Europe is losing its own people.

Every year, thousands of Europe’s brightest researchers, entrepreneurs, innovators and highly skilled young professionals leave their regions or leave Europe altogether in search of better opportunities. From Southern and Eastern Europe to North America and Asia, the brain drain continues to weaken our economies, deepen territorial inequalities and undermine our long-term competitiveness.

At the same time, Europe is falling behind in the global race for talent. While countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia actively compete for the world’s best minds, the European Union still struggles to attract and retain highly skilled workers and international graduates.

This is one of Europe’s greatest strategic vulnerabilities.

If we are serious about Europe’s future, our priority should be to keep talent in Europe and attract new talent from around the world.

Instead of spending political capital and taxpayers’ money on legally uncertain and operationally questionable offshore detention schemes, the European Union should strengthen initiatives such as Choose Europe, invest massively in quality jobs, affordable housing, education, research and innovation, and build a genuine strategy to attract talents from the United States, South Korea, Japan and other partner countries.

Europe needs an effective, orderly and credible migration policy. It needs efficient return procedures and a functioning asylum system. But Young Democrats for Europe firmly opposes the creation of so-called “return hubs” outside the European Union.

These centres risk creating legal loopholes and accountability gaps, raise serious concerns regarding the protection of fundamental rights and are particularly unsafe for vulnerable groups, including unaccompanied minors.

Moreover, there is little evidence that such schemes actually work.

The Italian facilities in Albania have already shown the limits of this approach: legal challenges, operational difficulties, very limited results and enormous costs for taxpayers. Europe deserves policies that are effective and evidence-based, not expensive political theatre designed to produce headlines.

Security and humanity are not contradictory.

Europe can protect its borders while upholding human dignity, the rule of law and its international obligations. The answer to citizens’ legitimate concerns about migration cannot be the normalisation of legal grey zones or the outsourcing of responsibilities to third countries.

We are proud of the Members of the European Parliament from the European Democratic Party (EDP) and Renew Europe, including our Secretary General Sandro Gozi, who voted against these provisions and defended a Europe that remains both secure and faithful to its values.

Yesterday, some celebrated this vote by chanting:

“Send them back.”

Our answer is different.

Send back the politics of fear. Send back the illusion that Europe can outsource its responsibilities. Send back the idea that our values are a weakness rather than our greatest strength.

And above all, let us stop sending our own talents away.

The Europe we believe in does not deport its problems abroad while exporting its brightest minds. It invests in people, creates opportunities, attracts talent and protects fundamental rights.

This is the Europe that Young Democrats for Europe will continue to fight for in every country, every election and every institution.

And if something must be sent back, it should be the far-right ideas that seek to divide our societies and diminish our Union. We will work, with pro-European, humanistic and pragmatic policies, to send them back where they belong: back in the polls and out of the centre of European decision-making.

*Because Europe’s future will not be built on fear.

It will be built on talent, dignity and hope.*

A nome dei Giovani del Partito Democratico Europeo, e in qualità di Vicepresidente e Portavoce, desidero rivolgere a Pina Picierno il nostro più caloroso benvenuto e le nostre più sincere congratulazioni per il suo ingresso nella famiglia democratica europea.
Per noi non si tratta semplicemente di una nuova adesione politica. È il ritorno a casa di una delle voci più autorevoli, coraggiose e autenticamente europeiste del nostro tempo.
Le parole con cui la Vicepresidente del Parlamento europeo ha spiegato la sua scelta raccontano perfettamente la sfida che il riformismo è chiamato ad affrontare oggi:
“Il riformismo non nasce per custodire una comunità. Nasce per misurarsi con la realtà, soprattutto quando la realtà si presenta in forme nuove, scomode e persino inquietanti.”
È una sfida che sentiamo profondamente nostra.
Viviamo un’epoca in cui il progetto europeo è chiamato a dimostrare tutta la sua forza. La guerra è tornata nel nostro continente. Le autocrazie mettono in discussione la libertà, la democrazia e lo stato di diritto. L’intelligenza artificiale e le grandi trasformazioni tecnologiche stanno cambiando il lavoro, l’economia e il modo stesso in cui le nostre società si organizzano.
Di fronte a tutto questo, il riformismo europeo non può limitarsi a difendere ciò che esiste. Deve avere il coraggio di immaginare ciò che ancora non esiste.
Per noi giovani europei, il sogno di Ventotene non è un capitolo del passato. È una responsabilità del presente. Oggi quel sogno non vive soltanto nei palazzi di Bruxelles, Strasburgo o Lussemburgo. Vive anche a Kyiv.
Vive nelle donne e negli uomini ucraini che ogni giorno combattono e resistono per la libertà, per la democrazia e per quei valori europei che troppo spesso diamo per scontati. Vive in chi continua a credere che l’Europa non sia soltanto un mercato o un’istituzione, ma una comunità di destino fondata sulla pace, sulla libertà e sulla dignità della persona.
Come Giovani European Democrats crediamo in un’Europa che sia una vera casa comune per tutti i suoi cittadini. Un’Europa che offra alle nuove generazioni opportunità fondate sul merito, sull’inclusione e sulla mobilità sociale. Un’Europa che investa nella conoscenza, nell’innovazione, nella ricerca e nella produttività. Un’Europa capace di guidare la transizione ecologica trasformandola in crescita, competitività e sviluppo, non in declino o paura del futuro.
Siamo orgogliosi che Pina Picierno abbia scelto di portare il proprio impegno nella famiglia politica più europeista del Parlamento europeo. Una comunità che ha fatto del federalismo, dell’integrazione europea, della difesa dell’Ucraina, dello stato di diritto e della democrazia liberale le proprie battaglie fondative.
In queste ore desideriamo inoltre esprimere a Pina la nostra più sincera solidarietà per gli attacchi personali e politici che ha subito. La sua difesa della comunità ebraica europea e del diritto di Israele a esistere in sicurezza non è mai stata incompatibile con una critica ferma e rigorosa alle scelte dell’attuale governo israeliano. Al contrario, rappresenta l’espressione più autentica di quei valori democratici che rifiutano ogni estremismo e ogni forma di odio.
Allo stesso modo, condividiamo il suo appello affinché l’Europa sia protagonista di un’azione politica e diplomatica più forte per la tutela della popolazione civile palestinese e per la costruzione di una pace giusta e duratura nella regione.

Pina Picierno ha dimostrato in questi anni coraggio, indipendenza e coerenza. Valori che oggi sono più necessari che mai.
Per questo siamo felici di dirle: bentornata a casa.
Siamo pronti a lavorare insieme, nelle istituzioni europee come in Italia, per costruire un’Europa più forte, più giusta e più unita. Un’Europa che non abbia paura di difendere i propri valori e che continui a essere un faro di libertà nel mondo.
Il sogno europeo ha bisogno di donne e uomini che abbiano il coraggio di crederci. Pina Picierno è una di loro.
Vicepresidente e Portavoce dei Young Democrats for Europe Matteo Brizzi

On behalf of the Young Democrats for Europe, the youth organisation of the European Democratic Party, and in my capacity as Vice President, Spokesperson and Italian coordinator, I would like to extend our warmest welcome and heartfelt congratulations to Pina Picierno as she joins the European Democratic family.
For us, this is not simply a political affiliation. It is a homecoming.
A homecoming for one of the strongest, most courageous and most genuinely European voices of our generation.
The words with which the Vicepresident of the European Parliament explained her choice capture the challenge facing reformists today:
“Reformism was not born to preserve a community. It was born to confront reality, especially when reality appears in new, uncomfortable and even unsettling forms.”
This is our challenge too.
We are living through a defining moment for Europe. War has returned to our continent. Authoritarian regimes challenge freedom, democracy and the rule of law. Artificial intelligence and technological transformation are reshaping work, production and the very structure of our societies.
At times like these, reformism cannot simply defend what already exists. It must dare to imagine what does not yet exist.
For us, as young Europeans, the dream of Ventotene is not a memory. It is a mission.
Today, that dream lives not only in Brussels, Strasbourg or Luxembourg. It also lives in Kyiv.
It lives in the courage of the Ukrainian people who continue to fight for freedom, democracy and the European values that unite us. It lives in all those who believe that Europe is more than a market, more than institutions, more than treaties. Europe is a shared destiny built on peace, freedom and human dignity.
As Young European Democrats, we believe in a Europe that is a true common home for all its citizens. A Europe where young people can build their future through merit, inclusion and opportunity. A Europe that invests in knowledge, innovation, research and productivity. A Europe capable of turning the green transition into growth, competitiveness and prosperity.
We are proud that Pina Picierno has chosen to bring her commitment and leadership to the most pro-European political family in the European Parliament. A political family
that has consistently stood for European integration, federalism, support for Ukraine, the rule of law and the defence of liberal democracy.
We also want to express our full solidarity with Pina following the unacceptable personal and political attacks she has faced in recent days. Her support for the European Jewish community and for Israel’s right to exist and live in security has never meant uncritical support for the actions of the current Israeli government. On the contrary, it reflects a principled commitment to democratic values, human rights and peace.
Likewise, we share her call for Europe to take a stronger diplomatic and political role in protecting Palestinian civilians and advancing a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
Throughout her political career, Pina Picierno has shown courage, independence and consistency. These are qualities Europe desperately needs today.
That is why we are proud to say: welcome home, Pina.
We look forward to working alongside her, both in Europe and in Italy, to build a stronger, fairer and more united Europe. An Europe that is not afraid to defend its values and its place in the world.
The European dream has always moved forward thanks to those who had the courage to believe in it.
Pina Picierno is one of them.
Matteo Brizzi Vice President and Spokesperson, Young European Democrats

Four years after Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, our message is clear: our solidarity has not weakened — it has grown stronger.

Ukrainian youth have sacrificed their studies, their careers, their safety and, for many, their lives to defend the very foundations of Europe: independence, freedom, democracy and the rule of law. They are not only fighting for their homeland. They are fighting for the future of Europe itself.

We must never allow fatigue to replace commitment. We must never allow distance to dilute responsibility.

Today, as Young Democrats for Europe, we send our unwavering support to:
• the young women and men defending their country on the frontlines,
• the students whose universities have been destroyed,
• and especially the children and young people unlawfully deported to Russia or to occupied territories.

Their courage is extraordinary. Their suffering is real. Their cause is just.

Ukraine’s youth are paying the price for Europe’s freedom.
We owe them more than words — we owe them steadfast support, action and remembrance.

We stand with you. Today. Tomorrow. For as long as it takes.”

— Young Democrats for Europe (YDE)

The Young Democrats for Europe deliberately chose to wait before issuing this statement, and to do so in English, allowing ourselves the necessary time to better understand the evolving situation and to reflect with clarity and responsibility. In a society that often demands a tweet or an instant reaction mere minutes after events unfold, we believe that the complexity of geopolitics requires pause, judgment, and thoughtful consideration—especially when addressing young people and future generations.

Our foremost hope is that the current situation in Venezuela will be resolved in a way that serves, above all, the interests of Venezuelan citizens. In particular, we think of the younger generations: young Venezuelans who deserve to live in a country that offers real opportunities, democratic institutions, freedom, and dignity.

While few will mourn the political departure of Nicolás Maduro given the profound damage his rule has inflicted on Venezuelan society and democratic life, it is nevertheless impossible to be satisfied with the manner in which recent events have unfolded. In politics—Politics with a capital “P”—form is substance. Methods matter. If the world’s largest democracy finds itself resorting to such actions, this raises serious concerns for international law and for a global order based on shared rules, legality, and multilateralism.

The erosion of respect for international law, regardless of the actors involved or the individuals targeted, represents a dangerous precedent. A rules-based international system cannot be defended selectively; it must be upheld consistently if it is to retain legitimacy and credibility.

We therefore conclude with a clear appeal to the European Union. Europe must speak with one voice and assume a coherent, authoritative position in foreign policy. Only a united Europe can effectively defend democracy, international law, and multilateral cooperation on the global stage. This is precisely why we continue to believe that the future lies in the creation of a true political union: the United States of Europe.

Only then can Europe be a principled, credible, and independent actor in shaping a just international order.

Matteo Brizzi, YDE Spokesperson