Paris, France | 21–24 May 2025 | Written by: Green Generation Foundation - Abdallah Dreiat

From May 21st to 24th, 2025, I had the honor of representing the MENA Green Movement Network at the General Assembly of the Federation of Young European Greens (FYEG), which took place in Paris, France. This high-level political and organizational gathering brought together over a hundred youth delegates from the young wings of Green Parties across the European Union. The assembly served as a key platform to collectively review FYEG’s past year, elect new leadership, adopt policy resolutions, and plan strategic priorities for the coming year. As a representative from the MENA region, my participation provided an opportunity to observe democratic green youth processes in action, share regional perspectives informally, and identify areas for future collaboration.

The General Assembly’s electoral process was one of the most structured and inclusive I have witnessed. A transparent and secure online voting system was used to elect new Board members and members of the Executive Committee, including two Co-Spokespersons and the Treasurer. Candidates had the opportunity to deliver personal speeches, explaining their motivations and priorities. This was followed by thematic debates, where they were asked questions related to their vision, experience, and ideas for strengthening FYEG’s work. The process was participatory, accessible, and inspiring, offering a valuable model for youth-led democratic governance that we in the MENA region could adapt to our own structures.

Abdallah Dreiat (Green Generation Foundation - Right-side) with Joud Al Jamal (Green Party of Lebanon - Left-side)

The delegation structure at the General Assembly was split into two categories: official voting delegations and observer delegations. The voting delegations were responsible for making formal decisions, including elections and resolution approvals. Meanwhile, observer delegations like ours were there to gain insight, build relationships, and strengthen future engagement. This format encouraged participation from newer or emerging green youth organizations and promoted a culture of learning and mentorship within the federation. For MENA Green Movement Network, this was a chance to understand how a transnational youth body operates and how it engages members across diverse cultural and political contexts.

A dedicated session during the Assembly focused on approving new organizational members—either as full members (with voting rights and full participation privileges) or as associative members (with observer status but without voting rights). Each application was discussed and voted upon by the voting delegations. This process emphasized FYEG’s openness to welcoming youth organizations from various contexts while maintaining clear membership standards and procedures. The session underscored the potential for MENA Green Movement Network to consider a future membership pathway or formal cooperation with FYEG.

The Assembly also involved a detailed review of FYEG’s 2024 Financial Report and achievements. These documents were shared with delegations in advance, allowing time to read and provide comments. A session was held to discuss and officially approve FYEG’s programmatic and financial plan for 2025, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to transparency and accountability. The approach of making the documents accessible beforehand, and encouraging feedback, demonstrated best practices in inclusive and participatory governance.

One of the most dynamic and politically rich aspects of the GA was the series of Committee for Amendments and Statements (CAS) sessions. In these sessions, delegates discussed, amended, and voted on internal policies and external political resolutions, including pressing issues like the ongoing war in Gaza. These discussions were intense and meaningful, with active participation from various national delegations proposing changes to the text to reflect broader values of peace, justice, and solidarity. While I observed these discussions with great interest, I felt that limited prior orientation and unfamiliarity with the procedural rules limited my ability to contribute effectively. I strongly suggest that, ahead of future GAs, FYEG could organize pre-event webinars or orientation sessions for observer delegations and partners, especially those from regions like MENA. Such sessions could help us prepare more effectively and ensure that our voices—grounded in the lived realities of the region—are included in the final political declarations.

Beyond the formal sessions, the General Assembly was a vibrant space for networking and cross-cultural dialogue. The level of collaboration and openness among the delegations was both inspiring and energizing. Delegates were eager to exchange experiences, learn from each other, and explore avenues for joint work. Informal conversations covered a wide range of topics, including climate justice, migration, feminist policies, green economy, and youth participation in politics. This spirit of solidarity underscored the untapped potential for transregional collaboration between the youth of Europe and the MENA region.

Recommendations for Future Cooperation:

Establishing a Partnership Framework: The MENA Green Movement Network and FYEG could explore establishing a formal partnership or observer relationship, potentially leading to associate or full membership. This could help bridge political youth engagement across the Mediterranean.
Co-Hosting Webinars and Thematic Dialogues: Joint online events could be organized regularly to discuss shared political priorities—such as climate migration, peace in the MENA region, and environmental justice—and offer space for knowledge exchange and solidarity actions.
Exchange Programs and Delegation Visits: To strengthen practical learning, we recommend developing youth exchange opportunities, allowing MENA youth to attend FYEG events, and European Green Youth to engage in activities in the MENA region, including climate marches, youth forums, or grassroots campaigns.
Collaborative Political Statements: We encourage FYEG to consider joint political statements or resolutions with MENA Green Youth on urgent issues such as the war in Gaza, climate-induced displacement, and democratic transitions. These shared efforts would amplify both regional and global youth voices.
Capacity-Building for Political Engagement: Based on our experience at the GA, we recommend initiating capacity-building sessions on policy resolution writing, strategic communication, and participatory governance for MENA Green Movement members, possibly with mentorship support from FYEG alumni or current board members.

In conclusion, our participation in FYEG’s General Assembly was a rich and rewarding experience. It reinforced the importance of youth-led structures grounded in democratic practice and political consciousness. It also reminded us of the immense value of global solidarity and mutual learning. We are confident that this engagement marks the beginning of a promising path for deeper cooperation between green youth actors in Europe and the MENA region. We look forward to building stronger bridges in the months and years ahead.

Participation of the MENA Green Movement Network in the 2025 General Assembly of the Federation of Young European Greens (FYEG)