Please see below the draft agenda. More information about sessions will follow shortly.
You can download the agenda in PDF format here.
Welcome by the Mayor of Bilbao, Juan Mari Aburto
Introduction to the Democracy Lab by Eurocities and La Perrera host
The session will explore how local democratic practices can inspire a stronger European culture of participation through the active involvement of young people and children, at a time when democracy itself is increasingly under pressure. It will reflect on how youth participation can move from consultation to real influence in public decision-making, strengthening trust in institutions. Concrete experiences, shared challenges and future opportunities will illustrate how cities can act as guardians of democratic values through citizenship engagement. The talk will connect local action with European commitment, highlighting participation as a key driver of democratic resilience. A forward-looking reflection on how the next generation can help safeguard and renew democracy.
Short presentation of cities that were selected to present their challenges to youth and children engagement, followed by Q&A.
- Cascais, PT - Inclusive participation of children and young people
- Leeuwarden, NL – Making youth participation structural, inclusive and impactful
- Leipzig, DE - Reimagining youth participation through smart city tools
- Milan, IT - Designing a Youth Climate Assembly for real impact
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Valongo, PT – From symbolic to transformative participation for children and young people
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Gothenburg, SE - Strengthening democratic culture with youth in disadvantaged neighbourhoods
Participants form the challenge teams and start to explore the challenges in groupwork.
Teams have a first check-in with their mentors on the progress so far to get their feedback and tips
The group will visit the city's football stadium, where they will have the opportunity to meet with those responsible for the ATHLETIC FOUNDATION project. The ATHLETIC FOUNDATION is closely linked to Athletic Club, the historic football team from Bilbao whose unique philosophy makes it a sporting and cultural reference both within and beyond Europe. Since its origins, Athletic Club has maintained a model based on commitment to its territory and the promotion of local talent— an exceptional principle in professional football that strengthens its identity and connection with the community. This uniqueness has made the team a collective symbol that transcends sport and forms an essential part of Bilbao’s social imagination.
The Foundation develops educational and social programs that foster cooperation, equality, respect, inclusion, and collective responsibility—principles fully aligned with Nets4Dem’s mission to reinforce democratic quality in Europe and promote the active involvement of youth in public life. Through participatory methodologies and initiatives that integrate sport, education, and social engagement, the Foundation creates spaces where girls, boys, and young people can experience teamwork dynamics, shared decision-making, peaceful conflict resolution, and recognition of diversity.
Moreover, its strong community roots and capacity to mobilize young people from very diverse backgrounds make the Athletic Foundation a key actor in understanding how democratic values can be spread beyond traditional institutional environments. Its approach shows that education in democratic citizenship can also arise from cultural and sporting spaces with a strong local identity, capable of directly connecting with youth and generating environments of trust and mutual learning.
To conclude the visit in a special way, it is proposed to complete the tour with a guided visit to San Mamés Stadium, an emblematic space for the city deeply linked to Bilbao’s collective identity and which has also received important architectural recognitions. At the end of the visit, the group will be offered an informal dinner in one of the stadium’s own spaces, creating an inspiring and symbolic setting to foster exchange among the participants.
Location: Uribitarte Pasealekua, 3, Abando, 48001 Bilbao
1. AZKUNA ZENTROA
Join this site visit if you are interested in culture and activating local communities through the arts.
Azkuna Zentroa is Bilbao’s flagship cultural and community centre, housed in the former Alhóndiga — a historic wine warehouse. It exemplifies how urban cultural spaces can strengthen social cohesion, accessibility and community vitality. Its wide range of facilities and programmes — from exhibitions and digital culture to sports, education and social innovation — attract diverse audiences, foster intergenerational participation and showcase creative forms of civic engagement.
This visit will offer participants firsthand insight into how the adaptive repurposing of space and the strengthening of cultural infrastructures can enhance inclusion, support community-building and encourage active citizen participation.
Meeting point: Main entrance of the Azkuna Zentroa at 08:50. Address: Arriquíbar Plaza, 4, Abando, 48010 Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
2. ZORROTZAURRE
If you are interested in innovation ecosystems and the impact of a diverse group of stakeholders working together, this site visit is for you.
Zorrotzaurre is one of Europe’s most ambitious regeneration projects, transforming a former industrial peninsula into an inclusive and sustainable new district through multi-actor governance. Bringing together cultural initiatives, start-ups, educational centres, social projects and local residents, it demonstrates how cities can embed democratic values in urban development while fostering youth engagement, creativity and community life.
A visit to Zorrotzaurre will offer participants firsthand insight into how Bilbao is shaping a district grounded in social cohesion and systems thinking.
Meeting point: La Perrera (main venue) at 08:30. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early, as the bus departs at 08:30 sharp. This visit will last 2 hours.
3. Koop SF34 & DIVERSITOURS
This site visit will be valuable for those interested in grass-roots initiatives that strengthen social cohesion, foster a sense of belonging and revitalise marginalised urban areas.
Koop SF34, the cooperative behind the award-winning DIVERSITOURS project, trains residents as intercultural guides to lead tours through one of Bilbao’s most deprived neighbourhoods, highlighting its cultural richness and diversity. By promoting new narratives around migration and inclusion, the initiative empowers communities and encourages more tolerant, critical and intercultural forms of urban citizenship. Bilbao won the 2023 Eurocities Award for DIVERSITOURS in the category “From human global mobility to local community cohesion”.
A visit to Koop SF34 and DIVERSITOURS will offer participants insight into how community-led projects can drive social transformation from the ground up.
Meeting point: La Perrera (main venue) at 08:30. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early, as the bus departs at 08:30 sharp. This visit will last 1,5 hour.
Tender agora
In this session participants will be invited to think collectively through action, using performative strategies and artistic tools. It will be an invitation to think from the body, placing ideas in space, transforming intuitions into images, visualising doubts with the help of other bodies, and also making room for the unexpected. Because when we think together, we see and recognize each other, we go much further than expected.
Teams test ideas against their relevance and feasibility.
Democratic Innovations with Children and Young People
More and more local governments are promoting youth councils, children’s councils, youth consultations, and other traditional approaches to participation with children and young people. However, these experiences have often fallen short of policymakers’ expectations, particularly in terms of inclusion, outreach to the wider youth community, and policy impact. Key challenges frequently identified in conventional youth participation designs include self-selection, lack of inclusion, adultism, tokenism, and the reliance on one-off participatory experiences.
In this talk, we will explore how the current wave of democratic innovations is offering new designs and approaches to address these challenges with renewed hope. This will be illustrated through concrete experiences such as school participatory budgeting, citizens’ assemblies with children and young people, and classroom-based participation.
Teams select concrete ideas for further development and start prototyping action plan for implementation.
Pintxo-pote is a popular social tradition in the Basque Country that invites people to enjoy small tapas (pintxos) and drinks while spending time with friends, colleagues, and family. It is a relaxed and lively way to experience local gastronomy and everyday culture, and a perfect opportunity to connect in an informal atmosphere after a day of meetings.
We will gather at the DOCK Bar at BILBAO BERRIKUNTZA FAKTORIA BBF, an innovative cooperative training centre that forms part of Mondragon University. BBF brings together entrepreneurship, education and community engagement through cooperative values and practices. Hosting the pintxo-pote here highlights how collaborative economic models and skills-based learning contribute to inclusive participation and collective empowerment—key themes also explored during the Democracy Lab’s sessions.
The location offers participants not only a taste of Bilbao’s renowned culinary culture but also tangible experiences of how spaces rooted in community, culture and cooperation can help enrich democratic life and citizen engagement at the local level.
Location: DOCK Bar, Uribitarte Pasealekua, 3, Abando, 48001 Bilbao, Bizkaia
Strengthening democracy and community development through collaborative governance
Teams finalise their prototypes and prepare for public presentation.
Teams present the result of their work and provide feedback to other participants.
Lunch will be provided in takeaway bags,