Official Opening of Lviv – European Youth Capital 2025 (3.04.2025, Lviv)
On 3 April 2025, Lviv officially launched its year as the European Youth Capital 2025 by bringing together over 1,000 youth leaders, activists, representatives of European institutions, civil society organisations, and international guests to celebrate a key milestone in advancing youth policy across Europe.
Throughout 2025, Lviv will host guests from across Europe as the 17th city to hold the European Youth Capital title. The city won the competition on its fourth attempt, having reached the finals twice before. On 21 November 2024, in Ghent – the European Youth Capital 2024 – Lviv City Council and the European Youth Forum agreed to collaborate on delivering the title. Andriy Moskalenko, First Deputy Mayor of Lviv, and Milosh Ristovski, Secretary General of the European Youth Forum, signed the corresponding memorandum.
The team of the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine together with Luís ALVEIS, Head of Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Juventude/Desporto e Corpo Europeu de Solidariedade, joined the celebration.
Ukrainian singer Taras TOPOLIA, frontman of the band “Antytila” and official ambassador of the European Youth Capital, opened the ceremony by performing the national anthem. Guests honoured the memory of Ukraine’s defenders and all lives lost in the war with a minute of silence.
The following speakers from local authorities, youth organisations, and international institutions shared their greetings:
- Nella RIEHL, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education;
- Glenn MICALLEF, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport;
- Rareș VOICU, President of the European Youth Forum;
- Munir MAMEDZADE, Head of the UNICEF Office in Ukraine;
- Matviy BIDNYI, Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine;
- Andriy SADOVYI, Head of Lviv City Administration.
The cultural programme featured the premiere of the audiovisual performance “The Sound of Lviv”. Youth groups showcased their creativity on stage, and a video collage told the story of Lviv as a hub of youth activity, including during wartime.
After the main ceremony, Luís ALVEIS, Head of Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Juventude/Desporto e Corpo Europeu de Solidariedade, Svitlana SHYTIKOVA, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine, and Kateryna ZHDANOVA, Senior Manager, coordinator of youth and sport actions of the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine, met with Glenn MICALLEF, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport. They discussed Ukraine’s achievements in capacity-building projects in the youth and sport sectors, the challenges faced during martial law, and the needs that have emerged. They also explored EU’s Programme priorities for youth engagement and emphasised the need for synergy with other international development partners.
The official opening marks only the beginning of a rich cultural and educational calendar in 2025. Lviv stands ready to deliver ambitious projects that foster youth engagement and strengthen cooperation with European partners.
Lviv’s youth community is already preparing for upcoming events, including international forums, exhibitions, concerts, and sports tournaments.
Erasmus+ Community Ukraine and their partners will also stay actively involved, contributing to the event calendar throughout the year.
The European Youth Capital 2025 aims to become a symbol of unity, collaboration, and development for all of Europe.
Stay tuned — there’s more to come…
Prepared using materials from:
https://www.lvivpost.net/city/u-lvovi-provely-ofitsijne-vidkryttya-molodizhnoyi-stolytsi-yevropy-2025/
https://city-adm.lviv.ua/news/society/youth-policy/306355-u-lvovi-vidkryvsia-rik-molodizhnoi-stolytsi-yevropy-2025