Hello. You were elected within the bureau of the Young Democrats for Europe at the last Congress in Bilbao in September. For your team, Europe has to show its face, then tell us who you are and what you do…
Can you present yourself and tell us in a few words about your background and your local political commitments?
Hello to all the European young people. My name is Jeremy COSTE. I am 28 years old and I come from Lyon where I grew up and studied. I also want to point out that I am driven by French Overseas because I grew up within the Creole culture thanks to my mother who comes from la Réunion. Our outermost regions are a wealth Europe shouldn’t be forgot and has to be promoted.
I started to get involved in politics when I was 16. First, I was an activist before exercising responsibility and being elected regional leader of my organization when I was 21 years. When I turned 24, I have been elected president of Jeunes Centristes in 2010. Our organization was a member of the French Government. This experience as a national leader of a political movement taught me a lot in terms of exchange with other youth movement in Europe and collective work. Finally, I participated in the founding of the UDI Jeunes with Aurélien Sebton.
Along with these responsibilities, I ran in several elections: local first, then regional and parliamentary elections in 2012.
In 2014, the mayor of Vanves – in the metropolis of Grand Paris where I live – asked me to be his campaign manager. We were elected in the first round with a historic result. Since then, I am deputy Mayor in charge of Education. I have to look after the running of schools and leisure centers for the 2200 children of the city. Fortunately, civil servants are there to operationally implement our decisions!
In 2012, I had the great privilege to be a member of François Bayrou’s campaign team. It was a very rich experience.
Professionally, I work as an advisor within the cabinet of a Public institution responsible for building the largest European public transport network.
Beyond your civic commitment, can you tell us what are your favorite activities / leisure activities ?
I love sports. From 10 to 22, I practiced gymnastics at high level. Since I started working, I no longer have time but I try to keep the pace!
I was also an active member of the French Olympic Committee. We were young sports leaders who wanted to have responsibilities in the clubs. It was exciting.
I also like science fiction movies because it often pushes us to reflect on what could be the world of tomorrow. But my first passion, it is my wife and my friends!
The elected team, widely renewed around Miroslava Calegari, is at work for almost 3 months now. Can you tell us the reasons for your involvement in the movement and your mission in this team?
I got involved in the YDE because I’m obviously passionate about Europe and what it represents in the world. In order to help it to grow, I therefore wanted to commit myself to it and contribute to its improvement. Today, everything is not working well and our leaders remain blind. It is thus essential that youth is mobilized and takes charge of its future.
As a member of the YDE, I want to contribute to making Europe closer to its citizens and show young people that we all have reason to be proud of being European.
Within the team, I am the Spokesman and responsible for the team “communication” team with whom we have fun a lot to talk about Europe and to promote its work and the YDE’s.
Finally, according to you, what should be the priority for Europe and the YDE for these next 2 years?
First and foremost, Europe has to restore trust among Europeans. For that purpose, it finally has to assume itself as a major power. This requires the implementation of a concrete action in favour of youth employment to show its efficiency, and the EU to plays its role at the international level to end the injustices and restore pride to Europeans.
The mission of the YDE is to hammer this message to European authorities and to associate youth to these objectives.