EESC welcomes youth associations to seek new tools for participation

Brussels – If the European Union is to look to the future, it can only listen to and take its cue from young people. Today (May 30), a meeting was held at the headquarters of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) to discuss the prospects and youth policies of the EU. The meeting, which preceded the EESC plenary session, was attended by representatives of some of Europe’s largest youth organisations, Oliver Röpke, President of the European Economic and Social Committee, Katrīna Leitāne, representative of the EESC youth group, and Albanian Youth Policy Minister Bora Muzhaqi.

The decision on the meeting’s date was carefully chosen: next week, there will be the elections for the European Parliament (June 6-9), which will have a fundamental impact on the future of Europe, but also because over the weekend the EESC will publish the Youth Test, a tool designed to strengthen the voice of young people in decision-making. The path that led to the creation of this tool was a long one and the result of EESC’s work with youth associations. The “Youth Test” has already been tested on a sample of young people from all over the European Union who were able to express their opinions and directions for the future of the Union. The EESC, as its President, Oliver Röpke, recalls, is very attentive to the participation of young people, so much so that it is the first institution at the European level to have a permanent group of young people with whom to collaborate and discuss the creation of new policies.

The representatives of the youth organisations present at the meeting were satisfied with the work done. Each association brought to this working group its vision and ideas for how best to develop the European future. Vasilis Angelopoulos of Get Involved! emphasised education: “There is still much to be done to have a common education, not so much at the level of diplomas and degrees but in terms of common knowledge.” Elias Dray, Vice-President of the European Youth Forum, reminded that the association he represents has invited all pro-European forces in the European Parliament to work together to safeguard the future of the EU and oust those who want to implement anti-democratic policies. Albania’s presence at this table was significant because, as President of the Young European Federalists Christelle Savall said, “The future enlargement of the European Union will be important to learn from others and share our knowledge.”

The participation of Minister Bora Muzhaqi, is not coincidental: Albania has been a country with candidate status to join the EU since 2014, moreover, Tirana applies cutting-edge measures in involving young people in politics such as the obligation for every ministry to have policies dedicated to the under-29s. Furthermore, Albania has adopted a strategy that aims to involve young people more in both decision-making and the development of the country as a civil society and economic aggregate. In this regard, Minister of Youth Policy Muzhaqi said, “We have a program to be accomplished by 2029, but I am confident that we can finish sooner,” adding, “What we are doing is crucial to make young people feel important and to show that their wishes are being listened to by politicians.”