Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on addressing the concerns of young people in Europe — implementing the European Pact for Youth and promoting active citizenship
Date: 2005-11-24
Institutions: Council of the European Union, Representatives of the Governments of the Member States
Subjects: integration into employment, open method of coordination, student mobility, youth movement, youth policy

24.11.2005

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 292/5

Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States,
meeting within the Council, on addressing the concerns of young people in Europe — imple-
menting the European Pact for Youth and promoting active citizenship

(2005/C 292/03)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE REPRESENTA-
TIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES, MEETING
WITHIN THE COUNCIL,

RECALL:

The European Commission's White Paper of November 2001
entitled ‘A new impetus for European youth’ (1), which was
endorsed by the Council
in its conclusions of 14 February
2002 (2) and its Resolution of 27 June 2002 (3) establishing a
framework for European cooperation in the youth field.

The European Pact for Youth, adopted by the Spring European
Council on 22 and 23 March 2005, as one of the instruments
contributing to the achievement of the Lisbon objectives of
growth and jobs. The Pact focuses on three areas: Employment,
integration and social advancement; Education, training and
mobility; Reconciliation of working life and family life (4).

WELCOME the Commission's communication on European
policies concerning youth, ‘Addressing the concerns of young
people in Europe — implementing the European Youth Pact
and promoting active citizenship’ (5).

EMPHASISE THAT:

1. The active citizenship of young people is key to building

democratic and inclusive societies at all levels.

2. Young people and their organisations have a role to play in
the development of the European Union, including contri-
buting to the Lisbon goals of boosting jobs and growth.

3. To help achieve the Lisbon employment goals, young
people need to be fully integrated into society and therefore:

4. The Community instruments that support the Lisbon part-
nership for growth and jobs, such as the ‘Education and
Training 2010’ Work Programme and the Employment and
Social
Inclusion strategies, have a key role to play in
achieving the aims of the European Pact for Youth.

5. The specific needs of young people should be taken into
account by policymakers at local, regional, national and
European level, so that the youth dimension in all relevant
policies is strengthened.

6. Young people and their organisations should be consulted
on and closely involved in the development, implementation
and follow-up of policy actions affecting them, thereby also
contributing to a greater sense of active citizenship among
young people.

7. Those active in youth work and youth organisations need to
be properly trained and qualified so as to provide effective
support for young people.

NOTE THAT the European framework for cooperation in the
youth field now comprises three strands:

— supporting the active citizenship of young people, through

the Youth Open Method of Coordination,

— the European Pact for Youth, which highlights youth issues
in core areas of the Lisbon partnership for growth and jobs,

— including a youth dimension in other relevant European

policies.

The Youth Programme and the forthcoming Youth in Action
Programme are complementary to this framework.

— supported in accessing the labour market and encour-
aged to develop creativity and entrepreneurial skills;

AGREE THAT:

— equipped with knowledge,

and competences
through high-quality, relevant education, training and
mobility experiences in the formal as well as the non-
formal sector;

skills

— able to reconcile working life and family life.

(1) 14441/01 – COM(2001) 681 final.
(2) OJ C 119, 22.5.2002, p. 6.
(3) OJ C 168, 13.7.2002, pp. 2-5.
(4) 7619/1/05. Conclusion 37.
(5) 9679/05 – COM(2005) 206 final.

1. Work should continue on supporting active citizenship
through the priorities agreed under the Youth Open Method
of Coordination: participation, information, voluntary activ-
ities and a better knowledge of youth, including improving
knowledge of the issues raised in the European Pact for
Youth.

2. The aims of the European Pact for Youth will be pursued

within the Lisbon partnership for jobs and growth.

C 292/6

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

24.11.2005

3. When developing a youth dimension in other relevant Euro-
pean policies, priority will be given to anti-discrimination,
healthy lifestyles,
including sport, and research on youth
issues.

making innovative use of
information technology and
holding regular conferences between young people, their
organisations, researchers in the youth field and policy-
makers;

4. When implementing the framework for cooperation:

— complementarity and coherence between the three

strands should be ensured;

— young people

and their organisations

should be
consulted through the European Youth Forum, national
youth councils or similar bodies and dialogue with non-
organised young people should also be developed;

— the mechanisms and existing timetables for each strand

should be respected;

— all discrimination based on sex, race or ethnic origin,
religion or belief, disability or sexual orientation should
be combated.

INVITE THE MEMBER STATES TO:

1. continue to implement the common objectives agreed under

the Youth Open Method of Coordination;

2. ensure effective follow-up of the European Pact for Youth
when implementing the Lisbon Strategy, for example by
setting measurable objectives;

3. develop structured dialogue with young people and their
organisations at national, regional and local level on policy
actions affecting them, with the involvement of researchers
in the youth field.

INVITE THE COMMISSION TO:

2. develop, promote and facilitate access to the European
Youth Portal, EURES, PLOTEUS and EURODESK in order to
help young people make the most of opportunities to work,
volunteer and study abroad;

3. ensure effective follow-up of the European Pact for Youth

when implementing the Lisbon Strategy.

CALL ON THE MEMBER STATES AND THE COMMISSION TO:

1. encourage, for young people and those active in youth work
and youth organisations, the recognition of non-formal and
informal learning, for example through developing a ‘Youth-
pass’ and considering its inclusion in Europass, and consider
the validation of such learning, whilst taking account of
national situations and respecting Member States' compe-
tences;

2.

identify obstacles to and exchange, develop and apply good
practice concerning young people's mobility in order to
make it easier for them to work, volunteer, train and study
throughout the European Union and further afield;

3. make the best possible use of the opportunities offered by
Community and Member State policies, programmes and
other instruments to enhance young people's active citizen-
ship, social inclusion, employability and educational attain-
ment;

1. develop structured dialogue with young people at European
for example by

level on policy actions affecting them,

4. evaluate the framework for European cooperation in the

youth field in 2009.