Commission adopts Communication on youth policies

At the end of May 2005, the European Commission adopted a Communication on youth policies as part of the follow-up to the adoption of the European Youth Pact by the European Council in March 2005.

On 30 May 2005, the European Commission adopted a Communication entitled: 'European policies concerning youth'. This follows the adoption of the European Youth Pact at the European Council’s 2005 annual spring economic and social summit (EU0504201F) as one of the key instruments to achieve the Lisbon objectives of more growth and jobs in Europe. The Pact aims to improve the education, training, mobility, vocational integration and social inclusion of young Europeans, and to facilitate the reconciliation of working life and family life.

The Communication points out that unemployment among young people is more than double the overall unemployment rate in Europe and that young people as a group are particularly at risk of poverty. At the same time, demographic change means that a smaller number of young people will have to carry the burden of replacing the larger numbers of the preceding generations. They will provide the future work force and form the future source of the research capabilities, innovation and entrepreneurship that Europe needs to succeed. In order to meet these goals, young people must be equipped with 'knowledge, skills and competences through high quality, relevant education and training'. To achieve this, barriers, such as growing up in poverty and social exclusion must be removed.

Under the revitalised Lisbon strategy on growth and jobs agreed at the summit, Member States must prepare national reform programmes for autumn 2005 indicating the actions they will take to achieve the goals of more growth and jobs. The Communication outlines how Member States can put the Pact into operation by drawing on the integrated guidelines for growth and jobs issued by the Commission (EU0504203F) and also highlights actions for young people at European level within the Pact.

To be successful, the Council underlined that the Pact requires the involvement of all actors, and above all, of youth organisations and young people themselves. The Communication invites Member States to take the necessary steps to consult young people in developing measures for the Pact and their implementation The consultation process will begin with an internet consultation in the summer and will culminate in an event, 'Youth takes the floor', at the end of 2005, which will involve young people, Commissioners, members of the European Parliament and policy makers.

Welcoming the adoption of the Communication, youth Commissioner Ján Figel said: 'Europe’s future increasingly depends on its ability to foster societies that are child and youth friendly', continuing: 'the Communication adopted today is a clear signal that the Lisbon partnership for growth and jobs is very relevant for young people since it addresses issues that affect them directly'.

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