YOFINAL.qxd 12/12/2003 16:41 Page 1 What young people in youth organisations think about... AND ALSO... AN ANALYSIS OF THE OPEN METHOD OF CO-ORDINATION IN THE YOUTH FIELD FEATURING AN INTERVIEW WITH ROMANO PRODI ISSUE 1 OCTOBER 2003 Editeur responsable: Johanna Tzanidaki YOFINAL.qxd 12/12/2003 16:27 Page 2 1 Introduction GIACOMO FILIBECK Is President Europe European Youth Forum latter as reflecting that of the 'old' Europe c loser to of France and Germany. Thus, while the Convention sought to build consensus on the direction for the future enlarged Union, young other forces were at play undermining the sense of common purpose within the existing Union. Notwithstanding this, the war in Iraq people? also acted to mobilise public opinion, with protests against the war taking place all over Europe and the world. In Europe, this brought The Convention on the Future of Europe, into question again the role that the European born of the challenge to bring Europe's Union should take on the world stage with citizens, and primarily the young, closer to many, particularly the young, demanding that the European design and the European Europe act in a stronger and more unified way institutions, ended on 13 June 2003 with the on foreign and security policy issues. agreement on a Draft Constitutional Treaty of the European Union. This marked the From the perspective of the culmination of many months of work by the European Youth Forum, it was vital 207 members of the Convention under the to urge for a genuine and Presidency of Valerie Giscard d'Estaing and meaningful consultation of civil an unprecedented consultation of civil society and youth. society at the European level. But did the Convention listen to the citizens and does the Draft Constitutional Treaty really The Convention itself also contributed represent a breakthrough in bringing Europe significantly to the creation of a debate on closer to its citizens? the Future of Europe both through the consultations and through the media attention it received. It At the beginning of its two-year period of broadened the understanding of deliberation, the Convention members European issues and encouraged could not have anticipated the European citizens to look political backdrop against which further than the national their deliberations were to boundaries for responses take place. Political to the problems they developments on the confront in their lives. international stage led to From the perspective the emergence of clear of the European divisions between the Youth Forum, it was current, as well as the vital to urge for a future, member states of genuine and the European Union. meaningful Primary among these was consultation of civil of course the war in Iraq, society and youth. Our with the participation of the key demand was for the United Kingdom in coalition with European Convention 'to the United States. The French and strengthen the links between German opposition to the war led the US the present and future generations and the Secretary of Defence to define the position of the EU by providing for a consolidated and clear YOFINAL.qxd 12/12/2003 16:27 Page 3 legal basis for action in favour of children and young young. Furthermore, it is now important that these advances people'. We, the Youth Convention and youth are not lost in the discussions of the Intergovernmental organisations lobbied hard to strengthen the legal basis Conference and that it takes on board the ambition of the for youth policy and youth participation at the European Convention, especially the Chapter on the Democratic Life of the Union' and turn it into reality in a ...the Convention has started to make the idea of bringing new Treaty. Europe closer to its citizens a reality, and the result reinforces the European Union's commitment to young The involvement of people's participation in democratic life. young people in the Convention process was level, and our hard work paid off with the inclusion of article an important step, and in conjunction with other III - 182. 2(g) which states that the Union shall be aimed at: consultation processes such as those linked to the Open 'encouraging the development of youth exchanges and of Method of Coordination in the youth field it can be argued exchanges of socio-educational instructors and encouraging that significant steps have been taken in attempting to the participation of young people in democratic life in establish a constructive and valuable dialogue with the Europe. young. A further opportunity will be the European The Draft Constitutional Treaty also redefined the values of the Union in terms which accorded with ...it is also up to young people to make the some of the demands made by the Youth Convention most of their opportunity to vote and in relation to the respect for human dignity, liberty, demand change from their MEPs. democracy and human rights as fundamental values of the Union. Indeed article 46 breaks new Parliament elections next May. But it ground in promoting and defining a is also up to young people to framework for participatory make the most of their democracy. Thus, the answer opportunity to vote and to the question posed at demand change from the beginning of this their MEPs. In article is a reserved order to tackle 'Yes', the Convention the many social has started to make problems that the idea of bringing young Europe closer to its people face in citizens a reality, and Europe the the result reinforces dialogue with the European Union's the young needs to commitment to young people's be deepened and participation in democratic life. broadened in order to However, this must be built upon to ensure ensure that some of Europe's that dialogue encompasses a broad spectrum of the most vulnerable citizens are not forgotten. 2 YOFINAL.qxd 12/12/2003 16:27 Page 4 What is the European Youth Forum? The European Youth Forum is an international organisation established by national youth councils and international non- governmental youth organisations to represent the interests of young people from all over Europe at the European and International level. Its members, which are federations in themselves, bring together tens of millions of young people from all European countries. Being a recognised partner of the European Union, the Council of Europe and United Nations, the Youth Forum serves to channel the flow of information and opinions between young people and decision-makers. The European Youth Forum works to empower young people to actively participate in the shaping of Europe and the society in which they live. Through our member organisations and our representative role we want to improve the living conditions of young people as European citizens in today's world. Writers / contributors Ilias Antoniou Lucinda Creighton Tom Croft Giacomo Filibeck Mikael Garnier-Lavalley Jan Kreutz Simon-Erik Ollus Anna Sellberg Editorial team Jorge Camara Chrisitan Meseth Katy Orr Anna Sellberg Johanna Tzanidaki Creativity and graphic design Jorge Camara If you want to receive more copies, please write to: Press and Communications Officer Europeean Youth Forum rue Joseph II, 120 1000 Bruxelles Belgium or send an email to: [email protected] All pictures of Romano Prodi are property of the Audiovisual Library of the European Commission YOFINAL.qxd 12/12/2003 16:28 Page 5 YOFINAL.qxd 12/12/2003 16:28 Page 6 5 Why youth participation must go TOM CROFT further Full time volunteer ATD-Quart Monde Recently, the idea that young people should have more opportunity to participate in the political processes shaping our continent seems keep going what possible sense can "youth participation" have for to have taken root in the hearts and minds of Europe's you. However, it can not be said that young people facing and institutions. Indeed, one could even go as far to say that it is a trying to overcome such things do not have a political awareness. principle which has become firmly established: youth participation is the central plank of the European Commission's ATD Fourth World, the organisation for which I volunteer my time, "New Impetus for Youth"; the Laeken Declaration highlight beyond has a long history of reaching and engaging with young people in all doubt the need to engage young people in the European real difficulty, young people living in poverty and facing exclusion project; and member states of the European Union currently over the long-term, often growing up in such circumstances. We considering common objectives and guidelines for the know that given the chance to get involved in youth work that is participation of young people at European, national and local sensitive to their situation, where they can find acceptance and levels. respect, many of these young people find it necessary to share their experiences and develop their view of what can be done to What's more, over the last few years, in case you haven't noticed, change things. And more than this, the very fact that someone is there has been a whole host of youth events which have aimed to asking them what they really think, and then values and finds give Europe's young people a voice in the debate on Europe's important what they have to say, is something that can affirm future: the European Youth Convention, Youth 2002, Youth 2003… their own daily struggle. Some young people I have worked with You see it is not only rhetoric, real European young people are have never even been asked their view on anything in any getting together all over the place and having their say. meaningful way before.