European Liberal Youth

European Liberal Youth (LYMEC)
European Liberal Youth (LYMEC)
President	Ines Holzegger
Vice President	Alexandre Servais
Secretary General	Even Diot
Treasurer	Marten Porte
Founded	1976
Headquarters	Rue d'Idalie 11, 6th floor, box 2, 1050 Brussels
Membership	61 organisations across 40 countries
Ideology	Liberalism
Mother party	ALDE
International affiliation	International Federation of Liberal Youth
Website	https://www.lymec.eu

European Liberal Youth (abbreviated as LYMEC) is an international organisation of liberal youth movements – mostly the youth wings of members of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party but also individual members.^[2]

LYMEC’s core mission is to promote a liberal and federal Europe by empowering young people through political education, active citizenship, and cross-cultural dialogue. The organisation is dedicated to advancing the fundamental values of liberal democracy, including freedom, equality, human rights, and the rule of law. It encourages political awareness and participation among European youth, aiming to ensure that their voices are heard in democratic processes at all levels.

Through a range of activities such as seminars, publications, and training events, LYMEC fosters understanding of liberal values, promotes tolerance between cultures, and supports young people in becoming actively engaged and informed citizens. As a political home for young liberals across Europe, LYMEC provides a space to grow, share ideas, and shape the future of Europe.

LYMEC holds full members status to the European Youth Forum (YFJ).^[3] It is the official youth wing of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Party and holds separate votes in the statutory bodies of the ALDE Party. LYMEC works alongside RENEW Europe Group, European Liberal Forum (YFJ), International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF).

Even though the organisation is now called European Liberal Youth, it is still known as LYMEC, which is the abbreviation of the name when the organisation was formed in 1976.^[4]^[5] It was then known as Liberal and Radical Youth Movement of the European Communities.

LYMEC’s Policy Book and Electoral Manifesto outline the organisation’s key priorities and contributions to youth policy. Our latest Spring Congress 2025 saw an adoption of fourteen new policy resolutions, which can be discovered on our website.

In 2025, LYMEC was declared an undesirable organization in Russia.^[6]

Member organisations

Name in English	Name in original language	Country	Mother party	Type	Status
Young Liberals of Andorra	Joventut Liberal d'Andorra, JLA	Andorra	PLA	Youth	1SUSPENDED
JUNOS – Young liberal NEOS	JUNOS – Junge liberale NEOS	Austria	NEOS	Youth	1Full member
Federation of Liberal Students	Fédération des Etudiants Libéraux, FEL	Belgium	—	Students	1Full member
Young Liberals	Jongliberalen, JL	Belgium	—	Youth	1Full member
Youth of MR	Jeunes MR	Belgium	MR	Youth	1Full member
Youth Bloc	-	Belarus	-	Youth	4Associate
Forum Mladih Naša stranka	Youth forum of Naša stranka	Bosnia and Herzegovina	Naša stranka	Youth	1Full member
Youth Movement for Rights and Freedom (YMRF)	Mladejko dvijeni za prav i svobodi	Bulgaria	DPS	Youth	1Full member
Young Croatian Liberals	Mladi hrvatski liberali, MHL	Croatia	HSLS	Youth	1Full member
Croatian People's Party Youth	Mladi Hrvatske Narodne Stranke – Liberalni Demokrati, mHNS	Croatia	HNS	Youth	1Full member
Istrian Democratic Youth (IDY)	Klub mladih IDS-a	Croatia	IDS	Youth	1Full member
The Danish Social Liberal Youth	Radikal Ungdom, RU	Denmark	RV	Youth	1Full member
Young Moderates	Unge Moderater - (UM)	Denmark	RV	Youth	4Associate
Young Liberals of Denmark	Venstres Ungdom (VU)	Denmark	RV	Youth	1Full member
Estonian Reform Party Youth	Eesti Reformierakonna Noortekogu, ERPY	Estonia	RE	Youth	1Full member
Centre Party Students	Keskustan Opiskelijaliitto, KOL	Finland	KESK	Students	1Full member
Finnish Centre Youth	Suomen Keskustanuoret, FCY	Finland	KESK	Youth	1Full member
Swedish Youth	Svensk Ungdom, SU	Finland	SFP	Youth	1Full member
Young Radicals	Jeunes Radicaux, JR	France	MR	Youth	1SUSPENDED
Federal Association of Liberal Students Groups	Bundesverband Liberaler Hochschulgruppen, LHG	Germany	FDP	Students	1Full member
Young Liberals	Junge Liberale, JuLis	Germany	FDP	Youth	1Full member
Gibraltar Liberal Party	-	Gibraltar	Liberal Party of Gibraltar (GLP)	Youth	1Full member
Project NEON	Nea Enallaktiki Organosi NEON (NEON)	Greece	-	Youth	4Associate
Momentum TizenX	-	Hungary	Momentum	Youth	1Full Member
Ógra Fianna Fáil	-	Ireland	FF	Youth	1Full Member
Uppreisn (UP)		Iceland	Viðreisn	Youth	1Full Member
Attīstībai Youth (AY)	-	Latvia	-	Youth	1Full Member
Movement For! Youth	Par! Jauniešiem	Latvia	Par!	Youth	1Full Member
Lithuanian Liberal Youth	Lietuvos liberalus jaunimas, LLJ	Lithuania	—	Youth	1Full member
Young Democrats of Luxemburg	Jonk Demokraten	Luxembourg	PD	Youth	1Full member
Liberal youth of Montenegro	Mladi Liberali Crne Gore, MLCG	Montenegro	LPCG	Youth	1Full member
CUB Junior	CUB JR	Moldova	CUB	Youth	4Associate
Young Democrats	Jonge Democraten, JD	Netherlands	D66	Youth	1Full member
Youth Organisation Freedom and Democracy	Jongeren Organisatie Vrijheid & Democratie, JOVD	Netherlands	VVD	Youth	1Full member
Liberal Democratic Youth (LiDeM)	-	North Macedonia		Youth	1Full member
Young Liberals of Norway	Norges Unge Venstre, NUV	Norway	V	Youth	1Full member
Nowoczesna Youth	Młodzi .Nowocześni	Poland	.N	Youth	3Full member
Save Romania Union Youth	USR Tineret	Romania	USR	Youth	4Associate
Vesna Youth Democratic Movement	Молодёжное демократическое движения «Весна»	Russia	—	Youth	1Full member
PSG Youth	Odbor mladih PSG-a	Serbia	PSG	Youth	1Full member
Freedom Movement Youth	Gibanje Svoboda Mladi	Slovenia	GS	Youth	1Full member
Young Progressives	Mladí progresívci, MP	Slovakia	PS	Youth	1Full member
Young Citizens	Jóvenes Ciudadanos, Jcs	Spain	Cs	Youth	1Full member
Nationalist Youth of Catalonia	Joventut Nacionalista de Catalunya, JNC	Spain	JUNTS	Youth	1Full member
Centre Party Students	Centerstudenter, CS	Sweden	C	Students	1Full member
Centre Party Youth	Centerpartiets ungdomsförbund, CUF	Sweden	C	Youth	1Full member
Liberal Youth of Sweden	Liberala ungdomsförbundet, LUF	Sweden	L	Youth	1Full member
Young Liberals of Switzerland	Jungfreisinnige Schweiz, JFS	Switzerland	FDP	Youth	1Full member
Young Green Liberals of Switzerland	Junge Grünliberale, jglp	Switzerland	glp	Youth	4Full member
3H Movement	Hürriyet Hukuk Hoşgörü Derneği	Turkey	-	Youth	4Associate
European Youth of Ukraine	Європейська молодь України, EMU	Ukraine	EPU	Youth	1Full member
Liberal Democratic League of Ukraine	Ліберально-демократична ліга України, LDLU	Ukraine	—	Youth	1Full member
Ze!Molodizhka	Зе!Молодіжка	Ukraine	SN	Youth	4Associate
Young Liberals		United Kingdom	LD	Youth	1Full member
Alliance Youth	-	United Kingdom	Alliance Party	Youth	1Full member

LYMEC Bureau

The LYMEC Bureau is the organisation’s executive team, responsible for managing daily operations and guiding the strategic direction.

President: Ines Holzegger (Austria)

Vice-President: Alexandre Servais (Belgium)

Treasurer: Marten Porte (Netherlands)

Policy Officer: Sorcha Ní Chonghaile (Ireland)

Advocacy & Outreach Officer: Willemijn Krans (Netherlands)

Engagement & Events Officer: Sean Bennett (United Kingdom)

Communications Officer: Dimitra Papadopoulou (Greece/Germany)

Positions

In the latest 2025 Spring Congress in Zagreb, LYMEC adopted fourteen new resolutions in response to growing threats to democracy, human rights, and European security.

The organisation condemned the political repression in Türkiye, including the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, calling for judicial independence, protection of civil society, and the suspension of Türkiye’s EU accession process until democratic standards are restored. LYMEC also expressed strong support for the Serbian student protests, urging European institutions to condemn state violence and push for democratic reforms. In Hungary, LYMEC called for EU action against the Lex-Pride law and greater protection for LGBTQ+ rights and freedom of assembly. On security and defence, LYMEC reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to mutual defence and solidarity in the face of Russian aggression, advocating for increased investment, stronger cooperation with democratic allies, and sustained support for Ukraine. The Congress further called for deeper intra-EU military coordination, joint procurement, and enhanced readiness to defend European values in times of crisis.

Individual Members' Section

In 1997, the Individual Members Section (IMS) was created to extend LYMEC’s reach beyond national liberal youth organisations and engage young liberals directly at the European level. The IMS allows individuals from countries without national liberal youth organisations to participate fully in LYMEC activities, contributing diverse perspectives and expertise. The IMS plays a vital role in broadening LYMEC’s influence, fostering liberal values across Europe, and adapting to the evolving political landscape.

Libertas Magazine

Libertas Magazine is LYMEC’s long-standing publication, offering a platform for members to share their views on European politics, liberal values, and current affairs. Since the organisation’s establishment, Libertas has provided a space for young liberals to engage in political debate and contribute thought-provoking articles. Published on LYMEC’s website, the magazine is open to all members, who are encouraged to write and reflect on the pressing issues shaping Europe today.

References

^ "Ines Holzegger at LYMEC".
^ "About". LYMEC. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
^ "Our Members". European Youth Forum. Archived from the original on 26 May 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
^ Haute, Emilie van; Close, Caroline (12 February 2019). Liberal Parties in Europe. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-24548-7.
^ Corijn, Lex; Krings, Thomas (2004). Liberalism in the European Union: The Way Forward. BWV, Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag. p. 28. ISBN 978-3-8305-0601-0.
^ "Генпрокуратура признала «нежелательной» европейскую политическую партию ALDE". OVD-Info (in Russian). 3 March 2025. Archived from the original on 6 April 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.

External links

Official website

[1] "Ines Holzegger at LYMEC".

[:0-2] "About". LYMEC. Retrieved 16 June 2020.

[3] "Our Members". European Youth Forum. Archived from the original on 26 May 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.

[4] Haute, Emilie van; Close, Caroline (12 February 2019). Liberal Parties in Europe. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-24548-7.

[5] Corijn, Lex; Krings, Thomas (2004). Liberalism in the European Union: The Way Forward. BWV, Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag. p. 28. ISBN 978-3-8305-0601-0.

[6] "Генпрокуратура признала «нежелательной» европейскую политическую партию ALDE". OVD-Info (in Russian). 3 March 2025. Archived from the original on 6 April 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.

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