More youthful EU policies!

MEPs sponsoring the campaign Austria Christa PRETS "It is essential to include the young people in the political dialogue, because they are the ones who will shape the future. Furthermore, agreed policies have to be visibly implemented" Greece Marie PANAYOTOPOULOS-CASSIOTOU "Since the beginning of the new Millenium, the EU has been looking at young people. The written Youth Declaration, which will soon be open to ratification by the deputies, aims at linking the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy to young people's concerns in Europe. Practical solutions need to be given to the difficulties they have to face through the implementation of the European Youth Pact, focusing more particularly on the provision of qualifications adapted to the requirements of the employment market, on the fight against unemployment and on the enforcement of measures which enable young people to realise their hopes in all the other areas of life (family, participation in social, cultural, artistic life, etc.)." Romania Ramona Nicole MÅNESCU “I was and I will always be confident of the power of young people to change the future of their communities. There are two aspects that we have to consider: on one hand we have to support them in order to be more proactive and to involve in the democratic life and on the other hand we have the duty to involve them in the decision making process, especially when those decisions affect their lives, directly. It is crucial for all Member States to involve the young people in the political dialogue in order to easier identify, together, the practical solutions to their problems and needs.” Belgium Bart STAES "Despite the EU-legislation on employment, we still find too many young people jobless and living in precarious situations. I ask the Commission strongly not to take youngsters for granted and to think about them when making legislation. Young people are too important to be forgotten" France Marie-Hélène DESCAMPS "Aware of the role young people play in the construction of Europe, the EU has adopted several documents in recent years calling for a better consideration of young people's needs in the implementation of the Lisbon strategy. Nevertheless, young people are still facing difficulties in  life long learning, employment, social integration, health, autonomy and mobility but also as regards fundamental rights and non discrimination. Therefore we have decided with four other MEPs to present a written declaration calling for a bigger consideration of young people in the elaboration of European policies."