Chisinau finalist in the running for the title of European Youth Capital 2028

Chisinau has been selected in the shortlist of five finalist cities for the title of European Youth Capital 2028, joining a large-scale competition that aims to promote the active involvement of young people in community life, peace-building and sustainable development. Under the slogan “ChisiNOW: Youth for Peace, Securing our Future”, the Moldovan capital is preparing intensively for the final stage of the selection.

The coordination of the application process is carried out by the National Youth Council of Moldova (CNTM), in partnership with the Chisinau Municipal Youth Center and the Chisinau City Hall. They are currently working on the development of the extended application, a strategic document that will reflect the needs, aspirations and potential of young people in the capital.

One of the key components of this approach is direct and continuous consultation with young people. Recently, at the Chisinau Municipal Youth Forum, more than a hundred young people were invited to contribute with ideas and suggestions on Chisinau’s future as European Youth Capital. The discussions were facilitated by Igor Ciurea, an expert affiliated to the bid team, and Roman Banari, Secretary General of CNTM.

Topics discussed included:

• How can the European Capital of Youth program become more participatory and inclusive;
• What themes are key for young people in 2028 and who bears the responsibility for their realization – young people or authorities;
• What types of actions and partnerships are needed to support Chisinau’s bid.

The application process is built on a participatory model, and the organizers encourage the involvement of all actors in the youth sector – from non-governmental organizations, informal networks and initiative groups to public institutions and academia.

According to the application team, winning the title would mean more than just European recognition: it would represent a real opportunity to transform Chisinau into a city that invests strategically in young people, a space of peace, cohesion and sustainable development.

READ ALSO: Chisinau is a finalist in the “European Youth Capital 2028” competition

The title of European Youth Capital is awarded annually by the European Youth Forum and the winning city benefits from international visibility, funding for youth projects and support in implementing innovative youth policies.

The 2028 winner is to be announced this fall. Until then, Chisinau continues to mobilize its resources and community to convince Europe that it deserves the title.

Chisinau has the chance to become a European model of civic engagement and innovation for young people – and the future also depends on the contribution of each and every one of us.