Participation in Civil Society is a topic which is hard to pin down to just one aspect. With so many constant changes to the structure of our different societies, the Youth needs to be able and enabled, to participate actively within them. Thus of course the Youth must not wait for the world to change on its own. As a young generation it lays in our responsibility to shape the world and society of tomorrow.
“We signed up for this convention without a very clear image about what “civic participation” really is, and we can say that, once it is finalized, we have a much wider knowledge, not only of that topic but also of how to address the political sphere in a clear and effective way. It all became possible in less than a week in Düsseldorf. Definitely, this convention has been a good investment of time and a great opportunity to learn a lot.
Many don’t feel close to the traditional politics, but they do care about topics they feel passionate about like sustainability, mobility, Erasmus, inclusion and equality. Despite this, barely 28% of the young voters took part in the European Parliament elections 2014 – making them the elections with the lowest youth participation ever! May 2019 it’s coming and it’s time to take action and make sure the EU goes where we want – because we are the future!
From 1st of January on Romania took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU from Austria, who chaired meetings at every level in the Council, helping to ensure the continuity of the EU’s work in the Council for the last 6 months. Member states holding the presidency work together closely in groups of three, called ‘trios’. The new trio starting now includes next to Romania the presidencies of the EU member countries Finland and Croatia. Together, they set long-term goals and prepare a common agenda determining the topics and major issues that will be addressed by the Council over an 18 month period. On the basis of this programme, each of the three countries prepares its own more detailed 6-month programme. Let’s have a look at what the new trio’s plans for the next 18 months are.
Education and training in Europe have long been a matter for discussion. Even though the nations have various systems in place, there are common strands that they all follow. In this continuously changing world the education systems are taking too long to change and adapt to the skills and knowledge required by both students and teachers. Only a few existing programmes are well known and they need to be significantly improved. We would like to see the European Union supporting its member states in preparing their educational systems for a future world that will rely on educators and those pupils to be prepared.
While creativity enriches our lives, culture builds the basis of a society. Through cultural exchanges, citizens get to know each other better in Europe. As youth we are concerned about the status of creativity and culture in political decisions, especially when young people are affected. We see the need for a better cultural education and to make culture more accessible and interesting for young people. For young professionals in the cultural and creative sector it is really hard to establish trust in their abilities and to build up a career, due to a lack of support and appreciation by societies for people trying to make a living in the field. Further, we see a lack of media cooperation to present the different cultures in Europe, which would help to create dialogues and foster European integration through mutual understanding in the long run.
Youth Employment rates differ greatly among the EU countries. As members of AEGEE we are concerned about the future of young people regarding their employment. Young people are living in a fast changing world which influences their employability, not only affecting individuals but also society and Europe as a whole. In a changing world, 21st century skills and entrepreneurship will become more and more important. Existing initiatives and programs which aim to promote and increase employment and entrepreneurship are not very well-known. We see the need of the EU to take action to further promote employment and entrepreneurship and to prepare young people for their future in the labour market or as an entrepreneur.
The European Parliament and other institutions within the European Union are important, but for many not easy to understand. In our efforts to reach and educate young people about the functioning of the European Parliament, we have reached over 20.000 people monthly, and increased knowledge on the European Parliament and the elections in 2019 significantly.
I’m an Italian living in Brussels, how do I vote? This question – or at least in a similar way – will come to the minds of many European Union citizens. But why? The European integration has brought forward many achievements that have had an impact on our daily life. For example, for citizens of its member states, it has never been as convenient as today to study, work or simply live in another country of the European Union. These freedoms provide unique opportunities and play a crucial role towards the formation of a European identity.
Why democracy sucks „Why democracy sucks“, you’ll ask. „How can you say such a thing? We live in the best political system.“ Oh no, we don’t, I would say. Democracy sucks! Every 2 years I have to vote and decide between more or less the same parties and people, that in the end will not make a difference to me, will disappoint me and disregard their promises made before the elections.