Youth Policy Dialogue with Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra

The first 100 days of this new Commission’s mandate have come to an end this week and we are looking back at one of its new initiatives- the Youth Policy Dialogue. At the request of Commission President von der Leyen, each Commissioner was tasked with holding such dialogue within the first 100 days of their mandate to encourage young people to express their views on EU policy initiatives and to integrate youth perspectives into the EU’s political agenda.

The Youth Policy Dialogue with Commissioner Hoekstra took place on Thursday, 6 February, co-organised by DG TAXUD and DG CLIMA. Twenty young people from across Europe gathered to discuss EU climate action and taxation, focused on fair and green taxation for a competitive EU.

Green Taxation

The session highlighted the importance of inclusive green taxation. There was a consensus that the green transition must be fair, addressing both ecological and social responsibilities, with dialogue between governments and companies being essential for success. The challenge of keeping heavy industries competitive while pushing for decarbonization was also discussed. The role of global taxation and closing the tax gap were mentioned as key efforts to support green initiatives.

Competitiveness

The session pointed out the need for simpler regulations to support green tech companies. Challenges such as limited access to capital and a lack of scale-up opportunities for European companies were discussed, with tax breaks and improved funding essential to foster innovation and compete globally.

Tax Fairness 

The session touched on the need for tax reforms, particularly to ensure fairness and reduce burdens on the middle class. The idea of using tax systems to help consumers access greener products was also explored, with fairness and social stability remaining central themes in the evolving tax landscape.

The dialogue fostered open discussions, shared insights, and built connections with young people on pressing issues relating to climate action and taxation. Youth Policy Dialogues enable young people to better understand the choices behind policy decisions and their impact. The session concluded with a short debrief, and participants ended their day with a visit to the Parlamentarium. 

Rewatch the event