Youth Forum's Council of Members with high-level speakers and policy debates

The European Youth Forum's Council of Members (COMEM), which brings together all of the Youth Forum's members in order to take decisions on the policy of the platform, has started today (17th of April). The first day of the meeting, was action packed, with a public plenary debate on "Creating Quality Jobs for Young People", policy commissions debating key issues and resolutions that will be made during the meeting and thematic squares exploring issues of interest to our members.

The Public Plenary included an introductory speech by Michel Servoz, Director General of DG of Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion from the European Commission. Mr Servoz highlighted what the Commission is doing to tackle unemployment, including the Youth Guarantee and the Investment Plan for Europe, whilst also touching on education and the "skills mismatch" which must be tackled. A public panel followed, with interventions from:

• Caroline Jenner, Chief Executive Officer of Junior Achievement Youth Enterprise (JAYE)
• Santo Milasi, Economist, ILO Research Department
• Sebastian Koening, Economist/Social Policy Analyst at the OECD

The panel discussion explored issues around preparing young people for the workplace and making sure that education systems, include the opportunities for work experience, entrepreneurial skills and access to apprenticeships. They welcomed EU schemes, such as the Youth Guarantee, but emphasised that they should be well targeted in order to best help young people.

Kris Peteers, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Employment, Economy and Consumer Affairs, in Charge of Foreign Trade closed the Plenary session by commenting on the situation in Belgium, saying that whilst there is a great deal of effort being made to help young people into quality jobs, there is much more to be done.

The COMEM continued with in-depth policy discussions on: quality employment; inclusive societies; the youth work convention; and the structured dialogue. Finally, delegates attended informal sessions for debate arranged by Youth Forum members.

One day two of the COMEM were held the elections of the members of the Advisory Council on Youth at the Council of Europe. Congratulation to the elected members. Find the list below.

INGYO (International Non-Governmental Youth Organisations)

ALFRANSEDER, Emanuel, ESN
BARBIERI Alice, WAGGGS
GERMOVŠEK ŽNIDARŠIČ MAtic, YEN
GRDOSIC Marko, AEGEE
HENNELLY Patrick, WOSM
KLINTING Charlotte, EFIL
MANEVSKI Matej, YEU
POÓR Veronika, TEJO
PRIMOŽIČ Rok, ESU
ROS Tinna, YMCA
SCHARLING Christian, IFLRY
SUBOTIC Srdjan, IUSY
TOLU Romina, IGLYO

NYC (National Youth Councils)

BOKO Marko, MMH
DE LANGE Christel, DNYC
HUSÁK Jan, CRDM
OLIN PAPE Anja, LSU
OFSTAD MALNES Magnus, LNU
ZEMAITIS Karolis, LiJOT

NB: The AC is made up of 30 representatives from youth NGOs and networks who provide opinions and input on all youth sector activities. The AC also ensures that young people are involved in other activities of the Council of Europe.

More info on the AC on Youth here.

COMEM continues, with resolutions to be voted on and candidates for the Council of Europe Advisory Council on Youth and much more!

Follow live on Twitter using #COMEM

Pictures from #COMEM so far:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153261311924851.1073741837.80161254850&type=1