Author: Sharon Masin
Committee: Connect Committee
Date: 29/06/2026
Understanding how European institutions work and ensuring the protection of the rights and interests of EU citizens is crucial for the future of Europe’s democracy. In this context, the Connect Committee of the STEPPO project, Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, acts as a bridge between young people and European justice, encouraging a culture of legality and active citizenship.
The Committee operates within a complex but well-coordinated structure, consisting of 22 thematic commissions, a Steering Committee, and a Management Board, all working together to promote knowledge and discussion about the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). This EU body is responsible for investigating, prosecuting, and bringing to trial crimes that affect the financial interests of the EU (such as fraud, corruption, money laundering, and mismanagement).
The Connect Committee has a clear mission: to engage young people through the platforms and language they use every day: Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and Spotify are not just communication tools, but actual spaces for reflection, sharing, and participation. On these platforms, the Committee shares important doctrinal and legal content, promotes events with leading experts, and publishes episodes and interviews that make EPPO’s work more accessible to a wide audience.
The language used is simple but precise, and the tone is fresh, yet professional. For example, on Spotify, short episodes cover important topics related to EPPO, from how financial crimes are reported to the legal challenges involved in judicial cooperation between EU Member States.
Another strength of the Connect Committee is its ability to involve prominent figures from the European cultural and academic scene. One such figure is Roberto Saviano, now an expert in European Union law at the University of Milan-Bicocca, who has played a key role in making these issues understandable to a wider public, showing how the rule of law and European justice should be part of everyday public conversation.
The Committee does not limit itself to digital communication. It also organizes meetings, workshops, and roundtables open to the public, aiming to create a real dialogue between students, professionals, and citizens. These events offer valuable opportunities to reflect on the challenges of international justice and to explore how each individual, including young citizens, can contribute to its protection and promotion.
One concrete tool offered by EPPO is the ability for EU citizens to report financial crimes through a simple, accessible online form. This reporting mechanism allows citizens to participate directly in upholding the rule of law, and the Connect Committee works to ensure young people are aware of it.
Connecting young people to European justice means helping them see themselves as active participants in a shared project based on the rule of law. It means giving them the tools to understand, participate, and take action. The work of the Connect Committee proves this every day: providing information is important, but inspiring action is essential. Only an informed and engaged citizenship can truly help build a fair, transparent, and united Europe.