The European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) took place in Brussels on 26–27 May 2026. EuroDIG is an open, multi‑stakeholder platform for exchanging views on Internet governance, fostering dialogue and cooperation on Internet‑related public policy.
The theme of EuroDIG 2026 was “European Voices for the Future of the Internet – the Beginning of a New Internet Governance Era.” Hosted by EURid, the .eu domain registry, with support from the European Commission, the event also marked 20 years of .eu as a trusted digital identity.
Among the many European voices shaping the future of the Internet, youth stood out. Young people are key stakeholders in Internet governance, as recognised in the WSIS+20 review process.
The Youth Dialogue on Internet Governance (YOUthDIG), a pre‑event to EuroDIG, gives young people across Europe the opportunity to participate in the Internet governance ecosystem and focus on topics important to them.
Young participants aged 18 to 30 from across the pan‑European region, with a strong interest in Internet governance, digital policy and international cooperation, worked together to draft and advocate for youth messages. The 2026 YOUthDIG Messages stress that Internet governance is inseparable from social and environmental justice and from the broader goal of strengthening democratic resilience.
The Council of Europe’s participation in both EuroDIG and YOUthDIG reaffirms that human rights, democracy and the rule of law are fundamental pillars of Internet governance, which is not solely a technological issue.
As a long‑standing partner and stakeholder in EuroDIG, the Council of Europe contributes extensive expertise across digital governance, including artificial intelligence, data protection, media and the information society, cybercrime, combating discrimination and online gender‑based violence, justice digitalisation and training of legal professionals, democratic resilience, and youth participation.
The youth perspective means ensuring that young people’s voices, experiences and ideas are meaningfully reflected in the decisions that shape our societies. It requires listening to young people’s needs, priorities and aspirations for the future. This perspective builds on the Council of Europe’s principle of co‑management and the work of its Youth Department and institutions, including the European Youth Centres and the European Youth Foundation, which continue to develop practices, benchmarks and standards for youth policy and youth work across Europe.
