During the 10th European Summit of Regions and Cities, one of the panel discussions focused on enhancing meaningful youth participation in democratic life. The session, titled "Co-creating Cities and Regions with young people" gathered youth work practitioners, activists and policymakers who discussed the follow-up on the youth-related commitments made during the Conference on the Future of Europe, the role of local/regional youth councils and the potential of lowering the voting age to 16 as means to engage more young people in democratic decision-making.

One of the panellists was also our first vice president and current Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Kieran McCarthy. Cllr McCarthy shared his experience in engaging with young people in Cork, as well as his personal story of how different influences through his schooling led him to enter local politics.

"There is an unwarranted fear of what young people can do if they are elected," he said. "We need to believe in them, we're only scratching the surface when it comes to harnessing their potential."​