The forum was held close to the Eastern Partnership's fifth youth conference, also in Stockholm. Tsichanouskaja also met with EU Minister Jessica Rosencrantz and Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs aimed to strengthen cooperation between young representatives of the democracy movement, human rights defenders, and civil society in Sweden's neighborhood by hosting both conferences.
Hartelius said: "We live in a time where democracy is under increasing threat around the world. Young leaders are an important driving force for political change, and they are needed now more than ever. " Rosencrantz added: "The EU supports the Belarusian democracy movement.
The Eastern Partnership is an important platform for deepening the dialogue between the EU and Belarusian civil society, especially for the young people fighting for a future democratic Belarus.