Brussels, 06/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - Last week the European Commission adopted a communication on “European policies concerning young people”, as an extension to the European Youth Pact adopted by the European Council in March and which recognises the essential role of youth in the revised Lisbon objectives. Unemployment rates for young people are twice as high as the overall unemployment rate in Europe and young people are often in danger of falling into poverty. Young people will also be in the front line of helping achieve the Lisbon objectives: the labour force of tomorrow - they will also be at the forefront of research, innovation and entrepreneurship which Europe needs to succeed, underlines the Commission. The European Youth Pact was adopted to provide young people with the instruments they needed to meet this challenge. It encourages Member States to implement policies for improving education, training, mobility, professional insertion and social inclusion for young Europeans, which facilitating a good balance between working and family life. The communication indicates how Member States can put the pact into practice, by using the Commission's integrated guidelines for employment and growth and highlighting action concerning young people at a European level in the framework of the pact. The Commission has also announced a consultation process on youth policy, which will begin in the summer with an internet consultation, with a pause at the end of the year when “pause at the end of the year when “Youth takes the floor” at the Youth “Etats Généraux”. This council will be attended by young people, Commissioners, MEPs and other political leaders. The communication also highlights other areas of action and European programmes which deal with youth concerns. (Info: http: //europa.eu.int/comm/youth/index_en.html).