During the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) plenary session, EPP-CoR members held a debate on the European Year of Youth and underlined the importance of engaging youths to influence policies through local democracy.
Jelena Drenjanin, EPP-CoR 1st Vice-President and Deputy Mayor of Huddinge said that European regional and local authorities acknowledge the importance given to inclusivity and recognise that the objectives of the European Year of Youth can only be fulfilled by taking into account the needs and aspirations of all young people, in their diversity. Addressing youths participating in the debate, Drenjanin said "Your ambitions, and your creativity, are key to the renewal and the success of the European project, starting from your own local communities."
Romy Karier, Member of Clervaux municipal council called for further support to non-formal education. "More than ever, youth organizations and associations have become strong partners in the field of non-formal education. They bring people together, generate cohesion and strengthen the social ties within our societies. The post-pandemic period should be used as an opportunity to boost association life in our communities."
Karier, an educator by profession who is in daily contact with young people said that basic digital skills represent a must for participation in a rapidly-changing society and in the labour market. In this regard she pointed out that the European Year of Youth will have a tremendous responsibility in this sense.
Lídia Pereira, Member of the European Parliament and President of the Youth of the European People's Party said that the EU is facing long-term challenges and transformation that will have a big impact on the younger generation. In this regard, she stressed that the EU must ensure that it can reconnect with the young generation through all future policy making and that a stronger effort must be made to listen to the concerns of young people. "The EU must ensure that these young generations trust and believe in the EU’s capacity to shape their future, in a sustainable and prosperous way." She added "Future EU policies will connect with youths if they can influence them. Local and regional authorities can play an important role in this regard."
During the Plenary session, members of the CoR adopted a resolution on the European Year of Youth. The resolution welcomes the European Commission's proposal to designate the year 2022 as the "European Year of Youth". It emphasises that the European Year of Youth 2022 should be an opportunity to encourage youth participation in democratic life with a view to strengthening both participatory and representative democracy. To this end, it underlines the need to involve young people in decision-making at EU, national, regional and local levels, including for policies relating to the green and digital transitions. It also underlines the key role of local and regional authorities in promoting youth participation in local democracy or through support for local youth organisations, youth councils and youth parliaments.
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