Author (Person) | Bower, Helen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Publisher | ProQuest Information and Learning | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series Title | In Focus | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series Details | 15.4.03 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publication Date | 15/04/2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Content Type | News, Overview, Topic Guide | In Focus | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In an attempt to encourage young people across the EU to play a more active role in democratic life, the European Commission adopted a number of objectives on 14 April 2003 that it intends to place before the Member States who are then responsible for translating them into practical action. The objectives focus on participation and information; two themes from the European Commission's 2001 White Paper on Youth Policy. The details of the operational objectives were established after consultations with the Member States and youth organisations on the existing legal framework and what had already been achieved. Three specific targets relating to increasing participation have been identified, along with initiatives aimed at achieving these. They are:
The European Commission proposals on information are seen as a precondition for establishing greater participation amongst young people. The aim is to improve young people's access to information services by:
In an attempt to improve the quality of information available the European Commission is proposing a new code of quality standards for information and advice services for young people as well as new initiatives to get young people more involved in the production and distribution of such information. The European Commission's objectives will be put into practice by the 'open method of co-ordination' through the exchange of best practice and regular progress monitoring. An assessment of the achievements of the Commission's proposals will be made in 2005. The proposed objectives have been welcomed by the European Youth Forum (EYF), which participated in the European Commission's consultations in February 2003. However the EYF emphasised the need for a 'coherent youth information strategy' and called on the European Commission to give more attention to capacity building and equipping young people with the necessary skills to deal with information. Information and participation are just two of four themes selected by the European Commission as part of a framework on European co-operation in the youth field up until 2004, which was adopted by the Council of the European Union on 27 June 2002. The other two themes concern the promotion of voluntary activities among young people and increased understanding and knowledge of youth. The European Commission agreed to prioritise the first two themes and began sending targeted questionnaires to the Member States from July 2002 as well as consulting with young people, youth associations and, where applicable, national youth councils or similar organisations. Work on the themes of 'voluntary work' and 'knowledge of youth' is due to get underway in 2003. The Council of youth ministers will meet on 5-6 May 2003 to discuss the European Commission's proposals and this will be followed by a broader discussion of youth policy involving a wide range of stakeholders at the Youth gathering in Crete in June 2003.
Helen Bower Compiled: Tuesday, 15 April 2003 The European Commission adopted a number of objectives on 14 April 2003 that aim to increase the participation of young peoplein the EU's democratic life and improve their access to information. |
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Subject Categories | Geography, Politics and International Relations |
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