Brussels, 12/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - Quality jobs for European youth, the recognition of informally acquired skills, and ending the exploitation of trainees and forced mobility: this is what participants at the European Youth Event (EYE) called for at the end of three days of debate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg (see EUROPE 11073). The 5,000 participants also called for uniform European election rules, better education about EU affairs, and the support of digital innovation.
“We want not only jobs, but quality jobs, and no one should be forced to move from one country to another just to find work”, stated one of the young rapporteurs, summarising the conclusions of the workshops and discussions on youth unemployment - one of the five main topics on the agenda. Another speaker called for online voting at the EU level and the introduction of a uniform European election system. The outgoing chair of the European Parliament's culture and education committee, Doris Pack (EPP, Germany), remarked that this was an essential measure to take. “Help me to put that first step on the agenda of the incoming Parliament”, she said. “We need uniform education about EU matters so that everyone is on the same page”, said the youth rapporteur on the topic of the future of Europe. Another speaker also called for more support for European innovators so as to be able to compete with the American or South Korean digital giants.
The EYE event, organised on 9-11 May, aimed at gathering “Ideas for a Better Europe” through over 200 debates and workshops, which brought together participants aged 16-30 so that they could express their opinions on policy issues important to them. Five key topics were on the agenda - youth unemployment, the digital revolution, the future of the EU, sustainable development and European values. (IL)