Cyprus EU Presidency Youth Event

“We are ready to listen to you as never before,” opened Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou at the EU youth conference welcome in Cyprus. For two days young people discussed with EU member state ministerial delegates on the topic of ‘youth participation and social inclusion’, with the specific focus on young people from a migrant background. The series of workshops around the topic discussed national recommendations gathered throughout the third round of structured dialogue cycle. The outcomes of the debates, in the historical Famagusta city gate of Nicosia, led today to a list of joint recommendations that will be presented to the Council of the European Union.  

Importantly, the conference not only acknowledges the importance of the participation of young people and youth organisations in decision-making, but also recognised the pivotal role of youth organisations in fostering social inclusion. The joint recommendations therefore stress the importance of political, legal and economic support to enhance their role as facilitators. Other recommendations put forward range from citizenship education and free language courses to equal access to health care and involvement in political life for long-term residents.

The European Youth Forum welcomes the joint recommendations and as a member of the European Steering Committee for the Structured Dialogue will push for further follow-up to lead to concrete measures.

Read the joint recommendations here!

article by: European Youth Forum