The Council of the European Union Working Party on Youth will meet on Wednesday 20 October. During this meeting, it is expected to discuss a new version of the Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council’s draft conclusions on “safeguarding and creating civic spaces for young people”.
The draft conclusions, of which EUROPE has obtained a copy, suggest in particular that the European Commission and the EU27 take advantage of the European Year of Youth, which should start next January (see EUROPE 12812/1), to “give specific attention” to these civic spaces.
“Civic spaces for young people” are presented in the document as “political, public and social environments (online and offline)” which “allow for their meaningful participation in society” and to “exercise their civic freedoms in terms of accessing information, expressing their views”.
The text notes that the involvement of young people in these spaces has been an “important catalyst for various social innovations”. However, it notes that young people are particularly vulnerable to discrimination and restrictions in accessing these spaces.
These restrictions were further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the institution said in its draft conclusions. “The migration to online civic spaces has exposed issues related to the access, ability and online safety of young people”, it says.
The conclusions should therefore, first of all, invite Member States to safeguard and extend civic spaces for all young people. And this, by putting in place “additional measures” to ensure access for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and with fewer opportunities, such as those from remote areas or with disabilities.
The EU27 will also be encouraged to take into account the remaining barriers to online participation for some young people (internet access, digital skills, lack of infrastructure, etc.)
The draft conclusions advocate, as well, for cooperation between youth organisations and educational institutions. It calls on the EU27, as well as on the European Commission, to support the organisations in question, as well as “non-formal groups of young people combating hate speech and other threats [...] as regards the exercise of their freedom of expression, association and assembly”.
Finally, at European level, the Commission is expected to be invited to involve young people, their “non-formal groups” and relevant organisations more in the implementation and follow-up of European initiatives that have an impact on their lives.
“For example, the New European Bauhaus, the EU Climate Pact and the Conference on the Future of Europe”, the draft conclusions state, recalling that these initiatives should also provide civic spaces for young people. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)