Commissioner Roswall meets young Europeans to discuss a resilient nature-based future

European Commissioner Jessika Roswall hosted a Youth Policy Dialogue in Brussels on Wednesday (3 June), bringing together 13 young leaders from across the EU to discuss how investments in nature can drive both environmental protection and economic resilience.

The event, titled 'Invest in Nature: Youth Views on Impacts and Choices', took place on the margins of EU Green Week 2026 and provided a platform for young participants representing NGOs, farmers, foresters and rural communities to share their perspectives on biodiversity, nature restoration and the circular bioeconomy. 

The dialogue covered key challenges, including: 

• How to protect biodiversity and ecosystems — including pollinators and forests — while ensuring rural jobs, farming viability, and industrial competitiveness remain strong.
• How to bridge conflicting perspectives — such as urban-rural divides on wildlife coexistence or land use — to build trust and shared solutions between communities.
• How to scale up successful local initiatives, from innovative bioeconomy projects to nature-based solutions, to influence EU-wide policies and markets.
• How to ensure public and private investments — including through nature credits — to support sustainable farming, green businesses and nature restoration. 

Roswall, the European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, also highlighted the important role that young Europeans play in building Europe’s future by bringing new ideas to connect nature, the economy, and society.

Next steps 

The insights gathered will feed into ongoing EU environmental policy discussions, including the implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation, the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and the forthcoming Circular Economy Act.  

A detailed report summarising the dialogue’s key takeaways will be published on the Commission’s website and shared with youth networks across Europe. 

Background

The Youth Policy Dialogues are a European Commission initiative that brings together young people from across the EU to engage directly with policymakers on key issues affecting their future.

By creating a platform for open discussion, the talks empower young Europeans to contribute to decision-making and reinforce their role as active stakeholders in Europe’s future. 

EU Green Week is Europe’s leading environmental conference and an annual opportunity to raise awareness, promote and discuss the latest and upcoming developments in European environmental policy.

The high-level event attracts policymakers, businesses, leading environmentalists, and other interested parties from across Europe and the world.

The 2026 edition focuses on 'Investing in a nature-positive economy', exploring how environmental action can drive economic and social resilience.