Y-Factor Project

In this episode of YEPs on the Ground, we’re joined by Lisa Jarmuth, a Young Elected Politician from Germany, whose work centers on social inclusion, gender equality, and empowering underrepresented voices in local and European politics.

From her role on the ground to her impact at the European Committee of the Regions, Lisa shares her thoughts on the structural barriers women and LGBTQIA+ communities face, the importance of mentorship and mental health initiatives, and the urgent need for inclusive policymaking. She also weighs in on the call for a binding EU-wide ban on conversion practices - and why she believes decisive action is long overdue.

This is a powerful, heartfelt episode on advocacy, allyship, and what it really takes to build communities where everyone belongs.

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In this episode of YEPs on the Ground, we’re joined by Lisa Jarmuth, a Young Elected Politician from Germany, whose work centers on social inclusion, gender equality, and empowering underrepresented voices in local and European politics.

From her role on the ground to her impact at the European Committee of the Regions, Lisa shares her thoughts on the structural barriers women and LGBTQIA+ communities face, the importance of mentorship and mental health initiatives, and the urgent need for inclusive policymaking. She also weighs in on the call for a binding EU-wide ban on conversion practices - and why she believes decisive action is long overdue.

This is a powerful, heartfelt episode on advocacy, allyship, and what it really takes to build communities where everyone belongs.

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In this special episode of YEPs on the Ground, we welcome Giulia Acha, a Young Elected Politician from France, representing the Renew Europe group in the European Committee of the Regions. With roots in Italy, Spain, and Serbia, Giulia offers a heartfelt perspective on what it means to grow up European - when your identity crosses borders.

We explore the personal and political power of the European flag, the emotional weight it carries in times of social tension, and what it means to serve as a voice for youth in an increasingly polarized world. Giulia also speaks candidly about navigating multicultural identity, resisting the pressure to "choose one homeland," and the need for the EU to foster inclusive spaces that go beyond labels.

This conversation dives deep into themes of belonging, coexistence, and how the next generation of leaders can reshape the European project through empathy, equity, and authenticity.

Tune in for a powerful reflection on identity, representation, and hope.

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In this episode of YEPs on the Ground, we’re joined by Kevin Cauchi, a former Young Elected Politician and current Member of the European Committee of the Regions for the EPP Group. Representing the picturesque island of Gozo, Malta, Kevin shares how local governance can be a powerful driver of change; especially when shaped by environmental awareness and island-specific realities.

We dive into his views on urban planning as a tool for sustainability, the challenges of island communities within the EU framework, and what the EU can do to better support territories like Gozo. Drawing from his personal journey from YEP to CoR Member, Kevin also offers inspiring advice for young Europeans looking to take their first steps in public life.

Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on regional leadership, environmental policy, and why proximity to citizens still matters in shaping Europe’s future.

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In this episode of the Y-Factor Podcast, we’re joined by Yuliia Darnyytska, a Young Elected Politician from Ukraine, and member of the Party of European Socialists (PES), whose work sits at the intersection of local governance, economic resilience, and social impact.

Drawing on her years of experience in local government and project management, Yuliia shares how strategic planning, international cooperation, and public-private partnerships can transform regional development. From infrastructure rebuilding to youth engagement and philanthropic action in the face of war, her story offers a powerful example of local leadership with European relevance.

We discuss how to turn community needs into tangible projects, how young people can drive sustainable economic growth, and what role the EU and local authorities play in supporting regions through crisis and recovery.

Tune in for a compelling episode on recovery, leadership, and youth-driven change.  

Yuliia's Linkledin: http://linkedin.com/in/yuliia-darnytska

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The Spring 2021 trainees of the European Committee of the Regions could not conclude their Y-Factor project on the European Year of Rail without a special episode on the Connecting Europe Express in Brussels, and the European Youth Event in Strasbourg.  When the Connecting Europe Express train arrived in Brussels after crossing multiple European countries and dozens of cities, we were joined by Mr Josef Doppelbauer, the Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Railways, to reflect on the challenges and potentials of the railway sector in the near future. We were also pleased to be joined by CoR member Mr Pascal Smet, serving as Secretary of State of the Brussels-Capital Region, who reflected with us on sustainable urban mobility with specific examples from the city of Brussels. 

After the Connecting Europe Express, we headed to Strasbourg to give a workshop, Getting on (train-)track, at the European Youth Event, where we were joined by Erasmus by Train, and virtually by the European Year of Rail Rapporteur, MEP Anna Deparnay Grunenberg (DE, Greens/EFA), MEP Mr Javi Lopez Fernandez (ES, S&D), and CoR member Mr Kieran McCarthy (IE, EA). 

Hear all about it in this special episode! 

See you in the many stops and stations around Europe!  

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Nowadays, most Erasmus students take the plane to travel to and from their Erasmus locations since in most cases it is cheaper and faster than train and organizations like the Erasmus Student Network keep collaborating with airlines like Ryanair. The non-profit organization Erasmus by Train was founded in 2020 with the aim of reverting this trend. The organization, composed of around 20 German students, is appealing to the European Commission to provide each Erasmus student with a free Interrail ticket.  

Tatjana Söding, student of MS in Human Ecology at Lund University and member of Erasmus by Train, joins this 8th and last episode of Next Stop to tell us more about the initiative. She stresses that “when taking the time to travel to and from your exchange location by train, the journey itself becomes part of the exchange experience."

To conclude, we, the Spring 2021 trainees of the European Committee of the Regions, would like to thank you, all our listeners, for joining us in this journey around the EU railway world and we would like to encourage you to engage in the European Year of the Rail initiatives such as the Connecting Europe Express, which will start next September in Lisbon. 

This is the Last Stop. Please get off the train and visit us soon again!

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Despite train is one of the most sustainable ways of transport, in many cases it is not economically competitive compared to other more polluting means of transport. In this seventh episode of Next Stop, we discuss with Alberto Mazzola, Executive Director of the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), the behavioural changes that are needed to make train more attractive to EU citizens. 

In many countries it is still more affordable to use private cars than public transport. Thus, Mazzola highlights that it is crucial to redefine the charging system of the different modes of transport to ensure that all of them cover their external costs such as CO2 emissions or the deterioration of infrastructures. Intermodality and the integration of different modes of transport are some of the other key elements in promoting the transition towards a more sustainable way of moving around.

Livia Spera, from the European Transport Workers Federation (ETF), joins our seventh episode to talk about how the workforce of the railway sector has changed over the years and how to attract new workers, especially young people and women.  

And finally, do not miss the last stop of our Pop Wagon!

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The European railway system is still far away from being accessible to everyone: People with disabilities face different types of barriers which stop them from being able to travel by rail spontaneously and independently. Kamil Goungor, travel blogger, activist for the rights of people with disabilities, development officer for the European Network on Independent Living and member of the European Disability Forum, joins our sixth episode to discuss about the challenges that people with disabilities face when travelling by train. 

When we talk of accessibility in trains, we mainly think about physical barriers, but Kamil points out many other obstacles that make it complicate for people with disabilities to travel independently and spontaneously: having to book assistance 24 or 48 hours in advance or no possibility to travel with other wheelchair users because of the lack of adapted space are some of them. Laura Alčiauskaitė, tells us more about the project TRIPS of the European Network on Independent Living, which she coordinates, aimed at making the transport in seven European cities – Brussels, Stockholm, Sofia, Bologna, Cagliari, Lisbon and Zagreb – more accessible for everyone. 

Did you know that in the 19th century, some critics of the early locomotives were afraid that women's uterus would fly out of their bodies as they were accelerated to the speed of 50 miles an hour? Get on board, we'll take you journey that is accessible to everybody!  

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Connecting Europe Express is one of the most emblematic initiatives of the European Year of the Rail. In autumn, this train will cross Europe, from Lisbon to Athens, Warsaw, Stockholm, and finally Paris, via more than 40 cities in 26 different European countries. Herald Ruijters, Director of the Directorate for Investments, Innovative and Sustainable Transport in the DG MOVE of the European Commission, joins our fifth episode to tell us more about this initiative, aimed to connecting citizens, strengthen territorial cohesion and promoting the use of rail in cross-border journeys. 

Trains are the perfect substitutes for short distance flights but for making them competitive and attractive to people, it is crucial to improve the cross-border railway connections and to create a truly integrated European railway network. This is the objective of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), some of whose projects -like the train connecting the Baltic states with Poland or Lisbon with Madrid and France-  will see the light during the second half of this decade. 

With Slaven Klobucar, from the The European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation of the CoR, we discuss about the importance of getting public entities from different territories together in order to overcome common obstacles, share experiences and facilitate cooperation. 

Did you know that the pioneers of electronic music, the German band Kraftwerk, named one of his albums after the mythic first-class train founded in 1957 that during four decades connected 130 cities in Europe: The Trans Europe Express? Get on board, we'll take you on a 20.000 km journey through the continent, from Portugal to Estonia, via almost 30 countries!  

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