As part of the Forum des Services Civiques organised by the City of Saint-Quentin, young people were invited to discover how European cooperation and EU Cohesion Policy can have a concrete impact on the places where they live. Through an interactive stand, quizzes, games, visual content and informal discussions, participants explored how European cities, regions and organisations work together to address common challenges and support local development.

One of the highlights was the “Guess the Saint-Quentin Project – Europe Near You” game, which encouraged participants to discover European-funded projects carried out in their own city. With the support of Romain Prévot, an expert in external funding, young people learned about projects linked to Interreg and URBACT, including SCIFI, SMALL, Digital Kiosks, Active Citizen, DigiPlace, COPE and Residents of the Future. Even when participants did not know the answers, the questions became an opportunity to open a discussion, exchange ideas and discover more about the role of European funding in their community.

The event showed that European cooperation does not have to feel distant or complicated. By connecting EU policies and funding with familiar places, projects and everyday experiences, young people were able to see Europe “near them” and understand how cooperation can contribute to more innovative, inclusive, sustainable and connected communities.