On Monday 22 May, EU education ministers met at the Council. During their exchange of views, they called for greater inclusion of young people in the elaboration of European policies. Some delegations also used the opportunity of this discussion to mention the European Solidarity Corps, which is expected to be the subject of a legislative proposal on 30 May.
As indicated in the reflection documents prepared by the Maltese Presidency, the youth sector is currently having to confront considerable challenges and changes. In addition to the financial crisis, the effects of which are still being felt, young people are having to confront the massive introduction of new technologies and the transformation to digitalisation in society and professional lives, as well as the inequalities created by globalisation and concerns about security, migration, rising extremism and populism.
In this context, the majority of ministers responsible for education and youth called for young people to be given a voice “without political jargon”, as emphasised by Germany. Denmark, for example, called for young people to be included in the discussions on the strategic framework for European cooperation in the education and training field. Ireland called for “European strategies specifically for young people”.
A Council looking to the future
France also referred to the future proposal on the European Solidarity Corps. This text will be presented at the same time as the follow-up on the other initiatives of last December (see EUROPE 11684). It will provide the body for a legal basis and own budgetary line. It will also allow young people aged between 18-30 to participate in a whole range of solidarity activities through voluntary work or official projects underpinned by a work contract.
During this launch, ministers also adopted a resolution on the structured dialogue and ideas for fostering dialogue with young people in the context of post-2018 European co-operation policies in the area of young people. They also adopted conclusions on the role of youth workers working in the social and education field backed up by developing essential contemporary skills for young people that will help towards a successful transition towards adulthood, citizenship and professional life. The conclusions also focused on the strategic prospects for post-2018 European co-operation in the youth field, in an effort to guide the work of Commission during the midterm review of the EU youth strategy. The conclusions also highlight the fact that the future strategy should be inter-sectoral, flexible, adapted to requirements and transparent. It will also have to take into account rapid political, social, cultural and economic changes in Europe. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)