Raising awareness of the EU among young people - Hoofdinhoud

Special attention was devoted to young people during the preparations for the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU i. Our plans were disrupted by the pandemic, which forced us to cancel a number of activities, but we intend to resume them as soon as the situation permits.

In particular, we want to raise awareness among young people about the European Union, its institutions, regulation and benefits for its citizens, and the importance of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU. One of the success stories is the Europe at School Competition, which has been organised for a number of years in cooperation with the Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth. The main objectives of the Europe at School Competition are the following: to contribute to creatively tackling the social problems we face in Slovenia, Europe and around the world, and to foster mutual understanding, tolerance and solidarity. Every year primary and secondary school students participate in literary, artistic, photography, video and online competitions, reflecting on the challenges of the future and developing creativity and independent and critical thinking.

In the school year 2020/2021, as many as 125 primary and secondary schools participated in the competition despite the epidemic. Primary and secondary school students reflected on what food waste is and how it is created, how it affects the environment and how this issue can be addressed. An old Slovenian saying has been selected as the slogan: Če kruhek pade ti na tla, poberi in poljubi ga (If a piece of bread falls on the floor, pick it up and kiss it.)

Goal 12 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims to halve per capita global food waste and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, reduce waste generation, etc. The importance of food waste has also been recognised by the UN General Assembly, which last year, with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations i (FAO), designated 29 September as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste.

Every year the national committee of the Europe at School Competition adapts the content and slogan of the competition to the theme of the European Year, in recent years increasingly focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This means young people have reflected on climate change, gender inequality, the importance of cultural heritage and similar important topics.

5913 pupils and students from all over Slovenia took part in the competition, and the expert commission selected three awarded works in each field by age group. The closing event and the announcement of the winners who received practical prizes took place virtually this year.