Brussels, 06/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - “Ideas for a better Europe” will be pooled by around 5,000 young Europeans at a European Youth Event (EYE) at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 9-11 May. Over 200 debates and workshops will enable 16-30 year-olds to air policy issues close to their hearts. MEPs, journalists, business leaders, decision makers, and European youth organisations will take part in the event. The EYE agenda lists five key issues: 1) youth unemployment; 2) the digital revolution; 3) the future of the EU; 4) sustainable development and 5) European values.
According to a Eurobarometer poll on these five issues, commissioned by the European Parliament ahead of the May European elections, over half of Europe's young people (57%) feel that the crisis has left them marginalised and excluded from economic and social life. An overwhelming majority of respondents (70%) also agreed that their country's membership in the EU is vital in the context of globalisation. Young journalists from across Europe will summarise the ideas and suggestions from the EYE events in a report to be presented to newly elected MEPs in July. (IL)