Child and adult Board members came together for their 7th meeting in Brussels from 12-13 October 2025. We welcomed four new young members and bid a fond farewell to four others.
Day 1: Preparation
Our young members discuss, ask questions, and understand how the different parts of the meeting will work. They also decide who will co-chair the meeting, speak on a certain subject or help run an activity.
They are not passive participants, but actively help scope how the meeting runs and what parts they would like to do themselves.
Most of them are not native English speakers, so having this preparation time also helps to ensure everyone understands the English words and terms used and is comfortable speaking.
The group also get to know each other and bond as a team! On day one, this was helped along by spending time together in games, activities, a visit to the Museum of Illusions, and a group dinner.
Day 2: Into action!
The day was broken into two parts: a meeting between our young Board members and Commissioner Glenn Micallef, and the main Board meeting together with adult members.
Meeting with Commissioner Micallef
The conversation focused on two main subjects:
- Culture: There was a group quiz about EU culture and the Commissioner and children had an exchange about the importance of culture and what the EU is doing, including:
- Why art is important
- Art and culture in schools
- Support to young/new artists so they can focus on their creative work
- Importance of exchanges/trips for children and young people to meet and get to know different cultures
- The Commissioner presented the Discover EU rail travel program for 18-year-olds
- Cyberbullying: Based on the first results from the Platform's survey on cyberbullying, the children put together three statements for a group debate with the Commissioner.
- There should be stronger consequences for children who cyberbully, and their parents/carers
- Access to social media should be blocked for young people until the age of 18
- Anti-cyberbullying lessons should be compulsory at schools
There were also discussions about the Call to Action and a general quiz with the Commissioner to find out more about him and his job at the Commission. The Commissioner then presented certificates to Daniel, Helena, Javier and Tea to thank them for their work with the Board, as this was their last participation.
Afterwards, five children visited the Commission's sound studio to record voice overs for a video to celebrate the International Day of the Child in November.
The Board meeting
Adult members joined for the formal Board meeting, which included:
- Review of recent activities (Irish study visit, General Assembly meeting, Call to Action)
- Review of upcoming/ongoing activities (first peer visit at the 2025 Safer Internet Forum, next study visit, cyberbullying and social inclusion surveys)
- Reflection and celebration of experiences on the Board. Farewell to leaving child members and welcome to Barbora, Diego, Greta and Srna!
- Consultation on the next phase of the Platform
A full report of key points in the discussion with the Commissioner and outcomes of the Board discussions will be published soon.
See the photos