The creation of a European Youth Policy

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The creation of a European Youth Policy?

• The EU White Paper a new impetus for European
  youth

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Why have a White Paper on Youth?

• Demographic and Social Change
• Citizenship deficit
• Debate on the future of the European Union

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The White Paper

• Proposal for a White Paper to launch debate on
  youth in 1999
• 2,5 years consultation process
• White Paper adopted by the
• Commission in November 2001
• Good first step

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The Main Objective

• To give the European Union a new
• framework for cooperation in the field of
• youth

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1. How to do it

• Application of the Open Method of Coordination
• Taking more account of Youth in other Policies
  (the horizontal aspects of youth)

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2. How to do it

• The Council Resolution
• Political follow-up to the White Paper
• Consensus of all Member States on how youth
  policy should be developed
• Two important elements
• Open Method of Co-ordination
• Horizontal aspects

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3a. How to do it

• The Open Method of Coordination
• Defines priority themes
• Lays down common objectives and guidelines
• Follow-up mechanisms
• Consultation of young people

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3b How to do it

• Open Method of Co-ordination
• 4 thematic priority areas for cooperation between
  the member states
• Participation
• Information
• Voluntary activities among young people
• Greater understanding and knowledge of youth

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4. How to do it

• Horizontal Aspects
• Taking more account of youth in other policies
• Inclusion of youth dimension in other policies
  and programmes on national and European level
• Explore ways in which young people can be taken
  into consideration in Commission proposals and
  Community programmes and initiatives
• Education, Employment, Anti-discrimination and
  anti-racism etc.
• Autonomy
• Not much done not a priority (some resolutions)

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The role/influence of the European Youth Forum

• Consultation
• European Youth Forum is consulted on the
  different stages
• 1. The formulation of the questionnaires
• 2. Drafts for common objective on each priority
  area
• 3. Evaluation report of the OMC
• The MS should consult youth organisations on the
  questionnaires as they deem appropriate

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1. Following up the White Paper

• 1. Definition of objectives for achieving greater
• Participation and better Information of young
• people
• 2002-2003
• Commission send out questionnaires to Member
  States in July 2002
• Member States and candidate countries submitted
  their answers on 31 October (or later) 2002,
  after most of them had consulted youth
  organisations on the national level.
• The Council of Ministers adopted on 25 November
  2003 the common objectives of greater
  participation and better information of young
  people as areas of cooperation between the member
  states

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2. Follow up of the White Paper

• 2. Implementation phase in the Member States
• 2004-2005
• 3 Youth Working Parties in the Council working
  groups set up to discuss implementation
  (commitment, local participation and information)
• National reports on their performance of the
  agreed COs and Commission summary report in 2005
• Not much done so far
• Youth Forum/Commission meetings with parts of our
  membership to put pressure on ministries

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3. Follow up of the White Paper

• 3.Definition of objectives concerning Voluntary
  activities and greater Understanding of Youth
• Commission consultation with Youth Forum on
  questionnaires in May 2004
• Council of Ministers adopted on 15-16 November
  2004 the common objectives of voluntary
  activities and greater understanding of Youth as
  areas of cooperation between the member states

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Evaluation of OMC as such

• 2004
• Evaluation report of the OMC drafted by the
  Commission and in consultation with the Youth
  Forum before submission to the Council
• Synthesis report on the OMC drafted by the Youth
  Forum, Info days with examples of best practices
  regarding the setting up of consultation
  structures the national level etc, plenary
  discussion COMEM etc)
• Commission invited a small stakeholder group for
  initial assessment meeting on 8 June 2004

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1. The Work of the Youth Forum on the OMC process

• 1.Structured Communication with Member
  Organisations
• Facilitate the co-operation with and between NYCs
  in the EU and the candidate countries
• Set up of network of correspondents on the Open
  Method of Co-ordination
• Consult MOs through information, networking,
  training and consultation days
• Involve of all MOs through briefing notes and
  information on the website
• Compile information from NYCs on their
  contributions on the national levels and
  summarise.

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2. The Work of the Youth Forum on the OMC process

• Monitor the developments
• Youth Forum as a key interlocutor on all
  developments regarding the OMC
• Regular informal meetings with the Commission and
  Council
• Regular briefing notes to MOs on latest
  developments and lobby actions to take (letters,
  meetings etc)
• Info days to exchange information and co-ordinate
  activities
• Synthesis reports of governments positions and
  NYC involvement for overview.

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3.The Work of the Youth Forumon the OMC process

• Lobby the European Institutions
• Participate in the consultations on the draft
  common objectives, the questionnaires and the
  evaluation report
• Draft Youth Forum positions after consultation of
  Member Organisations on the common objectives
• Regular meeting with the institutions ( letters,
  articles and press releases).

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Thank you for your attention!