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Opinion •
March 7 2004 |
MEP PN hopeful Ian Spiteri Bailey homes in on how EU membership will be beneficial to youths
The future of young people in Europe is definitely one of the priorities of the European Union. The White Paper on Youth – A New Impetus for European Youth, was published by the European Commission in November 2001, with the aim supporting projects that develop the participation of young people as active citizens.
This White Paper was the result of the involvement and contribution of young people, youth groups, experts in the youth-field, national authorities and NGOs. The consultation, which led to its drawing up, took almost two years and focused mainly on participation, employment, education, training and social integration, welfare, personal autonomy and culture, and European values. A public hearing on youth was also organised by the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport of the European Parliament to contribute to the creation of a youth policy in the European Union. Malta too, as a candidate country, was involved in all the stages of the White Paper.
The paper makes suggestions about how EU member states can improve things for young people. It makes recommendations to European Governments and encourages them to give young people decent information about how decisions that affect them are made. It encourages countries to permit young people to have a greater say in the running of things and it also aids politicians and other people to understand the problems young people face.
The White Paper acknowledges the fact that getting a job is a fundamental step towards becoming fully integrated in society. But today, youths are concerned not only with avoiding unemployment, but also with finding a job that gives them satisfaction and self-fulfilment. At the national level, the contributors to the White Paper submitted proposals to bridge the gap between education, training and employment; to facilitate the creation of jobs for young people, and to guarantee viable pension systems, among others. At the European level, youth employment is, and must remain, a major objective, with proposals including stronger EU policies, and European programmes.
The YOUTH Programme offers the possibility to young people to experience group exchanges, individual voluntary work, and support activities. The programme started in the year 2000 and is the EU’s mobility and educational programme for youths, based on the former Youth for Europe and European Voluntary Service Programmes. Together with Leonardo da Vinci and Socrates it aims at creating a European dimension for both formal and informal education. There are national agencies for the YOUTH Programme in all 30 Programme countries, including Malta. Our country became an associate in January 2001. In Malta, the national agency forms part of the Ministry of Education, and is formed by the YOUTH Coordinating Committee which was established in 2001.
A proactive youth policy at national level is an essential instrument to cater for the needs of young people. The Youth Forum advocates the expansion of youth policy at the local, regional and national level, based on young people’s needs. A vital element of any youth policy is to perceive young people as active citizens and provide them with opportunities to participate fully in their local communities. In support of the European Youth Forum’s object of promoting active citizenship, the Youth Forum strongly encourages young people to vote in the European parliamentary elections, next due in June of this year.
2004 is the European Year of Education through sport. Thus youths are encouraged to take advantage of the values conveyed by sport such as tolerance, teamwork, solidarity and fair play. Furthermore there is the continued implementation of the programme for young people with fewer opportunities which set forth in 2003. Ways in which this is done is by enhancing social inclusion through sports, outdoor education, and by implementing new creative approaches in this field.
In 2004, the EU’s priorities in the youth field are mainly participation and information, voluntary service, and a greater understanding and knowledge of youth. During the Irish and Dutch presidencies in 2004, events bringing together young people and politicians are planned with a view to strengthen the structured dialogue at the European level and to involve young people and their organisations more closely in the discussions and proposals which are of relevance to them.
I augur that Maltese youths will take up any opportunity they may have to fully participate in the EU’s new era. We should all be willing to help our youths in achieving this. One first step will be this year’s European Parliament elections. Our young people are urged to support those candidates who strongly believe in youth as the future and progress of our well-being. Ian Spiteri Bailey can be reached at sbailey@euroweb.net.mt |
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