The Torrevieja Socialist Youth (Juventudes Socialistas de Torrevieja) have taken part in the first edition of the “La respuesta es Europa” (The Answer is Europe) Youth Campus held at the European Parliament. Nuria Martí de Oro, Secretary General, and Julia Manzanares Ribeiro, Secretary of Organisation of the Torrevieja branch, represented the local group during the event in Brussels on 11 and 12 June. The campus was organised by the Spanish Socialist Delegation in the European Parliament.
The event brought together nearly 200 young people from across Spain at the European Parliament. Attendees were welcomed by Javier Moreno Sánchez, President of the Spanish Socialist Delegation in the European Parliament, and Iratxe García Pérez, President of the Socialists and Democrats (S and D) Group. Participants were divided into various working groups coordinated by S and D Group MEPs.
The first day opened with a plenary session titled “Multilateralism, peace and progressive leadership in a fragmented world”, featuring Leire Pajín, MEP and Vice-President of the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly, alongside former EU High Representative Javier Solana and Giacomo Filibeck, Secretary General of the Party of European Socialists. Following this, attendees split into four thematic forums under the slogan “For a green, progressive and competitive Europe”. The discussions covered the reactionary threat and the defence of progressive values, the green agenda and sustainable mobility, European economy and security, and digital democracy, algorithms and disinformation.
The second day focused on practical workshops regarding political influence strategies in Brussels, split into four specific areas. These included European housing challenges with MEP Alicia Homs; the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) with Cristina Maestre, where the Torrevieja delegation participated; the future of cohesion with Marcos Ros; and European innovation with Lina Gálvez Muñoz. The campus concluded with a plenary simulation and closing remarks by Javi López, Vice-President of the European Parliament.
The Torrevieja representatives were integrated into a 12-person group coordinated by Leire Pajín, mostly consisting of members from the Valencian Community. During the forum on progressive values, the group debated European migration policy and the Rwanda Plan, feminism as a core progressive pillar, and the fight against disinformation.
In the agricultural workshop, Torrevieja representative Nuria Martí de Oro raised a technical question regarding whether organoleptic testing is planned for imported products, noting that differing soil characteristics and seasonality could mean import qualities differ from national products.
Reflecting on the event, Julia Manzanares Ribeiro stated that the experience exceeded expectations, providing an opportunity to debate European politics firsthand and connect with other progressive youth. The Juventudes Socialistas de Torrevieja expressed their gratitude to Leire Pajín, the Spanish Socialist Delegation, and the fellow young participants for the educational and collaborative experience.
