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#DiasporaVote!

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#DiasporaVote!

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Rudi Kennes (Member of the European Parliament)

11 Dec 2025 · Youth engagement

Response to EU’s next long-term budget (MFF) – EU funding for cross-border education, training and solidarity, youth, media, culture, and creative sectors, values, and civil society

21 Nov 2025

#DiasporaVote! has several recommendations regarding the AgoraEU Programme and Erasmus+, which critically contribute to social inclusion, the upholding of fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of law, the fight against discrimination, as well as civic participation. We welcome: 1) The doubling of the CERV budget, although still insufficient compared to real needs. Under the 20212027 programme, only 817% of applications were granted funding. 2) Direct management of the programme, which is critical in the face of shrinking civic space in several Member States, and which ensures that civil society organizations essential work does not depend on changing political priorities. 3) Dedicated strands on anti-discrimination and equality, including explicit references to combating racism, anti-Muslim hatred and antisemitism, Roma exclusion, and discrimination against LGBTQI+ people, persons with disabilities, and on the basis of gender. 4) Dedicated strand on democratic participation, which remains essential for strengthening the Unions values. 5) Simplified funding mechanisms, such as lump sums and regranting schemes, which are particularly beneficial for smaller organisations. 6) Inclusion of the do no significant harm principle. However there's 7) No mention of the Civil Dialogue Group. Unlike the 20212027 CERV programme, the proposal does not foresee a Civil Dialogue Group. Such a platform is crucial for ongoing exchange between beneficiaries (including racialized youth organisations) and programme managers beyond formal evaluations. 8) No recognition of the role of young people and youth organisations in strengthening democratic resilience and contributing to programme outcomes. 9) Limited references to shrinking civic space compared to the 2021-2027 regulation, despite evidence of increasing restrictions across Member States. 10) No funding target for CSOs. The previous regulation earmarked 50% for civil society. Given the documented loss of funding and continued pressure on civic space, this should be raised to at least 60%, with a minimum 10% earmarked for anti-racism organisations, many of which have been disproportionately impacted by international funding shifts. 11) Omission of key activities. Previous regulations explicitly mentioned support for advocacy and strategic litigation; these references should be reinstated as civil society advocacy and strategic litigation activities are critical to the effective application of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights as well as the democratic credibility and sustainability of EU policymaking with CSOs acting as bridges between citizens and policymakers and providing evidence to support policy proposals validity. 12) No mention of operating grants. Only 73 organisations received operating grants in the last cycle, meaning an overwhelming majority of civil society organizations receiving EU funding do so through projects meaning they have limited capacity for long-term thinking and core missions delivering. 13) No mention of outermost regions, which continue to face structural disadvantages, natural disaster vulnerability, and democratic fragility despite clear needs. 14) No mention of the anti-discrimination mainstreaming. While gender mainstreaming remains clearly stated in the 2028-2024 AgoraEU regulations, anti-discrimination mainstreaming has disappeared, which sends a worrying signal in regard to current attacks on Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Initiatives and policies.
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Meeting with Alice Kuhnke (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and The European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association and

5 Nov 2025 · Anti-discrimination

Response to EU Anti-Poverty Strategy

24 Oct 2025

#DiasporaVote! is a network of more than 60+ individual racialized youth member and works towards empowering youth from diaspora backgrounds in participating in EU decision-making and in embedding their concerns and needs in legislation. We welcome the initiative of the Commission to present an Anti-Poverty Strategy at a time where we observe growing disparities in the labour market, social cohesion erosion and well as widening gender inequalities. Racism and poverty are inextricably linked, with high levels of poverty observed in racialized communities tied to historical legacies such as slavery and colonisation and systemic discrimination. Not only is poverty inseparable from other systems of domination and discrimination, but generational poverty tends to reinforce negative stereotypes and treatment towards racialized groups while the very institutions (school, work, housing) responsible for their well-being and their potential exit of poverty are often reproducing discriminatory patterns. Additionally, in 2024, according to Eurostat, youth aged between 18 and 24 were the age group most at risk of poverty with heightened chance of falling in poverty due to low educational attainment and the absence of employment. The next Strategy should address the root causes of poverty which do not only lie with a lack of education and skills, work, or housing access but also in unquestioned and deeply entrenched historical roots of racial discrimination responsible for inequal distribution of wealth. Because of their specific position, racialized youth often find themselves in precarious situations: they are transitioning from childhood to adulthood with the many challenges it involves undertaking programs in higher or vocational education to finding their first job, including their first housing after leaving the parental home. Not only should the future strategy address their needs, but it should also make sure to involve them every step of the way and to properly resource the APS to ensure its success. All the elements raised above concur to turning racialized youth into a very vulnerable group regarding poverty but due to the lack of disaggregated data on race, grasping the scale of the issue is complex. Thats why the next Anti-Poverty Strategy should have intersectionality at its core looking at how different grounds of discrimination contribute to reproducing generations of marginalized youth in poverty taking into account age, race or ethnic origin, gender identity, disability, and sexual orientation and characteristics. Mainstreaming intersectionality within the next Strategy should go hand in hand with the prompt adoption of the Horizontal Directive by the Council to ensure all groups are protected equally within the legislation and that potential gaps especially in regard to intersecting discrimination are covered. Links and synergies are also needed in regards to the upcoming and existing Equality Strategies. Not only should the future strategy address BIPOC youth needs, but it should also make sure to involve them every step of the way and to properly resource the APS to ensure its success with dedicated strands in the next MFF.
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Response to Five-year European migration and asylum Strategy

10 Oct 2025

A significant fraction of migrants and refugees seekers in the EU is made up of young people, often from a racialized background. They face specific barriers due to their residency status, their age, race, meaning theyre most likely to get scrutinized while transitioning from childhood to adulthood, thus losing important rights. If racialized undocumented youth have incredible potential in building bridges between their country of origin and of residence while offering dynamic and fresh perspective and energy in our democracies, theyre often met with discrimination and repression supported by negative media depictions and a strong securitization trend gaining Europe. This particularly affects their mental health and trust in institutions, especially as theyre navigating formative years of their lives not only through migration but through potential access to higher studies, labour market However, in the last few years, many European Member States have failed to uphold international conventions to protect asylum seekers (suspension of asylum applications, family reunification, application processed offshore) and EU primary law through the articles 18 and 19 of the EU Charter of fundamental rights. Rather than support the effective application of these principles and improve reception systems through fair and swift access to asylum, the Asylum and Migration Pact appeared rather to intensify border control at the expense of fundamental rights, through increased surveillance, racial profiling, the possibility to offshore detention centers and detain children in such centers. Thats why the EU should ensure through the next strategy that it effectively 1) Safeguard the right to asylum and fundamental rights by denouncing any pushbacks happening in Member States and prevent any negative development through a strong cooperation in cooperation with CSOs and affected communities, including young migrants of colour. Ensure family reunification is upheld to avoid youth and children being separated from their families 2) Ensure fair asylum procedure, including for citizens of supposedly safe countries by conducting rigorous review by independent parties, share relevant information in a timely manner using language that the applicant can understand and support the development of youth-friendly medium. Ban age tests often resulting in unreliable estimation and putting children and youth, especially if theyre racialized, at risk 3) Avoid the systematic use of detention especially in detention centers where there are little to no oversight on the respect of individual freedoms and rights and prohibit altogether the detention of children and youth 4) Ensure actors working in the solidarity sector (NGOs) and/or citizens are not abusively criminalized for supporting migrants and refugees rights, including migrant youth and ensure theyre properly resourced to continue their mission of reception and support 5) Improve and expand safe pathways and regularization processes to limit human rights violations and avoidable deaths, especially for young people 6) Stop moving forward with migration deals with third countries where partnerships are dependent on outsourcing management control. Respect of fundamental rights and the rule of law should be a pre-condition to any agreement with the EU 7) Limit the generalization of the use of the Crisis regulation as it might have grave impact on fundamental rights because of general and vague terms and wide scope of interpretation 8) Independent monitoring of the operations of law enforcement agencies working on migration, including Frontex, to document any human rights violations that needs to be immediately addressed and sanctioned 9) Ensuring EU funding in the AMIF strand goes to projects and civil society organizations working towards the reception, support and empowerment of newcomers, with a special attention to young migrants of colour, in accessing education, engaging in civic life.
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Response to EU Civil Society Strategy

5 Sept 2025

#DiasporaVote! welcomes the Commissions proposal to develop a European Civil Society Strategy. Civil society organizations are instrumental in engaging with underrepresented communities, advocating to advance their rights, providing services, raising awareness, collecting data, creating bridges while holding institutions accountable. CSOs participate to ensuring policies are rooted in real needs and engineered through democratic and open processes, thus making legislations more effective, fair and legitimate, in turn reinforcing citizens trust in institutions. However, in the EU, racialized young people are especially exposed to restrictions to their civic participation and representation, as they suffer from both structural racism and age-based curtailments. Current shift in EU and national political priorities towards defense, heightened securitization in border and migration management as well as simplification or deregulation processes all contribute to weakening the openness, plurality and thriving of the European civic space. Not only that, but the current trends contribute to reinforcing institutional and interpersonal discriminations, including against BIPOC youth. In some Member States, we observe the surge of foreign agent laws which put enormous administrative burden on CSOs, mainly on those working on fundamental rights issues. They are confronted with increased surveillance, potential legal proceedings and loss of funding. In other member states, counter-terrorism policies produce similar effects on BIPOC, youth-led organizations who find themselves under unwarranted scrutiny and repression. Such limitations blight the rule of law and democracy. Thats why the EU should 1/ Recognize CSOs role in the fabric of EU democracy and lawmaking and as trusted partners by reaffirming the essential role of civil society in bringing citizens voices, including underrepresented communities, including BIPOC youth to the table. 2/ Involve CSOs throughout the whole policy cycle in a proactive and timely manner. 3/ Increase the transparency and openness of information regarding the European Commission internal processes. 4/ Have ring-fenced spots for racialized and minorities youth representatives regarding any relevant policy development. 5/Provide financial compensation for participation, not only covering travel expenses but also participation. 6/ Promote civic participation and offering capacity-building for youth with intersecting identities through formal and non-formal education. 7/ Provide venues for regular and proper feedback to address potential shortcomings, follow-up, through dedicated loops, regular information sharing on action taken on the Commissions side. 8/ Reaffirm EU institutions unwavering commitment and support to CSOs. 9/ Launch infringement procedures on Member States breaching their obligations and if necessary, activate Article 7 of the TUE, and ensure proper follow-up and transparency once theyre launched. 10/ Assess, using an intersectional approach, previous and current legislation and their implementation in areas like migration and counterterrorism. 11/ Offer early, confidential signal and alert mechanisms for CSOs to contest restrictions with timely and quick responses and tailored support (financial, legal, psychosocial).12/ Ensure strong funding for CSOs under AgoraEU (CERV), Erasmus+ and provide more operating grants and possibility for regranting. 13/ Include thematic objectives relating to civic participation and anti-racism, with earmarked budget for youth-led, BIPOC led organizations. 14/ Allow flexibility in funding in case of unforeseen circumstances and offer simplified application and reporting processes.
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Meeting with Benedetta Scuderi (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Apr 2025 · representation and inclusion of racialized communities

Meeting with Lynn Boylan (Member of the European Parliament)

20 Mar 2025 · European Youth Event

Meeting with Rima Hassan (Member of the European Parliament)

12 Dec 2024 · Politiques d'inclusion

Meeting with Rima Hassan (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Oct 2024 · Diasporavote! EP Elections Campaign 2024

Meeting with Salima Yenbou (Member of the European Parliament) and European University College Association

10 Jun 2023 · EYE 2023 Workshop

Meeting with Hannes Heide (Member of the European Parliament)

19 Jul 2022 · PEGA Committee: Fact finding mission

Meeting with Rasmus Andresen (Member of the European Parliament)

13 Jul 2022 · Reducing bureaucratic burden

Meeting with Anouk Faber (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit), Christoph Nerlich (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit)

31 Jan 2022 · Meeting with young people on social and employment policy.

Meeting with Iris Abraham (Cabinet of Vice-President Dubravka Šuica), Mattia De' Grassi (Cabinet of Vice-President Dubravka Šuica)

18 Jan 2022 · Cofoe and the European year of youth Presentation of #DiasporaVote! work Q&A with the youth

Meeting with Renaud Savignat (Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen)

10 Dec 2021 · Discussion with youth from the diaspora in the EU on their role as part of EU international partnerships

Meeting with Salima Yenbou (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Oct 2021 · European Youth Event 2021

Meeting with Salima Yenbou (Member of the European Parliament)

1 Oct 2021 · Echange

Meeting with Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana (Member of the European Parliament)

16 Jun 2021 · anti racism

Meeting with Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana (Member of the European Parliament)

29 Apr 2021 · Diaspora

Meeting with Salima Yenbou (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Jan 2021 · Echange