Walking the Way of European Integration: Prospects for Galician Youth

By yjeaEuropean Integration, Guest Articles

Photo: Arturo Rey | Unsplash

Guest Authors: Aldan Creo, Lucía Traygo, Paulo López Muñoz, Bruno Antonio Ortiz López, Miguel García-Miguel Diz, Luis Miguel Bouzo Álvarez, Saray Rodríguez Pérez, Víctor Davila and Julio Quintela Casal. 

In an increasingly individualised world, it’s easy to feel that your reality has nothing to do with anyone else’s. That’s something we know ourselves very well. For example, Lucía is working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Philology, while Bruno and Saray have chosen to study Law. Miguel, Luis and Víctor are all Master’s students in different fields, while Paulo has decided to pursue a PhD in History. Aldan and Julio, on the other hand, are working professionals in research and engineering.

Yes, we all come from very different backgrounds, but there’s something stronger that unites us: as young Europeanists, we care deeply about how our region fits into the European Union.

In this article, we aim to explore how we can use our unique culture and economy to connect better with other Europeans, paving the way for a more integrated and prosperous future. We’ll delve into the challenges that young Galicians face in engaging with the EU, the opportunities that our region offers for deeper European integration, and the recommendations we propose to strengthen these connections. Let’s set off on this journey together!

Galicia, at the Crossroads of Europe

Galicia sits in the northwest corner of Spain. It’s a place full of history, culture, and natural beauty. We have green hills, a rocky Atlantic coast, and old Celtic roots. About 2.7 million people live here. Many people know Galicia because of the Camiño de Santiago (Way of St. James). This is an old walking route that brings travelers from all over Europe.

“As young Europeanists, we care deeply about how our region fits into the European Union.”

Indeed, Galicia has an identity of its own, but it struggles to fully join the wider European community. While EU funds have greatly helped our region after Spain joined the European Union in 1986 [1], we still face problems like:

  • People leaving rural areas
  • An aging population
  • The need to diversify our economy

Right now, Galicia has both challenges and opportunities for European integration that are unique to our region, especially for young people. We’ve made progress in some areas, but many young Galicians stil don’t feel connected to the bigger European project. Let’s explore why and how we can change that!

“Right now, Galicia has both challenges and opportunities for European integration that are unique to our region, especially for young people. We’ve made progress in some areas, but many young Galicians still don’t feel connected to the bigger European project. “

Challenges on the Path to Integration

Young Galicians face several hurdles on their path to a deepened future European integration:

  1. Lack of Awareness: Many young people here don’t know much about the EU, how it works, or what it offers. This makes it hard for them to care about European issues.
  2. Limited Representation: When decisions happen in Brussels, Galicia’s voice often gets drowned out by bigger Spanish concerns. This can make us feel disconnected from EU choices.
  3. Weak Pro-European Civil Society: We don’t have many local groups that focus on European issues. This limits grassroots involvement with EU matters.
  4. Language Barriers: English skills among Galician youth haven’t improved much in recent years. Some studies even show a decline. This can make it hard to join European programs or exchanges.
  5. Geographical Isolation: Galicia is far from the center of Europe. This physical distance can make it hard for young people to feel connected to European hubs.

All these challenges are significant, but they’re not insurmountable. By understanding them clearly, we can develop targeted strategies to overcome them and build stronger connections between Galicia and the wider European community. Let’s dive deeper into some of them:

Lack of Awareness

Many young Galicians don’t know much about the EU or how it affects their daily lives. This gap in knowledge makes it hard for them to engage with European issues or take advantage of EU opportunities [2].

This lack of awareness isn’t just about facts and figures. It’s also about understanding how EU policies shape our region’s development, from funding for infrastructure projects to regulations that affect our industry (which we’ll discuss later).

Limited Representation

Galicia, as part of Spain, doesn’t have a direct voice in EU decision-making. Our concerns often get lost in broader national priorities. This can make young Galicians feel disconnected from what happens in Brussels [3].

For example, when the EU sets fishing quotas, Galicia’s specific needs as a coastal region might not be fully considered in Spain’s overall position. This can lead to frustration and a sense that the EU doesn’t understand our local realities.

Moreover, Galician expatriate associations, which could advocate for our region in European matters, often focus more on promoting Galician regionalism than on European integration [4]. This misses opportunities to build bridges between Galician and European identities.

Weak Pro-European Civil Society

Galicia lacks a strong network of organizations focused on European issues. This makes it hard to sustain long-term projects that promote Europeanism among young people.

A quick search of the public registry of associations in Galicia [5] reveals only five organizations classified as “students”, “youth”, or “civic-political” with “Europa” or “Europea” in their name. While other groups might touch on European issues, the scarcity of dedicated pro-EU organizations is striking.

This weakness stems from various factors [6][7]:

  • Bureaucratic barriers to creating new associations
  • Lack of dedicated funding for EU-focused civic groups
  • Limited tradition of student clubs and associations in Spanish universities

Without a vibrant civil society focused on European issues, it’s harder to organise events, run campaigns, or create spaces where young Galicians can engage with EU topics.

Language Barriers

English skills among Galician youth have stagnated or even declined in recent years. The Education First English Proficiency Index [8] shows that the average English level in Galicia for the 18-20 age group has steadily decreased from 2015 to 2023.

This language gap creates real obstacles:

  • It’s harder for young Galicians to participate in EU exchange programs
  • They struggle to access information about EU opportunities directly
  • It limits their ability to connect with peers from other EU countries

In 2019, only 582 Galician students participated in Erasmus+ exchanges [9]. While many factors influence this low number, language barriers play a significant role.

Geographical Isolation

Galicia’s location on the northwestern edge of Spain puts us far from the heart of Europe. This physical distance can translate into a psychological distance from European affairs.

Our main airports (Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, and Vigo) handled a combined 5.7 million passengers in 2023. Compare this to Madrid’s 60.2 million or Barcelona’s 49.9 million in the same year [10]. This limited connectivity makes it harder and more expensive for young Galicians to travel to other parts of Europe.

Unique Opportunities for Connection

Despite these challenges, Galicia has several unique advantages:

  1. Limited Euroscepticism: Unlike some parts of Europe, there are no strong Eurosceptic political forces in Galicia, a good political starting point.
  2. Cultural Ties: Galicia shares cultural links with Portugal, Ireland, and Brittany. These connections can help us build a sense of shared European identity.
  3. Camiño de Santiago: This ancient pilgrimage route brings thousands of young Europeans to Galicia each year. It’s a natural way for cultural exchange and promoting European values.
  4. Key Economic Sectors: Galicia plays a big role in maritime industries. We’re also becoming a hub for artificial intelligence. These align with EU priorities for economic development and innovation.
  5. Affordable Education: It doesn’t cost much to study at Galician universities. This could attract students from across Europe and promote academic exchange.

Let’s dive deeper into some of these opportunities:

Limited Euroscepticism

Galicia has received significant help from EU Structural and Cohesion Funds since Spain joined [11]. This money has improved our infrastructure, accessibility, and modernised our farming and fishing sectors [12]. While some people complain about EU rules in these areas, most Galicians see the EU positively because of the tangible support we’ve received.

Our political landscape also helps. Since democracy began in Spain, Galicia has been governed by pro-European parties [13]. These parties have consistently promoted European integration and created a favorable environment towards the EU.

Cultural Ties

Galicia shares a deep connection with Portugal. We were once part of the same kingdom [14], and our languages are still very similar. This closeness helps us form hybrid identities that bridge national borders [15].

We also have cultural links with regions like Brittany in France and Ireland. These connections, rooted in our shared Celtic heritage, offer different ways for young Galicians to engage with the wider European community.

Camiño de Santiago

The Camiño de Santiago isn’t just a tourist attraction. It was the first official European Cultural Route and stands out as a powerful tool for promoting Europeanism among young people. In 2019, almost 350,000 pilgrims walked the Camiño. Close to 30% of them were under 30 years old [16].

This influx of young Europeans creates two main opportunities:

  1. When young Galicians walk the Camiño, they meet and interact with other young Europeans and their cultures [17].
  2. The Camiño crosses several territories, making it a great starting point for cross-border projects that promote Europeanism among young people [18][19][20].

“It was the first official European Cultural Route and stands out as a powerful tool for promoting Europeanism among young people.”

Key Economic Sectors

Galicia has developed into an industrial center since the 1970s [21]. We’ve gone through changes, but we’ve come out with strengths in key areas like textiles, naval engineering, fishing, and automotive manufacturing [22].

For example, Navantia, Spain’s largest naval defense company, has a shipyard in Ferrol. This could benefit from the EU’s plans to promote the defense industry [23].

Recently, A Coruña was chosen as the headquarters for Spain’s Artificial Intelligence Supervision Agency [24]. This makes Galicia an important region for AI development, which is expected to be crucial in the next decade.

Affordable Education

Since 2011, Galicia has kept university tuition fees frozen. We’re now the most affordable region in Spain for university education [25][26]. We also offer vocational training with very low fees [27].

Recently, the government announced plans to remove tuition fees for all university students [28]. This makes higher education accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation.

By making education so affordable, we open up more opportunities for international programs like Erasmus+ [29]. These experiences broaden students’ perspectives and make them more employable in a global workforce [30].

Recommendations for Strengthening European Integration

To build on these opportunities and address our challenges, we propose several key actions:

  1. Develop Awareness Campaigns: We need comprehensive programs to teach young Galicians about the EU and its benefits. This could include visiting schools, organizing events, and using digital media to reach young people where they are [31][32]. For example, we could implement programs similar to the European Parliament Ambassador School program, which trains educators to discuss the EU in academic settings [33].
  2. Expand the Europe Direct Network: Right now, Galicia only has two Europe Direct centers, which are places where people can learn about the EU and organise events on European topics. We should establish more of these hubs in key Galician cities, especially in Santiago de Compostela (the capital) and Vigo (the most populated city). This would provide easy access to resources on EU opportunities [34].
  3. Strengthen the Galician Youth Council: We should give this body more power to represent youth interests at the European level. This would ensure that young Galician voices are heard in EU decision-making. The Council could follow models from Sweden and Germany, which focus on enhancing organizational support, youth engagement, and policy influence [35][36].
  4. Enhance English Language Education: We should implement Content and Language Integrated Learning programs [37]. These teach subjects like history or science in English. We should also focus more on practical communication skills in English classes [38][39]. This approach has shown positive results in Galicia without negatively impacting content learning [40].
  5. Fortify Erasmus+ Participation: We need to increase awareness of EU exchange programs and make them accessible to all socio-economic backgrounds. This would promote cross-cultural experiences and European mobility [41]. With the Erasmus+ budget nearly doubling for 2021-2027 [42][43], there’s a great opportunity to expand participation.
  6. Improve Interrail Integration: Right now, it’s hard for young Europeans to travel to Galicia by train with Interrail. We need to address issues like limited operator choices, mandatory reservations, and booking difficulties. Making rail travel easier would attract more young visitors to Galicia and enhance the impact of programs like DiscoverEU [44][45][46].
  7. Reinforce Cross-Border Cooperation: We should speed up plans for high-speed rail connections with Portugal, especially between Lisbon and Vigo [47]. We also need more cultural exchange programs with our neighbors. This would strengthen Galicia’s position within the Iberian Peninsula and Europe [48].
  8. Support European University Alliances: All Galician universities are part of European alliances. We should continue supporting these connections. They create opportunities for mobility, research, and innovation. For example, the University of A Coruña is part of EMERGE, which focuses on developing peripheral regions like Galicia [49].

By taking these steps, we can help young Galicians feel more connected to Europe. We can use our unique culture and strategic position to play a bigger role in building a united and democratic Europe.

Conclusion: Our Path Forward

As young Galicians, we have a chance to shape our region’s future in Europe. We can embrace our unique identity while also actively engaging with the broader European community. This path may have challenges, but it also offers exciting possibilities for growth, cultural exchange, and progress.

“By taking these steps, we can help young Galicians feel more connected to Europe. We can use our unique culture and strategic position to play a bigger role in building a united and democratic Europe.”

Let’s walk this path together. We can build connections across borders and create a shared European identity that respects and celebrates our Galician heritage. The future of Europe is in our hands, and Galicia has much to offer to this diverse union of peoples and cultures.

With the right steps, we can turn our challenges into opportunities. We can use our cultural richness, our strategic location, and our young people’s potential to become a model of European integration. The journey ahead is long, but with each step, we hope to move closer to a more connected, prosperous, and united Europe.

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