EYE 2014 - European Youth Event

9–11 May 2014, Strasbourg, France

In order to emerge from the crisis successfully, the EU needs new ideas to build a bright future for its citizens. Aiming to gather ideas, the European Youth Event took place at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 9–11 May, kicking off on Europe Day. The EYE 2014 is organised in cooperation with the European Youth Forum. 

Some 8,000 young people from around the EU joined decision-makers, experts, youth groups and business representatives in a wide range of discussions and workshops to contribute to building ‘Ideas for a better Europe’.

Participants joined in activities organised around five themes: 

• Youth unemployment – New perspectives for a blocked generation
• Digital revolution – The future of the internet
• Future of the European Union – Europe in transition
• Sustainability – New European lifestyle - Sustainable business and living
• European values – Global player – Fair player?

Activities included ‘Ideas Labs’ where they could get together with their peers from around Europe to discuss topics of direct interest to them, and role-play games where they could simulate the working of the Parliament. Adding to the mix a variety of cultural and sports activities, organised by the European Youth Forum as part of its annual youth festival YO!Fest, also allowed them to network informally and experience Europe’s cultural diversity.

Youth unemployment

On 9 May, Eurofound Research Manager Anna Ludwinek participated in the ‘Youth unemployment’ theme. As part of the panel ‘Life on hold’, the emphasis was on the current state of youth unemployment in Europe, looking for ways to remove obstacles to finding jobs and highlighting new opportunities for young people.

Although these young people are better educated than their parents, with the current state of the economy they have fewer professional opportunities. Ms Ludwinek joined representatives from the Centre for European Policy Studies and the Spanish Youth Council in presenting experiences and ideas, discussing them with Catherine Trautmann, French Socialist MEP, as well as young audience participants.

Drawing on Eurofound research on the ‘Social situation of young people in Europe’, Ms Ludwinek addressed youth inclusion, speaking about the links between social inclusion and labour market inclusion. She highlighted that an increasing number of young people are living with their parents and asked participants how this might affect young people’s transitions into adulthood and their inclusion in the labour market.

The findings show that youth transitions from education to work and also into adulthood have become much more unpredictable and unstable, and they are now very different from the experiences of their parents or grandparents. Another interesting dimension, she emphasised, is the way young people communicate via much more frequent use of information and communication technologies and questioned whether these channels are used enough in job search or employment outreach activities.

Other interactive activities under this theme focused on aspects of youth unemployment and employment. These included vocational education and training, the Youth Guarantee, studying abroad, entrepreneurship, mobility, equal opportunities, among others, and participants heard real-life experiences of people who changed career path to entrepreneurship.

Other topics of debate

Under the discussions on ‘Digital revolution’ and the future of the internet, young people offered ideas on the opportunities and challenges associated with the world of computers, smartphones and online communication, all of which have shaped and educated their generation.

The third theme centred around the ‘Future of the European Union’ and whether the younger generation can make it better. Participants exchanged ideas with decision-makers on issues relating to crisis management, what kind of Europe they want to see, the European agenda of tomorrow, and many others.

Discussions on ‘Sustainability’ focused on how Europe can change course successfully – economically, environmentally and socially – in creating sustainable business and living, where topics of debate included the European Central Bank and the euro, financial markets and good governance, energy resources and greening.

Under the final theme ‘European values’, young people were invited to give opinions on whether they think Europe is a good neighbour and a fair partner in the world, issues around human rights, globalisation, manufacturing and trade, and an inclusive European society.

Outcome

The EYE aimed to give young people a voice in how the EU can be ‘reinvented’ and to encourage discussion on policy issues ahead of the European elections at the end of May. The outcomes of the discussions and events will be summarised in a report to be presented to the elected MEPs, serving as a reference for them throughout the new legislative period 2014–2019.

Read more in the event report