Several Romanian MEPs highlighted on Saturday, during a debate on the future of young people in the digital age, both the opportunities brought by technological development and the challenges it entails, stressing in particular the importance of critical thinking.
Opening the event "YOUth in the Digital Area", organised by the European Parliament Office in Bucharest, European Parliament Vice-President Victor Negrescu said technology offers significant opportunities, enabling young people to learn faster, collaborate across borders and share their ideas with the world, but also comes with risks.
In a video message, Negrescu warned that deepfakes can distort reality, disinformation spreads rapidly online, cyberbullying can cause harm, and social media pressure may affect mental health.
He added that efforts are under way in the European Parliament to build a digital space that respects individuals and protects democracy, stressing that Europe must invest in young people to succeed in the digital era. Programmes such as the "European Parliament Ambassador Schools" are "an essential part" of this effort, he said.
MEP Siegfried Muresan, also speaking via video message, said the programme helps young people better understand the European Union, while encouraging dialogue, curiosity and critical thinking. He urged young people to help others recognise the benefits of EU membership, including democracy, freedom, solidarity, educational and professional opportunities, as well as security.
For his part, MEP Dan Barna underlined the need for critical thinking in the digital age, emphasising the importance of verifying information and sources. He pointed out that digital information is no more credible than content published by a newspaper with a particular editorial stance.
He also noted that, compared to older generations, young people have the advantage of being born into the digital world, for whom screens and applications are a natural part of everyday life.
Barna added that the digital era requires adaptation to new types of jobs, warning that some current professions will disappear as they are taken over by artificial intelligence, and that young people must be prepared to adapt to future challenges.
Students from the "European Parliament Ambassador Schools" programme in Poland, Bulgaria, Greece and Romania took part in the event.
The educational programme, launched in 2017 across all EU member states, is aimed at secondary school students and seeks to improve young people's knowledge of Europe and European parliamentary democracy. It also familiarises students and teachers with the opportunities offered by European citizenship and the role of the European Parliament in EU decision-making.
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