This is what freedom means to you and everyone around you
Treaty of Middelburg
I would like to have treaties that universally enforce basic human rights for LGBT people. I want everyone in the world to have access to free or affordable education, from primary education to university-level. Organisations that limit people based on their social standing should be reformed. The right to self-determination should always be respected. Discrimination based on ethnicity or religion should be universally outlawed.
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Dean Korstjens
Treaty of Middelburg
This is a difficult question because so many injustices exist, and people are stripped of their freedoms every day. However, one of the most urgent issues I would change is ensuring the freedom to truth. Truth is one of the most powerful forces in the world—it shapes our decisions, our beliefs, and the way we live our lives. Yet, in today's world, truth is becoming harder to find. With censorship, biased news sources, manipulative politicians, and an overflow of fake news, many people are unable—or unwilling—to see reality. As someone who is half German and half American, I have witnessed this firsthand in both countries' elections. Many Republicans only trust Fox News, while AfD supporters who are gay, Black, or transgender still vote for a party that openly opposes their rights. This kind of misinformation leads to a failing democracy and irrational decisions that can shape our future for the worse. Without access to the truth, people cannot make informed choices, and without informed choices, true freedom does not exist. That’s why fighting for transparency, critical thinking, and media literacy is one of the most important freedom battles of our time.
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Carolyn Huber
Treaty of Middelburg
I would like to change how we think about and protect freedom in the digital age. Today, freedom isn’t just about speech or movement—it’s also about control over our data, our attention, and our ability to think critically. I want to see a world where young people are not just passive users of technology, but active participants in shaping it ethically and transparently. That means advocating for digital rights, privacy, and education that empowers us to question, to choose freely, and to resist systems that manipulate or limit our potential
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Nicole Duque
Treaty of Middelburg
I would like to see a greater equity in access to opportunities, ensuring freedom is not limited by economic status, geography or political systems. True freedom should mean everyone has the chance to shape their own future without systemic constraints.
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Carsten Geeurickx
Treaty of Middelburg
Give more responsibility for young people as they are more energetic and creative.
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Kuzey Caliskan
Treaty of Middelburg
I would like to maintain peace in the EU and somehow get rid of the tensions that might threaten that peace. This means that as the EU, we need to become more autonomous and less reliant on the US or Russia for our gas or other vital raw materials that keep our economy functioning. However, good trade relations must be kept and therefore, a certain level of globalisation is a must. On the other hand, I would like to focus on the societal pressure I mentioned in the previous question and lower the pressure on youngsters in society. The economy has changed, and it is no longer feasible to go through the same life path at the same speed as our parents did. For that, we need to focus on alternatives: house sharing, for example, is a good option with a lot of single households in the EU. Let's make that easier and let us not be bound by old rules from old times. Another alternative is to normalise being human in studies and jobs. Introduce menstrual leave and make it accepted in society with campaigns. Introduce a national campaign that normalises taking breaks when you are exhausted or so. And more of these kind of alternatives...
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Esmeralda de Zwart
Treaty of Middelburg
I would like to see freedom redefined in the digital age, ensuring that young people can reclaim control over their attention, their connections, and their sense of purpose. One of the biggest barriers to freedom today is the infinite-scroll design of social media, which keeps people passively consuming rather than actively engaging in life. We need stronger digital well-being initiatives that allow users to set limits, disable endless scrolling features, and regain autonomy over their time. This could include regulations that require platforms like YouTube and TikTok to offer features that disable autoplay, cap short-form content consumption, or introduce intentional stopping points. Beyond the digital space, I believe we need more opportunities for real-life connection and community building, places where young people can meet, collaborate, and support one another outside of online spaces. A big step towards this is creating local, grassroots initiatives where people can easily find and participate in real-world activities. With Maastricht Explorers, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is to have a community hub where people can share events, meet up, and form meaningful relationships. I’d love to see more cities implementing structured, easily accessible local groups that foster in-person social interactions and help young people break out of digital isolation. Ultimately, freedom is about having the ability to think critically, engage meaningfully, and design a life with purpose. To make this a reality, we must reclaim control over our digital environments, foster spaces for in-person connection, and ensure that young people have the autonomy to shape their own futures, free from the constraints of infinite distractions and isolation.
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Sophie Wucherer
Treaty of Middelburg
I want to contribute to a world where countries dempend more on each other and where the mutual relationships are strong. I hope that the countries meet each other more often and realise that suppressing each other is not the way to go.
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Jort van der Voorden
