{
    "title": "Thank you for this year \u2764\ufe0f Keep shaping Europe with us",
    "modified_at": "2026-05-19 16:19:17",
    "published_at": "2026-05-19 15:08:00",
    "url": "https://pes-group-newsroom.prezly.com/thank-you-for-this-year-keep-shaping-europe-with-us",
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    "slug": "thank-you-for-this-year-keep-shaping-europe-with-us",
    "body": "<p>Dear young local leaders,</p><p>As the 2025&ndash;2026 edition of the <strong>Young Elected Politicians Programme (YEP) </strong>comes to an end, we would like to sincerely thank you for being part of this journey with the<strong> PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions</strong>.</p><p>Over the past year, it has been a pleasure to exchange ideas, learn together and strengthen our progressive network across Europe. From the European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels to the School of Young Elected Leaders in Las Palmas, you brought energy, creativity and commitment to every discussion and activity.</p><p>Together, we explored how local and regional leaders can shape a more social, democratic and sustainable Europe, and we are proud to have shared these experiences with you.</p><p>\ud83d\udcf8 You can relive some of these moments in our <a href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/pes_cor/albums/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Flickr albums</strong></a> from the year, including highlights from <a href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/pes_cor/albums/72177720331320206\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Las Palmas</strong></a> and the <a href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/pes_cor/albums/72177720329652160/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>European Week of Regions and Cities</strong></a>.</p><p>\ud83c\udfa5 Some of you also helped bring our political messages to life through Instagram videos and social media collaborations, thank you for sharing your voices, ideas and local perspectives with our wider community.</p><div class=\"release-content-embed release-content-embed--rich release-content-embed--contained\" id=\"embed-9be5fb28-bfcc-4381-8cf2-8d4b34fe1f90\"><div style=\"max-width: 660px;\"><div style=\"left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 63%; padding-top: 284px;\"><iframe data-iframely-url=\"https://iframely.net/api/iframe?app=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Freel%2FDVk_6DmCCVK%2F%3Futm_source%3Dig_web_copy_link%26igsh%3DMzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D%23_cb1779199566&key=8fe6cdec03482ac31f27a6ae8ea2fb3f\" style=\"top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;\" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div><script async src=\"https://iframely.net/embed.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script></div><p>Although your official <strong>YEP year</strong> is coming to an end,<strong> this is definitely not goodbye</strong>. You remain an important part of our <strong>PES Young Local Leaders Network,</strong> and we warmly encourage you to stay involved in the many activities and opportunities ahead.</p><hr /><h3 id=\"join-now-our-network-of-young-progressive-local-and-regional-leaders\" ><strong>\ud83d\udce2 Join now our network of young progressive local and regional leaders!</strong></h3><p>More than 700 young leaders from all over Europe are part of the PES Young Local Leaders Network. Now it&#039;s your turn!</p>\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-center\"\n        data-component=\"image-zoom-popup\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-selector=\".release-content-image__image\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-i18n=\"data:application/json;base64,eyJEb3dubG9hZCI6IkRvd25sb2FkIn0=\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-views-event=\"Story Image View\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-tracking-download-event=\"Story Image Download\"\n        data-image-zoom-popup-placement=\"content\"\n    >\n        <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover\" style=\"width: 100%\">\n            <img\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/a1443543-1b5a-49a4-a799-856edbbfb2e5/-/format/auto/\"\n                                class=\"release-content-image__image image-thumbnail-rollover__image\"\n                data-description=\"\"\n                id=\"image-a1443543-1b5a-49a4-a799-856edbbfb2e5\"\n                data-id=\"a1443543-1b5a-49a4-a799-856edbbfb2e5\"\n                data-original=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/a1443543-1b5a-49a4-a799-856edbbfb2e5/-/inline/no/General+Group+for+the+Network+%281%29.png\"\n                data-mfp-src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/a1443543-1b5a-49a4-a799-856edbbfb2e5/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"Story image\"\n            />\n            <div class=\"image-thumbnail-rollover__caption\">\n                <svg class=\"icon icon-expand image-thumbnail-rollover__caption-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-expand\"></use>\n            </svg>            </div>\n        </div>\n\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\"></figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<h4 id=\"political-debates-school-of-young-elected-politicians-and-campaigns\" ><strong>Political debates, School of Young Elected Politicians, and campaigns&nbsp;</strong></h4><p>Each year, we organise events to bring together our members and other progressive local and regional politicians from across the EU, to which we invite young leaders like you as speakers and participants to contribute with their ideas and share their experiences. You can find all the past events<strong>&nbsp;</strong><a href=\"https://pes.cor.europa.eu/all-events\"><strong>via this link</strong></a>&nbsp;and new ones will be published soon.</p><hr /><h3 id=\"join-the-eu-councillors-network\" ><strong>Join the EU Councillors Network</strong></h3><p>Apply to be part of the <a href=\"https://cor.europa.eu/en/engage/Pages/Network-of-Regional-and-Local-EU-Councillors.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>network</strong></a> managed by the European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission. \u200b Take this opportunity to stay updated with European laws, funding programmes and debates. <a href=\"https://eu-local-councillors.europa.eu/join-eu-local-councillors-network_en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Apply here</strong></a></p>\n    <figure\n        class=\"release-content-image release-content-image--contained release-content-image--align-center\"\n    >\n        <a class=\"release-content-image__link\"\n           id=\"image-9cdf7219-7bb7-4808-afe2-8ca4bc5a925b\"\n           href=\"https://eu-local-councillors.europa.eu/join-eu-local-councillors-network_en\"\n           data-id=\"9cdf7219-7bb7-4808-afe2-8ca4bc5a925b\"\n           data-track=\"Story Image View\"\n           data-placement=\"content\"\n                            target=\"_blank\"\n                rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n                       style=\"width: 100%\"\n        >\n            <img\n                class=\"release-content-image__image\"\n                src=\"https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/9cdf7219-7bb7-4808-afe2-8ca4bc5a925b/-/resize/1200x/-/format/auto/\"\n                alt=\"\"\n                            >\n        </a>\n        <figcaption class=\"release-content-image__caption\"></figcaption>\n    </figure>\n<hr /><h3 id=\"be-social-and-engaged\" >\ud83d\udd25 <strong>Be social and engaged!</strong></h3><p>Follow, share your experience and activities as young politicians, and tag us on:</p><ul class=\"release-content-list release-content-list--bulleted release-content-list--align-inherit\"><li><span><strong>Instagram</strong> <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/pes_cor/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>@pes_cor</strong></a></span></li><li><span><strong>Twitter</strong>: <a href=\"https://x.com/PES_CoR\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>@PES_CoR</strong></a></span></li><li><span><strong>Facebook</strong>: <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/pescor.eu/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions</strong></a></span></li><li><span><strong>Linkedin</strong>: <a href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/company/pes-group-in-the-european-committee-of-the-regions/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions</strong></a></span></li><li><span><strong>TikToK</strong> <a href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@pes_cor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>PES Group in the CoR (@pes_cor)</strong></a></span></li></ul><hr /><p>We hope this experience was only the beginning of your engagement within our progressive European family. We are looking forward to following your work, your ideas and your political journey in the years ahead.</p><p>Thank you once again for your enthusiasm, solidarity and commitment.</p><p>See you soon \u270a\ud83c\udf39</p><p>The PES Group Team</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>",
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