Opinion article signed by MEP Victor Negrescu
The European Year of Youth has ended. Young people have actively participated, showing their opinions about the European Union and proposing helpful solutions for young Europeans. More than 12.000 activities have been organized across Europe pointing out to the expectations of young people with regards to how we can build a Europe fit for the future.
I am proud of all young Europeans, among whom young Romanians have been some of the most active in proposing solutions and generating events related to the European Year of Youth. The large participation of youth organizations and of young people was very visible during the consultations organized by the European Parliament Liaison Office in Bucharest and the engaging debate with President Roberta Metsola.
Therefore, after discussing with many youth organizations and young people across Europe, and also as Vice-chair of the Culture, Education, Youth, Media and Sports Committee, I strongly believe it is important to make sure that this European Year of Youth has ensured a legacy with tangible results for young people across Europe.
The European Parliament and many committed MEPs and Europeans actively engaged with young people during this period, listened to their opinions and offered them the opportunity to come up with interesting and constructive ideas.
Their opinions, hopes and expectations have been heard. During these complicated times, it is important for the European Union, the European Parliament and other European institutions to show once more that they are capable of representing citizens’ interests with honesty and ambition.
Therefore, I have proposed a question for oral answer through which we are calling upon the European Commission to present to the European Parliament its assessment of the results of the European Year of Youth and asking for concrete measures as outcomes of the EYY.
Our initiative is just a first step in our #YouthUP campaign which is designed to strengthen the voice of young people in the European decision-making process. It will be followed by conferences, meetings with youth organizations and young people and an integrated legislative work designed to build a cross-sectorial approach to youth by integrating young people across EU policies.
We also expect the Commission to come up with solutions to the most salient initiatives advanced by young people, including the youth test, unpaid internships or the political participation of young people. All these issues must be addressed accordingly by decision makers at European, national and local levels. While the youth test can offer us a perspective on the future, and include the voice of young people in policy-drafting, the banning of unpaid internships enables all people to be paid for their work, and offers a path out of poverty for many young people. Moreover, in order to ensure a long-lasting legacy for the European Year for Youth, we need to find better ways of including the voices of EU citizens in the decision-making process by building active, constructive and accessible formats of participation and interaction.
However, the most important thing is not to disappoint young people by not delivering on what was promised to them. Many hopes and expectations have been generated by the European Year of Youth as it was the case with the Conference on the Future of Europe, and EU leaders must understand that we need to do more to ensure both a positive perspective for the European Union in the future and also 2024 European elections without surprises in terms of political representation.
I am confident that young people across Europe will be up for the task. We must use the momentum generated by the European Year of Youth to give young people a stronger voice and to show that Europe truly cares about them.
