Answering a question on what Europe expects from its young citizens, President Pöttering said that the 21st century is the century of the younger generation and “that this generation is lucky never to have experienced war among European people. The challenge for young people today is to do everything to ensure that peace remains on the European continent.”
President Pöttering vastas näiteks küsimusele, mida Euroopa oma noortelt kodanikelt ootab, järgmiselt: 21. sajand on noorema põlvkonna sajand ning see põlvkond on õnnelik, sest pole kogenud sõda Euroopas. Noorte ülesanne on tagada, et rahu jääks Euroopas püsima.