Young Eastern Europeans reflect on twenty years of EU membership

Students Julie Proftova, 20, and Rozalie Vorlova, 20, talk on the Forman brothers’ ship called Mystery Boat, Prague, Czech Republic, April 22, 2024. (Eva Korinkova/Reuters)

Born some 20 years ago when their countries joined the European Union, a group of young adults have grown up with rights and freedoms as citizens of the bloc who never knew their parents.

As a host of Central and Eastern European countries celebrate the anniversary of their accession on May 1, 2004, young Czechs, Poles and Estonians are reflecting on the impact of the EU on their lives and their vision of its future.

For the first time, this generation can vote in the European elections, which will be held between 6 and 9 June. Although they face a political landscape that has changed greatly from their parents’ communist days, opportunities are mixed with frustrations.

The far right is expected to make major gains in all corners of the continent, and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has brought war to its doorstep.

Damian Krajza, 19, is a farmer and local politician in the northeastern Polish city of Luka. “We have only seen one way of life… we have access to everything, it is easier for us to develop, easier to trade – thanks, among other things, to the European Union,” he said.

But Krajza believes that Eastern Europe is being treated differently by Brussels, without an equally strong voice. The EU’s environmental policies will harm the Polish economy, he believes – one of his motivations for entering local politics.

As states like Poland reduce coal mining, he believes developing countries will ramp up production to meet an energy-hungry global market. “We will destroy the economy, our economy, our industry, our heavy industry and agriculture in favor of pseudo-ecology.”

Meanwhile, in the capital Warsaw, 19-year-old student and city councilor Julia Klimkiewicz is embracing the opportunities she says the EU has offered her, including the ability to travel freely and take part in exchange programs.

But she also warns against blind enthusiasm for the EU and calls instead for critical engagement with its policies. She sees the need for a strengthened European army, especially in light of the war in Ukraine.

In Prague, 20-year-old student Rozalie Vorlova said she feared the Czech Republic could be vulnerable to Russian influence if it ever left the EU.

In Estonia, a country that was once part of the Soviet Union and today known for its vibrant startup scene, 20-year-old co-founder of storage startup BoxBox, Kevin Kaldalu, welcomed the grants available from the EU . He also emphasized the benefits of free trade within the bloc.

“We don’t really see borders… We see the EU as a whole, as one,” he said.

Krajza called on other young EU citizens to vote.

“Young people can have a huge influence on shaping EU policy, but they must be prepared to do so, go to the polling booths in the coming elections and vote for the right candidates or even be candidates themselves.”

(Reuters)