The reorganisation of consultation between young people and the European institutions has been much discussed. A Commission proposal on the European strategy for youth post-2019 is due on 16 May 2018.
Structured dialogue is an 18-month process involving discussion with young people and youth organisations in EU member states and during the EU’s youth conferences.
During its sixth round, this tool allowed 49,389 consultations with European young people, following which 11 objectives were determined for youth policy with a view to reviewing European youth strategy, which has been in place since 2009. According to the Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the EU, “young Europeans made a very useful contribution”.
Upstream of its next meeting on 23 May 2018, the Youth Council nonetheless underlined the importance of reform of structured dialogue, on the basis of the conclusions adopted by the Council in May 2017.
The conclusions confirmed the member states’ resolve to conduct a policy “for and with young people” (see EUROPE 11793), by making structured dialogue more inclusive and available “to young people from different environments - the disadvantaged and unorganised - in addition to those already involved in associations”.
This proposal is not to the liking of the European Youth Forum (EYF) which upholds the interests of young people with the European institutions and plays an active role in the current procedure. This organisation takes the view that the institutions must continue to count on the associative fabric for structuring what young people have to say, rather than turning to digital tools with dubious results.
Nonetheless, the EYF is also in favour of reforming structured dialogue. The association believes the resources earmarked for national working groups should be reviewed upward to improve not only the quality but also the quantity of consultation. Such groups currently have around €30,000 per financial period for carrying out consultation exercises.
Visibility, the priority of the new youth strategy
Youth should also have more to say regarding political choices. “We are here to shape, not to listen”, said the EYF with emotion, expressing regret for the weak show of young people at the youth conferences which brought together representatives of young citizens, the Commission, the Council and Parliament in Sofia in April.
The “connection” between Europe and its young citizens is the first of the 11 objectives selected by young people during their consultation sessions. The Bulgarian presidency also underlines the needs for European citizens to be not only involved in decision making but also informed of the measures from which they might benefit thanks to European youth policy. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion and trainee)