New 'Youth Opportunities Initiative' Aims to Tackle Growing Youth Unemployment in Europe
20th December, a new communication was released by the EU Commission on ways to combat youth unemployment. According to the latest figures, more than 5.6 million young people under the age of 25 (or one in five) are unemployed in the EU, with youth being the group most affected by the downturn. The 'Youth Opportunities Initiative' hopes to combat this trend. The initiative aims to prevent early school leaving by helping young people develop skills relevant to the labour market.
// Top Story
Denmark Sets out Priorities for Presidency of EU Council
11th January, the European Commission met with the Danish Government to discuss the priorities of the new Presidency. These priorities were also mentioned by Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt at the European Parliament's plenary session on Wednesday 18th January in Strasbourg. The priorities over the next six months will be youth unemployment and a focus on the field of education and training under the strategic framework for European cooperation.
// Top Story
The NEET Effect: Economic and Social Consequences of Youth Unemployment in Europe
The first findings of a study conducted by Eurofound (the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions), entitled “Young People and NEETs in Europe” was published on 20th December. The aim of the study was to investigate the situation of NEETs (those aged 15-24 years not in employment, education or training) in Europe and to understand the economic and social consequences of youth unemployment.
// Employment & Social Affairs
December OECD Conference: A First for Youth
On the 12th-14th December 2011, the European Youth Forum, with the support of the Organisation for Economic and Social Development (OECD), 50 young representatives of European youth organisations, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and members of civil society organisations gathered at the OECD Headquarters in Paris for a Conference to address youth unemployment.
The Conference was the first youth event ever organised at the OECD and the first time the Secretary-General, Angel Gurría, addressed a youth conference.
// Employment & Social Affairs
Concerns Expressed over “ERASMUS for All” Proposal
Opposition has been growing to the European Commission's proposal, “Erasmus for All”, which would subsume seven existing programmes, including Youth in Action. Many youth organisations use the Youth in Action programme for volunteer services, youth exchanges and other projects. Under the new programme, parts of the current Youth in Action programme will remain only in the sector of volunteer services and youth exchanges.
// Education
Should Access to the Internet be a Human Right?
There has been growing debate on the question of whether internet access is a human right. This emanates from a UN Human Rights Council publication, issued in May 2011, which examines this question. The report stated that “the Internet has become an indispensable tool for realising a range of human rights.” UN Special Rapporteur, Frank La Rue, concluded in the report that restricting access completely impinges on the right to freedom of expression.
// Human Rights
Vote@16 Campaign gets Boost from Scottish National Party
The Scottish Government intends to hold a referendum on the issue of independence from the United Kingdom in Autumn 2014. The Scottish National Party, who are currently in power, are advocating for the voting age to be changed from 18 to 16 years. A recent survey conducted by a Scottish newspaper “The Scotsman” showed high popularity for reform with 72% of those surveyed favourable to changing the right to vote to 16 years.
There have been a number of successful campaigns to lower the voting age in Europe. Austria gave the right to vote at 16 in 2007.
// Participation & Youth Policy Mainstreaming
“Europe for Citizens” Programme 2014 -2020: An Opportunity for Youth Participation?
A new “Europe for Citizens” programme for the period 2014-2020 was launched on the 14th December 2011 by the European Commission. The programme consists of two strands: “remembrance and European citizenship” and “democratic engagement and civic participation”. These strands aim to strengthen remembrance and enhance the capacity for civic participation at EU level.
// Participation & Youth Policy Mainstreaming
Incorporating Youth Issues in Europe's National Elections
Formal voting for the Finnish presidential election took place on the 22nd January. In a debate prior to the election, all candidates expressed concerns regarding the social marginalisation of youth and spoke of how to combat the youth employment crisis. Similarly, in the Irish presidential elections, held in November 2011, the presidential candidates also targeted young people in their addresses. The election however was held on a weekday, which discouraged youth participation.
// Participation & Youth Policy Mainstreaming
Euro-Arab Mediterranean Region: Youth Voices Need to be Heard
370 members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have voted in favour of the creation of Euro-Med Erasmus and Leonardo da Vinci schemes at a conference to promote the programmes on 10th January. The conference was organised by French Socialist MEPs Vincent Peillon and Véronique Castex, uniting university Presidents, student organisations and professional syndicates and organisations from the Euro-Arab Mediterranean region. The aim of the conference was to bring together their expertise to make progress on the development of student and trainee mobility in the Mediterranean.
// Youth Work Development
