EN Official Journal of the European Union C 393/15

Conclusions of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, of 27 November 2012 on the participation and social inclusion of young people with emphasis on those with a migrant background

2012/C 393/05

THE COUNCIL AND THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL,

RECALLING THE POLITICAL BACKGROUND TO THIS ISSUE AS SET OUT IN THE ANNEX, IN PARTICULAR THAT:

1. Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) refers to respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities as core values of the European Union. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail (1);

2. Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) provides for European Union action to be aimed at encouraging the participation of young people in democratic life in Europe;

3. the Resolution on a renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-2018) (2) refers to the promotion of young people’s active citizenship and social inclusion of all young people among its overall objectives, and identifies participation and social inclusion as two of its eight fields of action. The Resolution sets out that recognising all young people as a resource to society, and upholding the right of young people to participate in the development of policies affecting them by means of a continuous structured dialogue with young people and youth organisations, are among the guiding principles that should be observed in all policies and activities concerning young people;

4. Europe 2020 puts forward three mutually reinforcing priorities based on smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. As part of its flagship initiative, European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, it specifically references, the need to ensure social and territorial cohesion such that the benefits of growth and jobs are widely shared, and that people experiencing poverty and social exclusion are enabled to live in dignity and take an active part in society. It also references the area of Youth as a key domain within which the Youth on the Move initiative is tasked with enhancing the performance of education systems, both formal and non-formal, and to facilitate the entry of young people to the labour market.

AND NOTING THAT:

5. these conclusions target all young people with emphasis on those with a migrant background (3).

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT:

6. active participation of young people covers all areas affecting young people's lives, as well as active involvement in democratic processes;

7. social inclusion of young people entails access to services such as health, formal education and non-formal and informal learning, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), culture, housing, social services and employment, regardless of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation;

8. racial, ethnic, cultural and religious diversity is a central feature of the European Union. Mobility and migration have been a major source of diversity; in 2011 there were 20,5 million third-country nationals, generally referred to as immigrants in the EU context, living in the EU, amounting to some 4 % of the total EU population and 12,8 million EU citizens living in another Member State than their own, representing 2,5 % of the EU27 population (4);

9. the age of immigrants varies across the Member States. More than half in 2011 were between 20 and 34 years of age (5);

10. the negative effects of the economic and financial crisis on growth and employment are particularly affecting young people with fewer opportunities. In particular, the European Union youth unemployment rate has reached the troubling levels of over 20 %, and rising, for those under the age of 25. 21,1 % of young people aged 18-24 are at risk of poverty;

11. the events in the Southern Mediterranean since the end of 2010 have triggered significant movements of young migrants, with a direct impact on EU borders;

12. the European Fund for the Integration of non-EU immigrants (EIF) seeks to promote European cooperation, with the objective of granting comparable rights, responsibilities and opportunities for all (6).

CONSIDERING THAT:

13. formal education and non-formal and informal learning are of vital importance for full integration and social cohesion. All young people should have equal access to education, training and the labour market. Through the integration of young people with a migrant background in the educational system of the receiving country, they can broaden their knowledge, skills and competences, which significantly helps them to find employment;

14. non-formal and informal learning supports formal education and can enhance the social and economic inclusion of young people. In this context, the work of youth organisations and youth workers by, with and for young people, particularly those with a migrant background, is important;

15. a great number of non formal and informal learning activities are promoted through EU funding programmes. Certain programmes, such as youth programmes, are adjusted to the needs of youth and are accessible by every young person regardless of their diverse education level, background and choices;

16. a growing number of studies have shown that young women and men with a migrant background continue to face major disadvantages in education, on the labour market, and in transition from education to the labour market, despite the fact that a large portion of this group of people has been socialised or born in their country of residence (7). Furthermore, data indicate that young women with a migrant background are more affected by unemployment and social exclusion than young men;

17. successful integration of migrants is essential for the prosperity, mutual understanding and communication not only of the individual migrants and local society but also of the EU at large, since it contributes to both economic growth and cultural richness;

18. empowering young mobile EU citizens and young people with a migrant background to fulfil their potential to participate actively at local, regional, national and European level is an essential factor for the achievement of greater social inclusion and for the sound, sustainable and democratic functioning and further development of societies;

19. racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance continue to be a strong concern in the EU, including for young people with a migrant background. Any action aiming at young people, including those with a migrant background, must respect the EU Charter of Fundamental rights, in particular the promotion of non-discrimination, the rights of the child and the protection of personal data and it must not lead to stigmatisation of any particular group;

20. strategies aiming towards Social inclusion should facilitate the participation of young people with a migrant background in democratic, economic, social and cultural life.

IDENTIFY THE FOLLOWING PRIORITIES TO ENHANCE PARTICIPATION AND SOCIAL INCLUSION OF YOUNG PEOPLE WITH A MIGRANT BACKGROUND:

It is vital to promote the full participation and the social inclusion of all young people, especially those with a migrant background, in particular by;

21. engaging all young people in the development, implementation and evaluation of all policies which affect them;

22. promoting intercultural dialogue and understanding; notably by actively involving persons from different cultural backgrounds in society, and thus combating discrimination, racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance;

23. promoting equality between young women and men, in particular by providing equal access to quality education and training; and facilitating smooth transitions from education to the labour market;

24. recognising the key role of non-formal and informal learning, and of validating its learning outcomes;

25. recognising the role that youth organisations, including migrant youth organisations and other parts of civic society, play in supporting the inclusion of young people;

26. engaging actively the local, regional, and national authorities, in the implementation of social inclusion policies; and enhancing their cooperation in issues associated with migration, including support for the participation and social inclusion of young people;

27. recognising the importance of learning the official language(s) of the receiving country, as well as other foreign languages.

INVITE THE MEMBER STATES, WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE SPHERES OF COMPETENCE AND WITH DUE REGARD FOR THE PRINCIPLE OF SUBSIDIARITY TO:

28. take into account the specific needs of, and difficulties faced by young people with a migrant background in policy development and service delivery; provide easily accessible services for young people who have experienced or are in danger of experiencing discrimination, xenophobia and racism; recognising that active citizenship of young people […] is equally based on their responsibilities and commitment to active participation in society;

29. promote youth work and youth policy, which can enhance active participation, social inclusion, solidarity and intercultural dialogue of young people, leading to the acceptance of the growing diversity among all young people; develop innovative methods to carry out youth work in areas where young people meet;

30. promote the personal development and well-being of all young people, through youth work opportunities, so that they can realise their potential and become active and engaged members of society;

31. support the active involvement and participation of young people with a migrant background in their local communities, in particular as regards non-formal and informal learning opportunities;

32. increase accessibility to cultural, sport and leisure-time activities, since they are important tools for the social inclusion of young people with a migrant background and young mobile EU citizens;

33. develop education and training systems as well as provide teachers with the training and competences needed, that respond to the specific needs of each individual learner, including better learning support for young people with a migrant background;

34. promote the multilingualism of young mobile EU citizens and young people with a migrant background and support the acquisition of the official language(s) in the country where they live, in order to enable them to acquire knowledge and to participate fully in educational, cultural and social activities;

35. cooperate with youth workers and youth organisations, including migrant youth organisations, in developing, promoting and supporting accessible peer learning activities in order to foster mutual respect, tolerance and intercultural understanding;

36. promote social inclusion in the information society by e.g. enhancing media literacy among young people with a migrant background;

37. support young mobile EU citizens and young people with a migrant background in making the transition from education or training to work and ensure equal access for all young people to youth guarantee schemes according to national legislation and services;

38. promote the participation of young mobile EU citizens and young people with a migrant background in decision-making structures and enhance their effective participation and contribution to the policies and programmes that affect them;

39. support networking and stimulate strategic partnerships between youth organisations, including migrant youth organisations, authorities at local, regional and national level as well as the private sector to organise projects and events led by young people that recognise diversity and promote inclusion.

INVITE THE MEMBER STATES AND THE COMMISSION, WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE SPHERES OF COMPETENCE AND WITH DUE REGARD FOR THE PRINCIPLE OF SUBSIDIARITY TO:

40. engage all young people in the development, implementation and evaluation of all policies which affect them;

41. analyse the gender differentiated situation of young women and men with a migrant background and establish measures for equal opportunities and gender equality;

42. recognise the important role played by the local society in supporting young people with a migrant background to expand their knowledge, skills and competencies, through formal education and non-formal and informal learning and development opportunities;

43. make optimal use of the 2013 European Year of Citizens with a view to focusing on the mobility and full participation of young mobile EU citizens in European society and strengthen the awareness of the rights and responsibilities of young mobile EU citizens and young people with a migrant background to promote cohesion and mutual understanding;

44. promote the cross-sectoral cooperation and synergy of various stakeholders dealing with migration issues at national, regional and European level;

45. support programmes and activities that facilitate access to employment and improve employability of young mobile EU citizens and young people with a migrant background, through career guidance and information on employment, education and training opportunities;

46. examine possibilities of youth information and counselling services to target young people with a migrant background, in order to provide tailor-made and innovative information and counselling via face-to-face and online methods;

47. encourage and support the cooperation between youth organisations, including migrant youth organisations, and media in promoting an unbiased image of young people with a migrant background in order to enhance social inclusion;

48. welcome the adoption of a proposed Council recommendation on the validation of non-formal and informal learning and recognise the role of youth organisations among others as key providers of non-formal and informal learning, which is of vital importance for young people with a migrant background;

49. strive to ensure that the implementation of the next generation of EU programmes and other instruments targeting young people are accessible and adapted to the needs of all young people and strengthen the support and funding of youth activities at all levels that focus on social inclusion and intercultural dialogue of young people from EU and non-EU countries.

INVITE THE COMMISSION, WITHIN ITS COMPETENCE TO:

50. promote good practices on ‘Social Inclusion’ of young mobile EU citizens and young people with a migrant background, based on relevant studies, such as the policy report of the Joint Research Centre about ICTs for disadvantaged youth and the study on the Value of youth work, which will map different youth work activities and their value for young people in the EU;

51. enhance synergies between relevant policies, in particular the link between the EU Youth strategy and the ‘Inclusive Growth’ priority of Europe 2020;

52. gather further evidence and knowledge on the topics of Participation and Social Inclusion of young people with a migrant background and the young mobile EU citizens.

(1) Art. 2 of the Treaty on European Union.

(2) OJ C 311, 19.12.2009, p. 1.

(3) For the purposes of these conclusions the term ‘Young people with a migrant background’ will be used to describe legally resident young people who are third-country nationals irrespective of where they were born and those who became nationals of the receiving Member State but whose parents were born outside the EU. For the purposes of these conclusions, the term ‘young mobile EU citizens’ will be used to cover those EU citizens who reside in an EU country where they or their parents were not born, thus exercising their right to free movement and residence under the Treaty. There is a clear difference between the legal frameworks which apply to third-country nationals and to EU Citizens who exercise their right of free movement. It should be noted that all measures referring to integration apply to third-country nationals while the inclusion and active participation in local society applies to both the young mobile EU citizens and young people with a migrant background.

(4) Eurostat-Statistics in focus 31/2012.

(5) Source Eurostat (migr_pop2ctz).

(6) Council Decision 2007/435/EC of 25 June 2007 establishing the European Fund for the Integration of third-country nationals for the period 2007 to 2013 as part of the General programme Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows (OJ L 168, 28.6.2007, p. 18).

(7) The FRA study on migrants, minorities and employment (2011).