As Europe stands at a crossroads, Central and Eastern Europe’s role remains too undervalued in policy discussions. Young liberals bring valuable perspectives and solutions, and want to be included in shaping the response to the current challenges affecting this strategic region.
The “Future in Focus” position paper, created at the Eastern Europe Summit in Gdańsk, Poland, on August 22 to 24, 2025 by young liberals from across Europe, particularly from Central and Eastern Europe, and published by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Central Europe, marks an important outline of the young generation’s vision regarding the alarming challenges facing the region. These include the growing and persistent authoritarian tendencies that affect populations today and will shape generations to come, the Baltic Sea’s role as a strategic battleground with related cyber, energy, and security challenges, and Poland’s growing role in this era of uncertainty as a stable partner for other European nations.
Bearing in mind the still ongoing full-scale war in Ukraine, along with other threats, and especially constant hybrid attacks not only on EU candidate states such as Moldova but also on EU and NATO members from Romania to the Baltic states, young liberals call for further strengthening of the region’s security.
From GPS jamming to the cutting of underwater cables and possible sabotage of gas pipelines, the Baltic Sea has transformed from a safe maritime pathway into a high-tension grey-zone battleground. The states bordering the Baltic Sea cannot be left alone to face this security threat. It is crucial for the prosperity of the region to protect its infrastructure, not only by strengthening NATO’s presence but also by fully implementing the EU Action Plan on Submarine Cables. The EU and NATO need to work together to find better ways of responding to Russia’s hybrid attacks. Serious investments in naval power and military infrastructure around the Baltic Sea, as well as the continuation of surveillance efforts such as the Baltic Sentry, are also essential.
Furthermore, young liberals demand that young people be included more in decision-making processes, as this allows political systems to benefit from wider perspectives that can enrich the understanding of today’s challenges. However, for young people to be meaningfully included, they must first be supported by real means, which means ensuring sustainable funding and a free environment for NGOs and youth organisations to operate and grow.
Young people and civil society in states where democracy is under attack, such as Georgia, must be provided with support for free and independent media outlets. At the same time, within the EU, it remains crucial to ensure that effective and working mechanisms are in place to prevent member states from violating the Union’s values, especially with regard to the rule of law, not only in principle but also in practice.
Lastly, Poland plays a pivotal role in today’s political landscape; a dynamic country divided along political lines, yet united in confronting the security threat from Russia. Therefore, young liberals believe that Poland should play an even stronger role in Europe, especially by being included in major international decision-making circles to ensure that Central and Eastern Europe is represented in shaping Europe’s future, especially in peace talks concerning Ukraine and post-war reconstruction. Poland should also continue supporting EU candidate states in their accession processes, setting a positive example for others in the region and serving as a bridge between Eastern and Central European states and Western Europe through initiatives such as the Weimar Triangle.
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