life are embedded in broader economic, social, and environmental priorities. The group’s questions helped broaden the discussion, challenging assumptions and opening space for perspectives that often remain outside institutional rooms.
The second exchange, with a representative of the European External Action Service, brought a different dimension to the table: human rights, foreign policy, and Europe’s role in global affairs. Once again, the group’s contributions transformed the session into something more than a formal presentation. Participants were not passive recipients of information; they interrogated the disconnects between policy and practice, shared testimonies from their own communities, and invited the speaker to consider how European action is perceived far beyond the borders of Brussels. The resulting dialogue was robust yet respectful, demonstrating how youth perspectives, especially from diverse origins, can enrich conversations that traditionally remain within expert circles.
This encounter with the European Commission did more than expand our knowledge of how Europe operates; it articulated the responsibility that comes with participating in the European project. CAP a l’Europa Inclusiva seeks precisely this: to ensure that local perspectives, especially those shaped by migration, inequality, or exclusion, are not peripheral to the European conversation but integral to it. Our third day made clear that these perspectives have a place in institutional dialogue when they are voiced with clarity, courage, and conviction.
