CESI's project "Youth and the unions: an example of participation in democratic life" focuses on the issue of youth involvement in trade unions in Europe. This action is intended to contribute to promoting a more active participation of young people in democratic life in general, and, more specifically, given CESI’s role as European social partner, to boosting young people’s participation in trade-unions’ work which is an important form of democratic commitment and participation. To this end a dialogue will be established between young trade-unionists and experts/decision-makers, aiming at elaborating practical recommendations on how to better and further integrate young people into democratic life, especially through trade-union commitment.Indeed, trade unions, as social partners, have a fundamental role in advising on issues related to employment, defending workers' rights and are more generally important promoters of democracy in the EU. That being said, unions in all sectors and in all countries are aging and losing their appeal, especially among young people. Nonetheless, our society needs the creativity and energy of youth. This is even more true in this time of crisis where youth unemployment rate in some Member States is not far from 50 percent. We cannot let an entire generation out of the social and democratic life without risking dramatic consequences for the entire society on the long term basis. Trade Unions' action is a very important example of participation in a democratic life. It is also an example of "youth empowerment", the current main topic of the European Structured Dialogue with young people. Involvement of young people in trade unions is namely a way for them to participate and get engaged in the civil society. For all these reasons CESI, with the expertise of its youth structure called "CESI Youth", has conceived this project in order to lead a discussion among young trade-unionists, experts and decision-makers on youth participation into democratic life in general, and, more specifically, into trade-union work in Europe.Around thirty young trade unionists - mostly public sector employees – coming from CESI member organisations from different EU countries, will gather in Brussels for two days. The first day will be divided into two parts: in the morning an interactive seminar will take place with the participation of European experts and policy makers; the afternoon will be devoted to group activities. Each group will discuss strategies to raise awareness on the political participation and trade-union commitment among young people, and will define key recommendations for young people and decision-makers at local, regional, national, European level. The second half-day will be devoted to an educational visit of the European Parliament, a strong symbol of citizens’ participation in the democratic life of the European Union, combined with a meeting with a MEP member of the EMPL Committee in charge of youth issues and youth employment policies, and/or a MEP of the CULT Committee, as well as a MEP member of the Youth Intergroup. The aim of this meeting is to have a debate on how to better and further integrate young people into democratic life through trade-union commitment and especially discuss the key recommendations drafted by CESI young trade-unionists during the seminar.Following this debates at different levels, CESI will issue a sort of “manifesto” gathering the key recommendations for an active youth participation in democratic and trade-union life in Europe.This document will be presented and promoted on the occasion of meetings between government representatives and trade-unionists at the national level (through CESI member organisations), as well as meetings between CESI Youth representatives and decision-makers at the European level (representatives of the European Commission’s DG EMPL and DG EAC, and MEPs of the EMPL and CULT Committees).This “manifesto” with key recommendations will also be published on CESI’s website, CESI Youth Facebook page and on websites and magazines of CESI’s different member organisations. Last, but not least, it will be promoted on the occasion of the European Youth Event (“EYE 2016”) in Strasbourg and spread by the European Youth Forum, through the "Weekly Courier", sent to more than 99 Youth Organisations. Through this project, young trade unionists will become actors of change, active promoters of a renovation of trade unions and will raise awareness on the rights of their generation. Listening to young people and encouraging their participation at all levels- will be the key in reacting to their needs in a rapidly changing society going through a hard economic and social crisis.