Submit your video by 27 July and win a chance to come & speak at the Macro-Regional and Sea Basin Strategies Days in September in Brussels
The Youth4Ocean video contest aims to select five young ocean advocates to take part in the Macro-Regional and Sea Basin Strategies Days 2025 in Brussels on 24 and 25 September 2025. The winner will have the opportunity to present their initiative during a workshop, while the four runner-ups will attend as audience members, with access to inspiring panel sessions and networking opportunities.
This key event brings together regional stakeholders, representatives from participating countries, and EU institutions through interactive workshops and panel discussions on key themes related to EU Macro-Regional Strategies and Sea Basin Strategies. It will provide a platform for networking, exchanging knowledge, and strengthening collaboration.
Videos should showcase successful examples of youth involvement and collaboration relevant to the strategies, especially the EU Sea Basin Strategies active in the Atlantic, Greater North Sea, Western Mediterranean, and Black Sea basins. Videos should emphasise the concrete impact of these projects on local and coastal communities, as well as address the question of how to further mainstream youth participation in the future of these strategies.
Eligibility Criteria
The video contest is open to all EU Young Ocean Advocates aged 18-30 and based in the EU Sea Basin Strategies participating countries.
Eligible EU countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Malta, Ireland, Romania, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
Eligible non-EU countries: Moldova, Ukraine, Türkiye, Georgia, Norway, United Kingdom, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.
Selection Criteria
Please ensure the video answers these two questions: “How does your project align with the EU Sea Basin Strategies?” and “Why should we choose your project?”
- Creativity and originality of the video;
- Clear and powerful message;
- Relevance of project themes and actions to the EU Sea Basin Strategies;
- Involvement of local and coastal communities.
Selection Process
- Participants should submit a 1-2 min MP4 video via email or web transfer solutions or tools to the Youth4Ocean Forum team at info
youth4ocean-forum [dot] eu (info[at]youth4ocean-forum[dot]eu) by 23 July 2025, along with their first and last name, age, country of origin and country of residence. They will receive a confirmation email of their applications. - Youth4Ocean Forum team will collect applications, shortlist the best eight videos and provide them to DG MARE.
- DG MARE will select the five winners. If any of the selected candidates are unable to travel, the Youth4Ocean Forum team will propose alternative participants. Invitations to selected candidates will be sent out by 31 July.
- Youth4Ocean Forum and DG MARE channels will announce winners in August.
Prizes
- The top five contestants get funded participation to attend the event, including travel and accommodation.
- The first-prize winner is selected as an official speaker, with the possibility to introduce their project and bring their vision to one of the panel or workshop discussions.
- The five winning videos may be featured during the event and be promoted through DG MARE and CINEA social media channels, websites, and the Maritime Forum. Winners will have the option to opt out of the publication of their video.
Technical Video Requirements
- Length: 1-2 minutes;
- Language: English (or an EU language with English subtitles);
- Format: MP4;
- Orientation: Horizontal
- Image: High-resolution (phone-recorded videos are acceptable as long as image, sound, and lighting are clear and stable),
- Audio: Clear audio without background noise or distortions.
- Participants must have authorisation to use any copyrighted images or sounds in their video.
- The video content must only show the person participating in the contest who has given their consent. Landscapes or close-ups are allowed, provided no other people are featured.
Content and Structure of the Video
The video should be divided into three sections and structured as follows:
- Introduction (first and last name, age, countries of origin and residence, something personal about themselves and their relation to the ocean)
- Project pitch (name of the project or initiative, geographic focus, target audience and involved stakeholders, main topic or challenge it addresses, activities and impact achieved, how it is relevant for the Sea Basin Strategies)
- Final message: vision for the future of their region or sea basin and call to action, focusing on potential measures to mainstream youth involvement in the implementation of the strategies, and how to improve cooperation.
By participating to the video contest, participants acknowledge that they have read and accepted the Privay Statement below: