The Federation of Young European Greens (FYEG) and its members organisations recognise imperialism did not end with the formal dismantling of colonial empires. Today, imperial domination is exercised through military occupation, economic coercion, debt dependency, control over knowledge and technology, and the monopolisation of global commons, including outer space.

International law exists to protect everyone, people and states, especially in an asymmetric geopolitical landscape where many small actors are challenged by few powerful empires. Many promoted the illusion that modern empires would balance their influence, resulting in peace. However, reality is different: while superpowers will not engage in direct confrontation, they express violent imperialistic attitudes against their neighbours.

In their eyes, international law is not valid within their regional spheres of influence, where they play by their own rules.

This crisis directly challenges core Green values: peace, democracy, climate justice, feminism, and anti-racism. Imperialism disproportionately harms marginalised communities, including women, racialised groups, and young people, while concentrating power in the hands of states and corporations. The urgency to act is therefore both global and European.

Clear contemporary examples illustrate these dynamics.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 represents a blatant act of territorial annexation that violates international law and sovereignty, denying Ukraine’s right to exist and aiming for a subordinate regime, while interfering with democratic processes across Europe.

Imperialism is also exercised through economic warfare and destabilisation. The United States intensified sanctions against Cuba through “maximum pressure 2.0”, demonstrating how economic coercion punishes sovereignty and constrains democratic choice. Similarly, the kidnapping and extraterritorial detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in 2026 highlights risks posed by unilateral interventions bypassing international legal processes.

Israel's strikes on Iran, with US support, and the invasion of Lebanon, including sieges and attacks on healthcare and civilian areas, constitute violations of international law and possible war crimes. The ongoing assault on Gaza, which UN bodies and genocide scholars deemed genocide in 2025, exemplifies imperial violence through occupation, collective punishment, and denial of Palestinian self-determination.

China, far from being a peaceful superpower, has extended sovereignty over Hong Kong, pressures Taiwan toward annexation, and commits human rights violations such as the persecution of Uyghurs.

The pattern is clear: modern empires seek to delegitimise international law and multilateral institutions, presenting themselves as the only legitimate providers of security. This reflects a system where power is concentrated among a few states and corporations, benefiting dominant actors while harming smaller states, marginalised communities, and future generations.

For young people, this system undermines democratic participation, economic justice, climate stability, and peace. Existing policies have failed because they allow selective application of international law and prioritise geopolitical interests over justice and accountability.

Europe plays a key role globally but often subordinates itself to these systems, as seen in energy dependence and extractive economic relations. Neocolonial practices persist, while human rights are inconsistently applied. Protecting international law also means protecting AFAB and marginalised communities globally.

This urgency extends beyond Earth. The increasing commercialisation, militarisation, and privatisation of space risks reproducing extractive and colonial logics beyond planetary boundaries, threatening both ecological integrity and global equity. Control over knowledge, data, infrastructure, and critical technologies has emerged as a central axis of imperial power. Monopolisation of digital platforms, satellite systems, and surveillance infrastructure enables a small number of states and corporations to exert outsized influence over populations, markets, and political processes. This concentration of power deepens global inequalities and erodes democratic accountability.

Such monopolisation raises serious concerns around surveillance, democratic oversight, and the privatisation of a shared global commons. Space exploration and infrastructure development are increasingly driven by geopolitical competition and private accumulation rather than collective benefit.

This expansion is fuelled by techno-optimist narratives that frame space exploration as humanity’s escape route from ecological collapse. The belief that humans will be able to escape Earth before it becomes uninhabitable is a betrayal of our role as a steward species.

We reaffirm that outer space is the common heritage of humankind. Any attempts to colonise, militarise, or privatise celestial bodies or orbits constitute a dangerous extension of imperial expansion and must be collectively resisted.

In line with this analysis, we call on FYEG, its Member Organisations, and the wider Green political family to:

• The EU end all economic and political relations with states that violate human rights. We call on the EU to completely repeal the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

• Strengthen relations and unity within the EU and also paneuropean countries and strategic democratic partners to have a more powerful voice in the international scenario

• Enforcing a swift transition from fossil fuels to end reliance on authoritarian countries and guarantee energy independence

• Develop EU-technology, (explore the possibility of higher public ownership or control in these areas)

• International law has to be binding for every country. Democratic countries should explore measures to enforce it. For instance: protecting ICC officials from US sanctions.

• Strategic autonomy, we shouldn‘t rely on weaponry and external forces

• that European governments refrain from engaging in the Board of Peace, a unilateral organisation created with the only aim of challenging multilateral institutions

• that all political leaders face equal accountability for war crimes. ICC
  arrest warrants must be enforced without geopolitical bias, and any sanctions or pressure to obstruct the Court must be abolished.

• a fundamental reform of the UN Security Council, specifically the abolition of the Veto Power under Article 27 of the UN Charter. The veto must never be used to obstruct justice for war crimes or genocides. We support the "Veto Initiative" (UNGA Res 76/262) to ensure transparency and accountability.

• that all European states, immediately ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). We insist that nuclear-armed states fulfill their disarmament obligations under Article VI of the NPT, moving beyond deterrence toward total elimination.

• absolute adherence to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols.

• The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) must remain the non-negotiable legal floor, and all states must comply with the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) without exception.

• the universal abolition of the death penalty. We call on all states to ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, using European diplomatic and trade relations as leverage to end this violation of the fundamental right to life.

• the legal recognition of the Right to Food and Clean Water under the ICESCR. We condemn starvation as a method of warfare (Art. 8, Rome Statute) and demand the strict regulation of commodity trading hubs to end neocolonial extractivism that exploits the Global South.

• that international law applies equally to all, regardless of power. We demand full support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Rome Statute, including the protection of its officials from external sanctions and political interference.

• that states fulfill their obligation to protect human rights from climate
  change. Following the ECtHR ruling in KlimaSeniorinnen v. Switzerland, we affirm that Article 8 of the ECHR protects the right to a safe climate and demand science-based, legally binding targets for all.

• Advocate for enforceable international mechanisms that sanction unilateral acts of imperialism, including territorial annexation, economic coercion, and violations of sovereign self‑determination.

• Promote resource sovereignty – Advocate for transparency standards for multi-national corporations to ensure extraction of raw materials provides fair compensation and investment to the host community.

• Support transparency and accountability standards for multinational corporations, particularly in resource extraction, digital infrastructure, and space‑related industries, ensuring fair compensation, environmental protection, and local benefit.

• Advocate for ethical oversight of trade, investment, and lending practices, including the review of agreements that compromise long‑term fiscal autonomy. Moreover, encourage the restructuring of international institutions to provide low-interest credit facilities that prioritise developmental stability over external market access.

• Support knowledge sharing: devise and implement policies that prioritise ‘open’ learning initiatives and localisation of technology.

• Demand the strengthening of international space treaties to prohibit private or unilateral ownership of extraterrestrial resources and ensure that benefits derived from space activities are shared equitably.

• Apply the same ethical, ecological, and distributive standards to resource extraction in space as are demanded on Earth.

• Oppose monopolies in digital, technological, and space‑related sectors and promote open, cooperative, and publicly accountable alternatives.

• Protect the night sky as a shared cultural, ecological, and scientific commons.

• Promote reform of multilateral institutions, including addressing permanent veto powers and unequal governance structures that undermine accountability and justice

We call on governments, European institutions, international organisations, and the Green political family to move beyond rhetorical commitments and take concrete action to dismantle imperial systems in all their forms. Immediate steps must be taken to enforce international law, strengthen multilateral institutions, and ensure accountability for violations.

We must demonstrate political leadership and solidarity to reimagine solutions beyond current globalisation models—not isolationism, but international solidarity. As Young Greens, we commit to addressing injustices on Earth, resisting narratives that frame space exploration as a substitute for ecological responsibility, and challenging colonial mindsets wherever they arise.

Noting that

• The Internal Rules of Procedure currently state that, depending on the seriousness of the allegations, the Executive Committee, upon request of the Awareness Group, may suspend someone from taking part in any FYEG structure or activity during the duration of the process;

• This wording may create unnecessary procedural limitations by tying Executive Committee action to a specific formal request;

Recognising that

• Safeguarding procedures must remain effective, flexible, and responsive in situations requiring urgent protective measures;

• The Executive Committee should retain the ability to act promptly in serious cases without avoidable procedural barriers;

• Maintaining survivor confidentiality and protection remains paramount regardless of procedural adjustments;

Believing that

• Removing the phrase “upon request of the Awareness Group” strengthens procedural clarity and practical functionality;

• This change preserves the role of the Awareness Group while ensuring that protective measures are not hindered by unnecessary formal requirements;

• A clearer and more flexible safeguarding framework better reflects FYEG’s commitment to safer spaces and organisational accountability;

The Executive Committee requests, with the approval of the General Assembly, that

• The relevant section of the Internal Rules of Procedure regarding dismissal/expulsion be amended by removing the phrase:
  – “upon request of the Awareness Group”

• So that the provision shall read:
  – “Depending on the seriousness of the allegations, the EC may suspend someone from taking part in any FYEG structure or activity during the duration of the process. Confidentiality of the survivor will be maintained.”

• And that
  This amendment shall enter into force immediately upon adoption;

• And consequently that
  The relevant sections of the Internal Rules of Procedure be updated accordingly to ensure consistency across governing documents.

• Note:
  As the Statutes and IRPs are being amended, this resolution shall, where necessary, be interpreted in line with any adopted changes to ensure coherence throughout FYEG’s governance framework.

When discussing politics, we often reflect on the past, we analyse the present, and we envision a better future. However, in attempting to build this future, insufficient attention is paid to the basics, education and participation, thereby overlooking the material conditions in which children and young people develop. Across Europe, they are still not granted full access to the necessary means to thrive, both individually and collectively.

Education systems in Europe are not failing by accident: they are shaped by political choices. Insufficient and uneven funding, unequal access, disparities in educational standards across neighbourhoods, persistent social exclusion and the growing commodification of education reflect systemic priorities that place capitalist market logic above social justice and education. At the same time, these political decisions impede students from acquiring valuable knowledge for human development, including sexuality, emotional well-being, and democratic participation.

The first problem is that education can function both as a driver of inequality and as its most powerful remedy. Nonetheless, it currently reproduces existing social hierarchies. Whilst formal access to education is widely guaranteed across Europe, it remains deeply unequal in practice. Students from wealthier backgrounds benefit from structural advantages, such as private extra tuition, supportive learning environments and access to modern technological devices that enhance their learning, while others face systemic barriers that limit their opportunities and prospects from an early age.

Addressing these inequalities requires going beyond the classroom. In this sense, access to extracurricular activities, such as sports, arts, or language learning plays a key role in cognitive development, social integration, mental wellbeing and, ultimately, in the students' future. However, these opportunities are increasingly shaped by purchasing power, effectively excluding children from unprivileged backgrounds from spaces essential to their personal and social development, reinforcing class-based inequalities across generations.

A second problem is the lack of education on key aspects such as diversity, environmental and social values, and sex education. Against the far-right narrative that education must be reserved exclusively for parents, we argue that schools must not only teach knowledge and skills but also shape humans who can form a better society in co-education with parents. Inclusion and respect of all kinds of diversity are not fostered in all centers. Sex education and education on sexual diversity are still not widely implemented over the EU, and faces a conservative push against it. For instance, a recent policy under the Meloni government in Italy sought to ban sex education, ultimately restricting it to requiring parental consent. Sex education should be accessible to all and from a young age, starting with emotional awareness and consent, respecting each other and ourselves to give children the ability to communicate better and be respectful with each other.

A third issue is the lack of history education on recent developments and the origins of other countries and cultures. To better understand our society and the culture of every country, it would be vital to include the histories of native peoples worldwide. Focusing mainly on European history and neglecting native people‘s way of life leads to harmful and biased thinking. Addressing this requires teaching democratic values and respect for different cultures and origins.

A fourth issue is the lack of education on climate change in close connection with social justice. It is essential to teach children about nature, sustainability and respect for our planet and its fragile ecosystem to understand how nature and climate connect to social and climate justice. The lack of contact with nature among urban kids is also a health and education absence that must be solved.

A fifth issue is the persistent educational disparity between rural and urban areas across Europe. Students in rural regions often face limited access to specialised teachers, essential infrastructure, libraries, laboratories, and internet. Extracurricular activities such as sports clubs or arts programmes are scarce or absent, restricting both cognitive and social development. Furthermore, rural schools struggle to attract and retain qualified teachers due to their remote location, leading to higher staff turnover and interruptions in learning continuity. The lack of reliable public transport exacerbates these inequalities, forcing students to travel long distances to attend school. Across Europe, these structural barriers create a tangible gap in educational outcomes and future prospects between rural and urban students (without prejudice to the latter and the structural short of investment in them), reinforcing generational inequalities shaped by one’s dwelling.

A sixth issue is the working conditions of teachers, which affects the quality of education. Many educators are underpaid and face high workloads, leading to stress and a decline in educational quality. Having overburdened teachers with less time for lesson planning and student support affects learning outcomes. Teachers play a huge role in our system, and many issues have to be solved through broader family and work-life balance policies.

Lastly, education is not only about what is taught, but also about who has the power to shape decisions afterwards. Young people, despite being the primary subjects of education systems and deeply affected by political decisions, are still largely excluded from participation in governance. In around half of all European countries, student unions, youth councils and youth parliaments lack a solid legal basis, stable funding, and institutional recognition, reducing participation to a symbolic exercise dependent on political goodwill. This is not a failure of youth engagement, but of democratic structures that concentrate decision-making power and fail to ensure accountability when young people’s input is ignored. Without enforceable guarantees, inclusive access, and mechanisms that ensure follow-up and real impact, participation risks reproducing existing inequalities and undermining trust in democratic institutions. Ensuring that all young people have a legally recognised, adequately resourced, and genuinely influential role in shaping policies is therefore essential to building more a democratic and equitable future.

We call for attention to the uneven provision of education across Europe, including disparities in resources, extracurricular opportunities, teacher conditions, and gaps in instruction on diversity, social values, sexual education, climate, and social justice. These factors shape learning environments and determine students’ acquisition of the knowledge and skills necessary for personal growth and active participation in society.

CALL TO ACTION:

We call on the Council of Europe, European Union institutions, Member states and regional governments to:

• Invest in teacher training, affordable and high-quality school materials, and reduced student-teacher ratios.

• Ensure fair remuneration for teachers without unjustified disparities in line with national and regional contexts, alongside continuous training on diversity, history, climate and social justice, while protecting teachers’ access to unions.

• Guarantee youth participation in governance as a right, anchored in law through independent legally recognized youth representation bodies (student unions, youth parliaments, youth councils), adequate resources, inclusive access, and mandatory accountability in decision-making processes.

• Ensure the effective implementation of these rights through binding frameworks, including minimum standards for representation, stable public funding, legally recognized consultation on relevant policies and budgets, and clear obligations for public authorities to respond to and justify decisions in relation to youth input.

• Reform assessment systems by replacing traditional grading with fair and holistic evaluations that reflect students’ actual learning and development.

• Remove grade-based barriers to scholarships and traineeships to ensure students’ achievement of their full potential and professional aspirations. Use an alternative selection method such as applications based on motivation letters and an exam that doesn’t require specific preparation to avoid punishing disadvantaged students who cannot exclusively dedicate to studying.

• Create public, high-quality distance and flexible education for people who work at the same time they study at the same cost as in-person public degrees

• Provide funding for low-income candidates preparing civil service exams for top positions in public administrations, as they are usually covered by people from a privileged background, fueling inequality and causing institutions to be less representative of society.

• Ban unpaid internships and ensure curricular internships do not involve costs for students.

• Promote collaboration between schools across regions and countries. Allow children from low income families to access EU mobility and educational programmes such as Erasmus.

• Increase EU and Council of Europe funding for Erasmus+ activities and other kinds of short educational activities that help promote EU values, protection of the environment, human rights, etc.

• Fund extracurricular activities, including sports, arts, and language learning, to ensure equal access regardless of socioeconomic background.

• Address rural-regional disparities with tools such as the European Regional Development Funds, allocating resources to marginalised rural areas to reduce gaps in access and learning outcomes.

• Revise history curricula to avoid justification of previous crimes against human rights and prevent colonial views.

• Adapt schools to climate change by favoring natural presence around them to tackle rising temperatures and protect kids from excessive air pollution. Guarantee schools are well-equipped to be a safe and healthy learning environment which fosters well-being.

Noting that

• Section 3.2.3 (Exceptions) of the Internal Rules of Procedure (IRPs) outlines specific procedures applicable at the General Assembly;

• This section currently includes provisions for the Executive Committee elections and the Advisory Committee, but does not include the procedure for the selection of the volunteer member of the Awareness Team;

Recognising that

• The ratification of the volunteer member of the Awareness Team by the General Assembly requires a clear procedural basis within the IRPs;

• Aligning this process with existing exceptions (such as the Advisory Committee) ensures consistency, clarity, and proper implementation;

Believing that

• The inclusion of this procedure in the Exceptions section will strengthen transparency and democratic legitimacy;

• Establishing a clear and consistent rule will prevent future misinterpretations of the IRPs;

The Executive Committee requests, with the approval of the General Assembly, that

• Section 3.2.3 (Exceptions) of the Internal Rules of Procedure shall be amended by adding the following subsection:

• Concerning the Awareness Team: The outgoing Executive Committee will present the proposed volunteer member of the Awareness Team to the General Assembly. The General Assembly ratifies the proposed volunteer member of the Awareness Team by a simple majority vote;

• And that this amendment shall enter into force immediately upon adoption.

• And consequently that the relevant sections of the Internal Rules of Procedure be amended to reflect this updated, more democratic selection procedure;

• Note: As the Statutes and IRPs are being amended, this resolution shall, where necessary, be interpreted in line with any adopted changes to ensure consistency across governing documents.

Noting that

• The Internal Rules of Procedure (IRPs) currently define the Powers of the General Assembly in section 2.2;

• This section does not currently include the ratification of the volunteer member of the Awareness Team;

Recognising that

• The General Assembly should have a clear and formal role in ensuring democratic oversight of key positions within the organisation;

• The involvement of the General Assembly in the selection of the volunteer member of the Awareness Team strengthens transparency, legitimacy, and accountability;

Believing that

• The selection process for the Awareness Team should reflect the values of participation and democracy upheld by FYEG;

• Including this power explicitly in the IRPs ensures clarity and proper implementation of the newly adopted procedure;

The Executive Committee requests, with the approval of the General Assembly, that

• Section 2.2 (Powers) of the Internal Rules of Procedure shall be amended to include the following additional point:
  – the ratification of the proposed volunteer member of the Awareness Team, as presented by the outgoing Executive Committee, by a simple majority vote;

• And that this amendment shall enter into force immediately upon adoption.

• Note: This resolution shall be interpreted in line with any other adopted amendments to the Statutes and IRPs to ensure consistency across governing documents.

Noting that

• According to the 2025 Statutes and Internal Rules of Procedure (IRPs), the volunteer member of the Awareness Team is selected by the Executive Committee (EC);

• This has not been implemented for several years due to misinterpretations of the IRPs, resulting in both members of the Awareness Team being EC members;

Recognising that

• The Awareness Team plays a crucial role in ensuring safer spaces, trust, and accountability within our structures and activities;

• The involvement of the General Assembly in the selection process can strengthen legitimacy, transparency, and accountability;

• A more participatory and democratic process will increase trust in the Awareness Team and encourage broader engagement from member organisations and individuals;

Believing that

• The selection of the volunteer member of the Awareness Team should reflect FYEG’s core values of democracy, inclusivity, and transparency;

• Introducing General Assembly ratification will ensure wider ownership of the process while maintaining continuity and responsibility within the EC;

The Executive Committee requests, with the approval of the General Assembly, that

• The outgoing Executive Committee present the proposed volunteer member of the Awareness Team to the General Assembly;

• The General Assembly ratify the proposed volunteer member of the Awareness Team by a simple majority vote;

• The process for selecting this volunteer member be made more open, transparent, and participatory, including clear communication of the role and the possibility for interested candidates to express their interest in advance;

• And that this amendment shall enter into force immediately upon adoption.

• And consequently that the relevant sections of the Internal Rules of Procedure be amended to reflect this updated, more democratic selection procedure;

• Note: As the Statutes and IRPs are being amended, this resolution shall, where necessary, be interpreted in line with any adopted changes to ensure consistency across governing documents.

Noting that

• Across Europe, political dynamics are rapidly evolving, with increasing cooperation between green and progressive forces to counter the rise of far-right movements;

• Such cooperation has, in some cases, led to mergers or structural transformations of political parties;

• These developments can directly affect the status of their respective youth organisations within international federations;

Recognising that

• In cases of mergers or structural transformations, the European-level affiliation of the newly formed or transformed mother party may not align with the European Green Party;

• This may create uncertainty regarding the membership status of the corresponding youth organisation within the Federation of Young European Greens (FYEG);

• External decisions taken by third-party organisations should not automatically determine or undermine the internal membership decisions of FYEG;

Believing that

• FYEG must be able to act proactively to ensure stability, continuity, and political clarity within its federation;

• Protecting the membership status of youth organisations committed to green and progressive values is essential, especially in times of political realignment;

• The autonomy of FYEG in determining its own membership must be upheld against external pressures or indirect consequences of party-level decisions;

The Executive Committee requests, with the approval of the General Assembly, that

• The Internal Rules of Procedure be amended to allow the General Assembly, or between General Assemblies the Executive Committee acting by a qualified majority, to proactively confirm or adapt the membership status of a member organisation undergoing merger, dissolution, or structural transformation;

• Such decisions may be taken prior to the finalisation of external processes and shall take immediate effect;

• And that these decisions shall take effect immediately and shall be binding for all parties regardless of subsequent decisions made by third-party organisations

• And that this amendment shall enter into force immediately upon adoption.

• And consequently that the relevant sections of the Internal Rules of Procedure be amended to reflect this updated, more democratic selection procedure;

• Note: As the Statutes and IRPs are being amended, this resolution shall, where necessary, be interpreted in line with any adopted changes to ensure consistency across governing documents.