Youth Employment: A Call for Change

One of the main issues Europe has to face today is certainly youth unemployment, with almost 20% of young people jobless across the EU. In this context, the European Youth Forum co-organised with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) a Conference on Youth Employment, titled “A call for Change”.

// Top Story

Youth in Action advocacy process launched at Stakeholders Meeting

Running from 2007 to 2013, Youth in Action (YiA) is the largest programme in Europe that supports youth-led activities with the aim to improve the situation of young people. On 23rd November 2011, the European Commission unveiled its future youth programme “Erasmus for All”, which will support education training, youth, and sport, and is said to represent a considerable increase in these areas.

// Top Story

Commission proposes to invest €80 billion in research and innovation under “Horizon 2020”

In the framework of the Europe 2020 Strategy - the EU's growth strategy for the coming decade - the European Commission presented “Horizon 2020” on 30th November 2011. As the new flagship initiative aimed at enhancing Europe's global competitiveness through new measures to boost research, innovation and competitiveness, it will bring a budget of €80 billion in research and innovation.

// Employment & Social Affairs

EU Employment Council: ministers call for radical structural reforms

The Employment and Social Policy Council of the EU met on 1st December 2011 in Brussels to discuss the challenges and objectives to be reached regarding employment. Among the conclusions, the ministers appealed for radical structural reforms in order to reach the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy - among which, an employment rate of 75% of the working age population. 17.6 million new jobs need to be created according to the Council conclusions.

The debate was based on the Annual Growth Survey 2012, a Communication from the European Commission released on 23rd November 2011.

// Employment & Social Affairs

European Parliament supports new measures to tackle early school leaving

One in six young people now leave formal education without the necessary competences and qualifications to enter the labour market successfully. Early School Leaving (ESL) is one of the hugest challenges facing Europe, and the European Union set the ambitious target of reducing early school leaving by 10% by 2020. In this framework, the European Parliament voted on 1st December 2011 on a report to tackle the issue of Early School Leaving.

"Early school leavers have fewer qualifications and therefore, fewer job options. Most are resigned to low-paid, unsecured work.

// Education

Using E-learning in non-formal education activities

The Council of Europe (CoE) concentrates more and more of its work on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Its main initiatives in this field concern the concept of e-democracy, the process of combatting cybercrime and the protection of personal data online, particularly in the case of children. E-learning is also following the pace of communication innovation, as several experts even see its evolution as a shift in the learning paradigm.

// Education

Roma inclusion discussed and evaluated in the European Youth Centre

Suffering from the stigmatisation of most communities in Europe, Roma young people face additional difficulties to play a full part in all aspects of society. During the transition to adulthood, many young Roma have to deal with even more poverty and lack of opportunities than young Europeans. In this context, a meeting was organised by the Council of Europe on 9th and 10th December 2011 in the European Youth Centre of Strasbourg to discuss Roma inclusion.

// Human Rights

Towards Europe's first Treaty on violence against women

From 12-15% of women in Europe have to face violence in their home every day. Committed to fight against this critical issue, the Council of Europe (CoE) created a committee in December 2008 to prepare an instrument to prevent and combat domestic violence against women and to protect and support the victims of such violence. In April 2011, the “Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence” was adopted by the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers.

The Convention comprises several measures to prevent violence and to protect the victims.

// Human Rights

Celebrating International Volunteer Day

Since 1985, the United Nations celebrates the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development (IVD) on 5th December. During this particular day, volunteer organisations and individuals have the occasion to make their contributions visible through several activities such as rallies, parades, volunteering projects and advocacy campaigns all over the world. These events are led by IVD national committees, including partners from the UN system, governments, and the civil society.

// Participation & Youth Policy Mainstreaming

2011 EESC Civil Society Prize: two youth organisations crowned

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) organised for the 4th time the Civil Society Prize, aiming at rewarding several innovative projects developed by civil society players in Europe that give a valuable contribution to the well being of society and promote European identity and integration. This year, the theme imposed was “Dialogue and participation fostering EU values: integration, diversity, solidarity and tolerance”.

// Youth Work Development