Unleashing the potential of Europe’s youth

Input from youth perspective for the EU27 Summit in Bratislava on 16th September 2016

Europe's young people are among the most innovative, creative and mobile generation that

this continent has ever seen. More and more young people make use of digital and

communications technologies and take advantage of the absence of borders and the ease of

mobility that the European Union now provides. They are also more inclined to be European-

minded. For example, 75% of 18- to 24-year-olds voted to remain in the recent United Kingdom

referendum. This "Erasmus generation" has never seen borders in Europe. Thus, young

people more than other generations tend to identify as European.

However, strong barriers persist across Europe. Many young people cannot take advantage

of the political, economic and social benefits that a connected Europe provides. Such exclusion

has an enormous impact and affected young people are at risk of becoming a "lost generation".

With an ageing population, Europe needs to take action to ensure the inclusion of all young

people.

The European Union can be a champion in engaging and reducing barriers facing young

people but it must take a comprehensive, consistent approach.

Measures should include:

On employment

Young people were especially affected during the recent financial and economic crises. Even

now, youth unemployment within the EU remains at worryingly high levels, nearly 20%, and in

some Member States still 1 in 2 young people are without a job. The risk of a lost generation

has never been more acute, with huge economic and social costs for European states. A lack

of opportunities connected with economic and social exclusion means that young people are

not able to make the transition from education to quality jobs and an autonomous life. The

violent extremism and radicalisation of a small minority of young people highlights this

‘malaise’ in society. Europe can only benefit from having more young people provided with

quality jobs. This is why it is now high time for the European Union and its Member States to

invest in quality job creation.

Investment in job creation

The EU and its Member States should prioritise investment that creates quality jobs – looking

especially at youth-friendly or emerging sectors, such as the green economy. This should be

accompanied by support to young entrepreneurs that want to create their own jobs and jobs

for others. The EU and its Member States must ensure young people have entrepreneurship

skills to inspire and empower them to do set up their own business if they wish. The EU and

Member States must also focus on reducing the administrative and financial obstacles that

young people face in setting up their own businesses, particularly in the social economy.

Continued funding for the Youth Guarantee

One of the key current initiatives at the EU level to improve young people’s transition from

education to work is the Youth Guarantee.

The Youth Guarantee is beginning to have an impact at local level but it takes time and

continued investment for changes to take place. The European Union and Members States

must commit additional funding for the Youth Guarantee to achieve its goal of providing young

people with quality jobs. Practice also shows that the Youth Guarantee works best in Members

States where youth organisations and young people themselves are systematically involved

in the implementation process.

Equal pay for equal work and social inclusion

All young people should have the opportunity to learn, work and be equal members of society.

However, 1 in 5 young people today are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. A youth

minimum wage is in place in 8 EU Member States meaning that in some countries young

people earn only half the “adult” wage for the same job. Youth minimum wages as well as the

continued practice of unpaid internships are discriminatory and must be abolished.

Furthermore, for a comprehensive approach to social inclusion of young people, the EU and

its Member States must also invest in crucial services for young people, from employment

services and career guidance, to care services (for children and older people) as well as

housing support and accessible healthcare, free from discrimination.

On investment

Beyond investing first in quality job creation, it is crucial for the EU and its Member States to

invest more in education, young people, and future generations to build a more sustainable

future. These sectors need to be made a top priority in the discussions around the Multiannual

Financial Framework review and its successor: currently only approximately 1.84% of the EU

budget benefits young people directly Both the EU and its Member States should be strongly

encouraged to increase their support of education and young people.

Structural investment into youth and education

The EU and its Member States have to invest more into youth and education through EU

programmes, Investment Plan for Europe and national budgets. More specifically, they should

move away from a project-based support of youth and educational organisations (which

encourages short-term thinking and creates uncertainty) towards structural support of

organisations that are doing demonstrably good work in developing potential of young people.

Only through sustainable funding can the youth and education sectors deliver the urgently

needed positive long-term results.

Increase funding for Europe for Citizens programme

Increasing support for the Europe for Citizens programme as a way to promote civic

participation and increase the understanding of Europe’s history and diversity. The level of

support should reach at least the one of the previous financial framework (2007-2014).

On participation

The European Union is facing a surge of populism, extremism and euroscepticism that might,

if left unchecked, form an existential threat to its survival. Ensuring participation of all citizens

in decision-making is the key to deliver with relevant, legitimate and appropriate policy

proposals. With young people, the traditional allies of the European project, often disengaged

from traditional forms of political participation, our open, inclusive and pluralist societies are at

risk. To ensure the long-term stability and sutainability of our democracies, European leaders

can:

Quality citizenship education in curricula

Ensure that each young person has access to citizenship education in their school

curriculum that also encompasses the dimension of European citizenship. Ensuring a shared

understanding of Europe and of its fundamental values is of utmost importance. It is also

crucial that citizenship initiatives should go beyond theory and provide young people with the

skills and competences they need to be confident and actively involved in democratic

processes. These would include political skills, embracing new and different forms of political

activism, and financial, digital, and media literacy. These goals could be achieved by

encouraging a greater cooperation between schools and youth organisations and by

empowering young people to participate actively in decision-making processes that are

relevant for the organisation of school life, thus creating the habit of political participation from

an early age. Moreover, other forms of participation, such as e-participation, need to be

supported.

Youth people participating in discussion on the future of Europe

Young people themselves must be a part of the decision-making regarding youth priorities.

Complementing the Structured Dialogue with young people that gathers young people,

representatives from Youth Ministries and the European Commission, Member States could

set the example by engaging with young people around the meetings of the European

Council, paving the way for greater youth participation. For example, the European Youth

Forum would be keen to engage in the organisation of side-summits creating "youth

conclusions" that would feed into the actual summits, while reflecting the views of

representative youth delegates. Whenever, the future of Europe is being discussed and

decided upon, young people young and youth organisations should be involved at the national

and European level. They have the biggest stake in our common future and are the most

excluded age group from today’s politics.

On mobility

Today, young people are more than ever eager to travel within the EU, benefitting from free

movement. They learn other languages, study and work abroad while developing their skills.

Unfortunately, not all young people have this opportunity and often those that would benefit

most from a learning experience abroad face economic or social barriers.

Free movement

Guaranteeing free-movement of citizens within the EU is crucial for young people,

including young people from the UK who have largely been in favour of remaining in the EU,

and the EU citizens living and studying in the UK. Free movement ensures portability of social

rights across borders and it is a precondition of economically strong and socially united

Europe. Therefore, the continuation of free movement of citizens to visit, work and study within

the EU (and the UK after an eventual split) should be a political priority.

Expanding support for Erasmus+

Erasmus+ is probably the most effective and popular EU programme. Therefore, the EU

should continue developing it and increase funding for of the opportunities offered to young

people through this programme. The Erasmus+ programme should be expanded to as many

young people as possible in Europe.

A "secondary school Erasmus+ programme" would offer opportunities to all young people

from different backgrounds, including those who do not have access to tertiary education.