Press Release | Meet the new EYL40 Class of 2022!

Meet the next generation of young leaders shaping Europe’s future in our new European Young Leaders (EYL40) programme.

Brussels-based think tank, Friends of Europe, is delighted to introduce you to this year’s class of European young leaders. Their passion, creativity and innovative thinking create the perfect formula for generating fresh ideas to build a more forward-thinking Europe.

Editors-in-chief of pioneering publications, a humanitarian doctor, politicians from all levels of government, an actress featured on Netflix, a knighted scholar, as well as innovators leading the green digital transition make up this year’s EYL40 Class of 2022. From champions of the arts and tech entrepreneurs, to leading activists and Olympic athletes, meet all our new European young leaders.

Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, the EYL40 programme connects high-flying young leaders from the 27 EU countries, the United Kingdom and the six Western Balkan countries, to build bonds across nationalities, areas of expertise, as well as different political and ideological viewpoints.

Co-Founder and Secretary-General of Friends of Europe, Geert Cami states:
“For this 10th anniversary of the EYL40 programme, we are delighted to announce an extraordinary class of true trailblazers and ambassadors of European leadership. We look forward to welcoming and working with this new class of young leaders in our mission to catalyse change and tackling key challenges of the 21st century, from the green and digital transformation to strengthening our democracy.”

The EYL40 Class of 2022 includes: Adwoa Aboah, Model and Founder of mental health organisation, Gurls Talk; Justas Janauskas, Co-Founder of Vinted, Lithuania’s first unicorn start-up; writer, educator and advocate Sinéad Burke; Melisa Erkurt, Founder of Die Chefredaktion, an Instagram-based medium that produces diverse journalism; Benjamina Karić, Mayor of Sarajevo; grassroots youth activist and trade unionist Tea Jaric; Witold Bańka, President of the World Anti-Doping Agency; Paolo Petrocelli, Director-General of the Stauffer Center for String; Michal Šimečka, the first Slovak politician to serve as Vice-President of the European Parliament; Andrea Fernández Benéitez, Spanish parliamentarian and Secretary of Equality for the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE); and French filmmaker Maïmouna Doucouré, among others.

Meet the entire EYL40 Class of 2022.

Learn more about the EYL40 programme.

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Contact us should you wish to interview any of the European Young Leaders.

CONTACT
Tracey D’Afters
Director, Communication & Events,
Friends of Europe
T: +32 (0) 473 375651
E: tracey.dafters@friendsofeurope.org