MeetEU: Uniting Europe through Interactive Dialogue

Tina Löhr and Moritz Wille, the Co-Presidents of the MeetEU initiative, share their experiences in leading this dynamic project.

How did Tina and Moritz become involved with the initiative?

Tina first engaged with MeetEU in 2019 during the European elections. She was active in the This Time I’m Voting campaign, using platforms like Instagram to promote the elections, and even developed a website about the EU’s benefits. In Munich, she helped to organise an event with Pulse of Europe. Post-elections, Tina’s interactions with EU enthusiasts, led her to envision MeetEU, a platform for Europeans to converse and share views. With support from her virtual group, they launched MeetEU. They initially used Discord for events, but later shifted to Zoom for its familiarity. Despite some team members’ doubts, Tina and Moritz persevered, and they organised frequent events, reaching over 160 by 2023.

Moritz’s European engagement began at 17 during the 2019 European elections. Unable to vote due to his age, he helped motivate adults to participate. He conducted workshops and engaged in street activities, and he broached people on why it is important to vote, how they can voice their concerns and how they can influence the future of Europe. After the elections, he met Tina and was intrigued by her vision for MeetEU. Despite being volunteers with limited resources, they pursued the project. As Moritz studies in France, he dedicates his free time to MeetEU, viewing it as a passion rather than work.

What motivated you to deeply engage with and commit to the MeetEU initiative?

Tina, with her two-decade experience as a copywriter, has always been at the forefront of ideation for her clients. However, her involvement in the This Time I’m Voting campaign during the European elections sparked a personal connection. Through this campaign, she met various individuals across Europe and formed the foundational group for MeetEU. Their positive feedback during the initial pilot projects in November 2019 solidified her belief in the potential of MeetEU.

Moritz was captivated by MeetEU’s innovative approach, which emphasised digital collaboration across diverse backgrounds and age groups. While he valued working with his peers, the opportunity to collaborate with individuals from different generations and professions was particularly enticing. The team’s diversity, spanning from copywriting professionals to those affiliated with tech giants like Google, enriched the initiative. Moritz’s previous engagements became instrumental when inviting the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to the platform. The digital nature of MeetEU and the chance for intergenerational collaboration were the standout features that drew him in.

How did you manage to grow and diversify the volunteer base of MeetEU?

The expansion of our volunteer base happened organically. As we conducted more events, certain attendees became regulars, and their continuous involvement led them to join the core organising team. Our Discord server, with over one thousand subscribers, became a central gathering place for European enthusiasts. Conversations on this platform often resulted in members wanting to be more involved in organisational aspects. Our growth was not structured, but it was a natural coming together of individuals united by their passion, mainly through social media.

MeetEU prides itself on its inclusivity. Everyone is welcome to contribute and even take the lead in organising events. We’ve created an environment where anyone, regardless of their background, can initiate and lead discussions on topics they care about. For instance, there was an event about the last Hungarian elections, which was organised by a community member. While we do have sessions with public sector officials and politicians, we also value events led by community members of all ages. The beauty of MeetEU is its simplicity. There’s no bureaucracy or fees, just open engagement. We believe this modern approach sets us apart from larger organisations.

How do you ensure quality in events organised by newcomers to MeetEU, especially when discussing sensitive subjects like national elections?

Take, for instance, these aforementioned events focusing on elections. We posted a call on our Discord platform, looking for someone to present the elections in their country. Within days, we had students volunteering to offer insights on the electoral process, its implications for Europe and the stakes involved. While we encourage freedom of speech, it’s essential to ensure that our platform doesn’t become a ground for extremist views, be it from the left or right. So we engage in preliminary chats to understand the background and intent of the presenter. This ensures a balanced, informative and open discussion space.

For newcomers to our team, we also have a mentoring programme. While it’s optional, it has been well-received, with most new members opting in. This ensures that the first event they organise or participate in is supervised by a seasoned team member.

Our events are inclusive and promote European values. We ensure that discussions respect democracy and human rights and steer clear of any content against these principles. Within our team, we’ve set an expectation to provide a neutral space for European public discourse.

To aid our new members, we’ve created workshop materials. For those unfamiliar with organising workshops, we offer a toolkit that provides a step-by-step guide, much like a cooking recipe. Each phase of the event organisation is broken down, from gathering the necessary ingredients to the final presentation. This cooking analogy resonates well with our members, making the process intuitive and relatable.

Who typically attends MeetEU events?

Our audience spans a broad spectrum, with an average age of around 30, but it also includes both teenagers and even people over 80. We primarily attract Europeans, but we also have participants from the US, India and Central Africa. Gender distribution is balanced, though it can vary by topic. Interestingly, despite being a French Association, we see fewer French participants than anticipated. Our events thrive on the diversity of attendees. Conversations in European English often lead to insightful and humorous exchanges, adding to the event’s appeal.

Given that you’re reaching out to such a broad audience, how do you ensure that your content remains accessible, especially to those unfamiliar with the intricacies of the European Union?

Accessibility is at the heart of MeetEU. We aim to create an environment where everyone, irrespective of their prior knowledge about the EU, can engage in conversations. To cater to different knowledge levels, our events range from beginner sessions, where we discuss basic concepts, to advanced sessions that dive deeper into specific EU topics. We’ve also been exploring ways to further enhance accessibility. For instance, we’re considering integrating automatic translation tools into platforms like Zoom, which will allow for real-time translations into multiple languages.

Any examples of follow-up activities/impacts on the participants?

Apart from positive feedback from the participants, their ideas and remarks are also being put in practice. Just recently, the city of Strasbourg has announced its plans to investigate whether electrical vehicles can be used as mobile power banks. In October 2021, during our digital Citizen-Mayors event, one of the participants from Sweden proposed it to Jeanne Barseghian, the Mayor of Strasbourg. This is only one out of many examples in which bringing together citizens with politicians across borders can foster creative solutions for the challenges of tomorrow.

How do you envision the platform evolving in the coming years?

Our goal for MeetEU is to be the top platform for European talks. While we have many followers, we want to grow more. We plan to add more voices, especially from less-represented areas. Using technology, like instant translation tools, will help remove language issues and make our events easier to join.