Grand Opening of Lviv – European Youth Capital 2025 (5.05.2025, Lviv)
On 5 April 2025, Lviv hosted the grand opening of the European Youth Capital 2025 at !FESTrepublic. The event brought together over 10,000 participants from across Ukraine and abroad.
The event was organised by Tvory! Network of Lviv City Council in cooperation with UNICEF, with financial support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the KfW Development Bank, the EU4Youth IV: Youth Employment and Empowerment project (co-funded by the European Union and BMZ, and implemented by GIZ), as well as KredoBank as official partner.
Lviv received the title after competition with dozens of European cities over several years. For the first time in the programme’s history, Ukrainian city received this award. The large-scale celebration brought together young people from across the country, influential speakers, thought leaders, and contemporary Ukrainian musicians. The event launched a year-long series of youth-focused activities that will take place both in Lviv and throughout Ukraine.
Speakers delivered inspiring and thought-provoking talks, focusing on the role of youth in society, public policy, civic engagement, and how to act in times of uncertainty. Among the keynote speakers were Vasyl Baidak, Taras Chmut, Bohdan Krotevych, Roman Kravets, Melania Podoliak, Oleksandr Notevskyi, and others.
Representatives from public institutions, local authorities, European organisations, and partner organisations addressed the audience with introductory remarks:
- Munir MAMEDZADE, Head of the UNICEF Office in Ukraine
- Rémi DUFLOT, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine
- Oleh NEMCHYNOV, Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
- Oleksandr YAREMA, State Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
- Kyrylo BUDANOV, Lieutenant General, Head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
- Andriy SADOVYI, Head of Lviv City Administration
Among guests, the event organisers welcomed Luís ALVEIS, Head of Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Juventude em Ação, Svitlana SHYTIKOVA, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine, and Kateryna ZHDANOVA, Senior Manager, youth and sport actions Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine.
The Erasmus+ delegation attended the official opening and communicated with young entrepreneurs at SundayBazzar – a charity market featuring Ukrainian brands, where 20% of proceeds support Lviv’s Youth Foundation throughout the year. Luís ALVEIS met with representatives of Lviv-based schools involved in social entrepreneurship projects, as well as students and staff from universities and vocational education and training institutions, youth organisations, and student unions. Together, they discussed various opportunities for collaboration through the Erasmus+ Programme and the European Solidarity Corps.
Mr. ALVEIS presented mobility opportunities for youth and youth workers, and explored ideas for joint projects with Portuguese partners that aim to address the challenges Ukrainian youth face during wartime.
The team from the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine provided individual consultations on current Erasmus+ calls and outlined next steps for continued cooperation.
Moving Forward Together!
Prepared based on materials from:
city-adm.lviv.ua/news/society/youth-policy/306215-vidkryttia-molodizhnoi-stolytsi-yevropy-2025-u-lvovi-prohrama-spikery-reiestratsiia
city-adm.lviv.ua/news/society/youth-policy/306417-10-tysiach-vidviduvachiv-i-1-000-000-na-zsu-iak-proishlo-velyke-vidkryttia-molodizhnoi-stolytsi-yevropy-2025-video