Commission adopts White Paper on youth policy
Commission adopts White Paper on youth policy
Ways of getting young people more involved in decisions which concern them,and in the process of European integration, are contained in a White Paper on youth policy, adopted by the European Commission. The White Paper seeks to bridge the gap between young people and active citizenship. Based on consultation with tens of thousands of young Europeans, it has been drafted in co-operation with EU member states, youth organizations and experts in the field.
"In adopting this White Paper, the commission is giving a clear signal that it stands four-square with young people in their concern to be more closely associated with policies that concern them", said Viviane Reding, European commissioner for education, training and youth.
The commission intends to be an ally which, far from trotting out vague promises or miracle solutions, has clear ideas on how to respond to young Europeans' demands at all levels of decision-taking.
The White Paper favours better co-ordination between the commission and member states, to offer young people improved information on European issues. At EU level, an Internet portal will be launched later this year to give more young people access to reliable information on European integration. The Commission hopes to turn this into an interactive resource so that young people can express their opinions and ask questions. And the Commission will provide backing, from 2003, for projects such as Internet forums, designed to encourage youth participation. Encouraging voluntary service is a further priority. The White Paper calls on the member states to develop voluntary-service schemes and eliminate national obstacles to mobility. The Commission also intends to ask the European Council to discuss the question of recognizing voluntary service as an educational experience.
The White Paper calls on the member states to appoint national youth co-ordinators. The commission will use information provided by the member states to produce a summary of best practices. The White Paper also proposes taking better account of the specific needs of young people when drafting EU and national policies. Policy sectors particularly concerned are:
employment and social integration;
education and training;
racism;
immigration;
consumer protection;
health; and
the environment.
Funding for the initiatives at EU level will mainly come from the youth programme, which has a budget of 520 million euros over the period 2000-2006. After enlargement to 27 countries, the EU will have some 75 million people aged between 15 and 25.
