In this module, youth leaders will learn about the main fundamentals and principles of the European Union, as well as its structure, institutions, functions, and decision-making processes. Youth leaders will engage in theoretical, interactive, and practical approaches designed to encourage understanding of the EU and appreciation of the diversity within it, while promoting inclusion, human rights, social justice, and cultural diversity.
4 hours
Human dignity • Freedom • Democracy • Equality • Values
By the end of the module, participants will be able to:
Explore the core values of the European Union, such as human rights, democracy, social justice, and cultural diversity.
Define the components, roles, and functions of the main EU institutions (e.g., European Commission, European Parliament, Council of the European Union, etc.).
Describe how decisions are made in the EU and how different institutions collaborate to develop policies.
Identify the diversity of Europe and underline the importance of inclusion and human rights in EU policies.
Recognize ways to engage young people in democratic participation and raise awareness about EU values at the local level.
Implement inclusive methodologies to involve young people in dialogue and actions related to EU values.
Estimated duration: 40 minutes
Estimated duration: 40 minutes
Estimated duration: 40 minutes
Estimated duration: 75 minutes
Directive
A type of EU legal act that sets goals for member states to achieve, allowing them to decide how to implement it in their national laws.
Eurozone
The group of EU countries that have adopted the euro as their official currency.
Regulation
A binding legislative act that applies directly in all EU member states without the need for national implementation.
Schengen Area
A zone within Europe where internal border controls have been abolished, allowing free movement of people.
Single Market
An integrated economic area allowing free movement of goods, services, people, and capital among EU member states.
Subsidiarity
A principle stating that decisions should be taken at the most local level possible, only involving the EU when necessary.
European Commission. (n.d.). European climate law. Retrieved July 28, 2025, from https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/european-climate-law_en
European Union. (n.d.). How EU policy is decided. Retrieved July 28, 2025, from https://european-union.europa.eu/institutions-law-budget/law/how-eu-policy-decided_en
European Union. (n.d.). The decision-making process under the second pillar largely takes place at intergovernmental level. EUR-Lex. Retrieved July 28, 2025, from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=legissum:l33245
University of Portsmouth. (n.d.). The institutional triangle. European Studies Hub. Retrieved July 28, 2025, from https://hum.port.ac.uk/europeanstudieshub/learning/module-1-understanding-eu-institutions/introduction-to-study-of-the-european-union-institutions/the-institutional-triangle/
