EU-US Young Leaders Seminar
A unique opportunity for young leaders to discuss some of the most important issues facing both sides of the Atlantic and to create strong, transatlantic people-to-people connections.The event, co-financed by the European Commission and the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, represents a unique opportunity for young leaders from US- and EU-funded educational exchange programs to discuss some of the most important issues facing both sides of the Atlantic and to create strong, transatlantic people-to-people connections.
Since its inception, over 450 alumni of US- and EU-funded educational exchange programs have participated in the Young Leaders Seminar. Participants are chosen from alumni and current beneficiaries of the EU’s Erasmus+ and Marie Sklodowska-Curie programs or nominated by US Fulbright Commissions. Previous iterations of the seminar have focused on topics such as the future of work; the global security implications of climate changes; and the future of cities.
The ninth edition of the EU-US Young Leaders Seminar took place in person March 23-25, 2026, in Brussels and focused on “The Future of Skills and Leadership".
To read more about the US Fulbright Commissions involvement in this project, click here.
EU-US Young Leaders Seminars
Between March 23-26, the ninth edition brought together 50 beneficiaries of EU and U.S.-funded education exchange programs. Participants learned about and discussed the changing skills landscape and its implications for education systems and labor market demand. The attendees engaged in expert and peer exchange through panels, workshops and a simulated learning exercise.
From May 12-14, the eighth edition gathered 50 beneficiaries of EU and U.S. funded education exchange programs for three days of panels, expert conversations, and peer discussions on the opportunities and challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
From March 20-23, the seventh edition gathered 50 post-graduates in Brussels for several days of panel discussions, participant-led group work, and an advocacy workshop. With global warming events and escalating armed conflicts worldwide, the theme "The Security Implications of Climate Change" could not have been more pertinent.
In April, the sixth edition, welcomed some esteemed guest speakers: the Chair of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, Donna Brazile and First Vice-President of the European Parliament, Othmar Karas. The impressive agenda and speakers created a memorable and unique experience for participants. The group of 25 alumni from the EU Erasmus and Marie Sklodowska-Curie programmes and 25 current U.S. Fulbright Scholars came together to discuss “Active Civic Participation”.
In April, fifty young transatlantic leaders gathered in Brussels, Belgium, for the fifth edition. Over the course of three days, against the backdrop of the European Union and the United States jointly addressing Vladimir Putin’s aggression in Ukraine, this year’s diverse group participated in timely discussions and interactive workshops focusing on the future of democracy.
The annual EU-US Young Leaders Seminar is co-organized by the Delegation of the European Union to the United States, the US Department of State, the German Marshall Fund of the United States, the Fulbright Commission in Brussels, and the Directorate-General for Education and Culture of the European Commission.
This seminar is jointly funded by the European Union and the U.S. Department of State.
If you have any questions, please contact Annika Vollmer at [email protected].