Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Promoting young people's full participation in education, employment and society {SEC(2007) 1084} {SEC(2007) 1093}
Date: 2007-09-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European citizenship, European social policy, economic and social cohesion, education policy, employment policy, young person

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 5.9.2007 
COM(2007) 498 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 

Promoting young people's full participation in education, employment and society 

{SEC(2007) 1084} 
{SEC(2007) 1093} 

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COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 

Promoting young people's full participation in education, employment and society 

1. 

INTRODUCTION  

Empowering young people and creating favourable conditions for them to develop their skills, 
to work and to participate actively in society is essential for the sound economic and social 
development of the European Union, particularly in the context of globalisation, knowledge-
based economies and ageing societies where it is crucial that every young person is given the 
possibility to fulfil his or her potential.  

While  overall  conditions  for  young  people  in  Europe  today  are  positive  –  freedom  and 
security, prosperity, longer life expectancy –, there is increasing concern that many of them 
cannot prosper. High rates of child poverty, poor health, school drop-out and unemployment 
among a too large number of young people, indicate a need to review the investments Europe 
is making in its youth1 starting earlier, also taking into account the essential role of families2. 
Social  exclusion  of  young  people  carries  high  social  and  economic  costs  and  needs  to  be 
prevented. 

The  challenges  young  people  are  facing  today  are  complex  and  diverse.  There  are  more 
opportunities to learn and participate but less established pathways. Maintaining growth and 
prosperity in Europe, whilst promoting social cohesion and sustainable development, depends 
on a full contribution and participation by all young people, all the more so since their number 
relative to the population as a whole is shrinking. Young people will have to bear the growing 
cost of an ageing population, which calls for an intergenerational response3.  

There  is  therefore  a  need  for  a  transversal  youth  strategy,  building  on  cooperation  between 
policy  makers  and  stakeholders  at  European,  national,  regional  and  local  levels.  Member 
States  play  the  main  role  in  implementing  youth  policy.  In  this  perspective  they  already 
committed themselves in the European Youth Pact to give special attention to young people 
within  the  Lisbon  Strategy4.  The  EU  can  play  a  complementary  role  by  offering  financial 
support and policy coordination. A youth policy framework has been progressively setup with 
the  support  of  the  European  Parliament  and  other  institutions  since  the  White  Paper  on 
Youth5. Closer coordination between this framework and other policies impacting on youth, 
together  with  a  stronger  focus  on  youth  in  such  policies,  would  be  helpful  to  address  the 
challenges  faced  by  young  people  more  efficiently,  and  this  is  the  purpose  of  this 
Communication. 

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 

BEPA April 2007. 
European Alliance of Families launched at Spring European Council in 2007. 
COM(2006) 571, COM(2007) 244. 
COM(2005) 206. 
COM(2001) 681, Council Resolution C 168/2 (2002). 

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Furthermore,  promoting  young  people's  full  participation  in  society  would  benefit  from  a 
strong partnership between the EU and young people. It is proposed here that this could take 
the form of a commitment by the EU and Member States to develop better opportunities for 
young people and a commitment by young people themselves to play an active part.  

2. 

BETTER AND MORE EDUCATION FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE 

Education  is  crucial  for  young  people's  transitions  into  the  labour  market  and  successful 
integration and participation in society. However, a significant number of young people leave 
education  systems  without  having  acquired  the  skills  needed  for  a  smooth  transition  into 
employment. 

Nearly  one  in  six  young  people  in  the  EU  are  early  school  leavers.  Member  States  aim  to 
reduce  this  figure  to  an  average  of  10%  by  2010,  but  it  is  uncertain  whether  this  can  be 
achieved.  One  in  four  young  adults  (ages  25-29)  has  not  completed  upper  secondary 
education level. Surveys point to considerable deficiencies in pupils' mastery of basic literacy 
and  numeracy  skills,  which  constitute  a  serious  obstacle  to  progression  into  vocational 
training  or  higher  education,  leaving  them  to  face  a  precarious  future  in  society  and  the 
modern labour market6. 

Europe's current patchy provision of early childhood education7 – the great benefits of which 
are  well  established8  –  could  be  improved.  Efforts  must  be  centred  on  developing  key 
competences9  from  a  very  early  age,  starting  with  children  in  disadvantaged  areas  and 
creating accompanying mechanism to prevent early school leaving. 

Education systems should deliver efficient and relevant education in a lifecycle perspective, 
stimulating the individual's potential for creativity and autonomy, while avoiding mismatches 
with the labour market. Young people need to be prepared for entry into the labour market but 
also  to  be  able  to  carry  on  their  education  throughout  their  lives,  for  their  personal 
development  and  to  help  them  adapt  to  changing  professional  circumstances.  Developing 
communication skills in foreign languages should be promoted in this context. 

These are the major challenges - all the more pressing in a globalised and knowledge-based 
economy  -  which  education  systems  must  address  if  they  are  to  meet  the  needs  of  today's 
young  people.  The  Education  and  Training  2010  work  programme10  provides  an  EU-level 
framework supporting the modernisation of Member States' education and training systems. A 
stronger political focus on implementing good policies and practices that have emerged from 
this  process  would  be  beneficial.  By  directing  investment  to  develop  early  childhood 
education for all and raising the quality of its provision, Member States can more effectively 
address the problem of early school leaving and educational disadvantage. 

6 
7 
8 
9 

10 

Progress Report 2007. 
Pre-primary education. 
COM(2006) 481. 
Recommendation  2006/962/EC:  these  are  communication  in  the  mother  tongue,  communication  in 
foreign languages, mathematical competence and basic competences in science and technology, digital 
competence,  learning  to  learn,  social  and  civic  competences,  sense  of  initiative  and  entrepreneurship, 
and cultural awareness and expression. 
C 142/1 (2002). 

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The Commission 

–  invites Member States in their national lifelong learning strategies to prioritise the quality 

and the quantity of investment to early childhood education  

–  invites  Member  States  to  modernise  higher  education  through  changes  to  governance, 

funding and curricula 

–  invites Member States to build a stronger focus on education and training in the National 
Reform Programmes in order to avoid mismatches between education outcomes and labour 
market  requirements  e.g.  by  developing  more  and  better  counselling  opportunities  for 
young  people  and  building  closer  links  between  education  institutions  and  the  world  of 
work 

–  invites Member States to improve the labour market relevance, attractiveness and openness 
of  the  vocational  education  and  training  in  order  to  better  prepare  young  people  for  the 
labour  market,  e.g.  through  partnerships  between  stakeholders  -  including  social  partners 
and sectoral organisations 

–  invites  Member  States  to  implement  the  European  Qualifications  Framework  which  will 
support the mobility of young students and workers and the validation of what they have 
learned through formal and informal paths 

–  together with Member States, will develop the youth-specific elements within Europass11, 
based  on  the  Youthpass  delivered  within  the  framework  of  the  Youth  in  Action 
Programme, to facilitate the access of young people to mobility and lifelong learning 

3. 

YOUTH AND EMPLOYMENT: A CHALLENGE FOR EUROPE 

Using the full potential of youth is a requisite for future economic growth and social cohesion 
in the EU. Labour markets need to urgently respond to these challenges in order to fulfil the 
potential of the youth population.  

3.1. 

Youth unemployment: a wasted resource12 

Youth  unemployment  (ages  15-24)  is  a  key  concern  for  Europe:  it  stands  at  17.4%13.  This 
constitutes  a  waste  of  human  capital.  Over  the  last  25  years,  no  real  breakthrough  has  been 
achieved  in  reducing  it  despite  a  general  rise  in  educational  attainment.  In  the  current 
economic upswing with an estimated 7 million more persons moving into employment during 
the 2005-2008 Lisbon cycle, labour market performance continues to develop less favourably 
for young people. They are more than twice as likely to be unemployed than prime-age adults. 
Young  adults'  unemployment  often  turns  into  long-term  unemployment  (over  50%  of  the 
unemployed aged 25-29) or inactivity. Young women are overrepresented among the inactive 
and unemployed, and the gap to men increases with age. 

11 

12 

13 

Decision  No  2241/2004/EC:  Europass  provides  a  community  framework  for  transparency  of 
qualifications  and  competences  improving  the  opportunities  for  young  people  to  make  their  learning 
outcomes more visible. 
See  detailed  analysis  in  SEC(2007)  1093  presented  with  this  Communication,  and  Employment 
Observatory 2005 Review. 
EU-27 youth unemployment rate in 2006. For more details on figures see SEC(2007) 1093. 

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Youth  unemployment  has  long  been  regarded  as  a  temporary  phenomenon  in  the  transition 
from education to the labour market. However, the causes of youth employment problems and 
the  risks  they  entail  have  to  be  reconsidered  in  the  changing  demographic  and  economic 
context.  Skills  and  education  (or  their  lack)  is  one  key  explanation,  but  difficult  transitions 
and  labour  market  segmentation  are  also  parts  of  the  problem.  Regional  disparities  in  some 
Member States reinforce such problems. 

As  a  consequence  of  educational  shortcomings  a  quarter  of  all  youngsters  arrive  at  the 
threshold  of  the  labour  market  without  sufficient  qualifications  (see  Chapter  2).  Half  of  all 
new jobs created in the EU today require high level qualifications, and most of the rest at least 
medium level. Unsurprisingly the unemployment rate of low qualified youth is significantly 
higher  than  for  more  educated  peers.  Changes  in  labour  demand  have  increased  the 
disadvantage  of  low  qualified  young  people.  Knowledge  and  service-based  economies  still 
create jobs not requiring a high formal qualification, but they demand more varied skills and 
competences than needed in the past. In some countries even highly educated young people 
have  difficulties  finding  a  job  due  to  macro-economic  or  labour  market  institutions 
unfavourable to the entry of newcomers, and to a mismatch between qualifications and labour 
market demands.  

High rates of youth inactivity (other than participation in education and training) are another 
phenomenon  of  failed  labour  market  integration  and  typically  coincide  with  overall  high 
unemployment  rates.  Inactivity  has  negative  repercussions  on  the  readiness  and  economic 
capacity of young adults to raise families. Unemployment and inactivity of parents are strong 
risk factors for child poverty (see Chapter 4). 

3.2.  Improving young people's transitions: flexicurity  

Settling  into  the  labour  market  is  often  a  gradual  process,  but  becomes  a  problem  if  non-
employment spells are not filled with meaningful activity; this detracts from the individuals' 
employability.  In  many  Member  States,  one  in  three  young  people  remain  jobless  one  year 
after leaving education. 

Despite  Member  States'  reiterated  commitment  the  vast  majority  of  the  4.6  million  young 
unemployed  in  the  EU  do  not  get  the  opportunity  to  make  a  new  start  within  6  months. 
Education and labour market institutions should step up efforts in providing all young people 
with tailored guidance and counselling for choosing a suitable education pathway leading to 
labour market qualification14 hence reducing the mismatch between education outcomes and 
labour market requirements. Young people should receive more support through tailored job 
search including seizing job opportunities abroad. The EU will step up its support to Member 
States cooperation for promoting mobility (e.g. EURES "Your First Job Abroad" initiative). 

Establishing  early  links  between  education  and  the  labour  market  is  essential  to  familiarise 
young  people  with  the  world  of  work.  Internships,  when  linked  to  the  training  or  study 
curriculum, are an important instrument in this respect, However, internships with little or no 
pay and limited educational added-value should be avoided. Member States should ensure that 
internships are properly defined. 

14 

Council Resolution Guidance, May 2004; Career Guidance Handbook. 

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Young people need appropriate employment opportunities, but having had little or no way to 
show  their  capabilities,  they  suffer  heavily  from  not  being  taken  into  jobs.  They  are 
particularly  affected  by  the  dualism  of  the  labour  market.  They  can  be  trapped  in  jobs  with 
poor  conditions  or  prospects:  for  instance  4  in  10  are  currently  in  temporary  employment; 
around a quarter works part time and even more have low paid jobs. Such employment can 
serve as a stepping stone, helping young people to establish a track record of employment, but 
for some it can lead to a cycle of permanent low quality jobs15.  

Despite  the  fact  that  Member  States  make  great  efforts  in  tackling  youth  unemployment, 
evaluations of active labour market policies  for youth have shown  that  results could  still  be 
improved16. Member States should  address more  systematically and more broadly causes of 
youth  unemployment  within  the  Lisbon  Strategy,  including  the  European  Youth  Pact.  The 
2006/2007  Lisbon  exercise  made  a  number  of  recommendations  relevant  to  youth 
employment problems.  

The  common  principles  for  flexicurity  provide  a  part  of  the  framework  to  address  the  main 
causes of youth employment problems and feeling of insecurity17. They address at the same 
time the issues of security and flexibility. In the next Lisbon cycle, starting in 2008, Member 
States  are  invited  to  establish,  based  on  their  respective  specific  challenges  and  with  active 
involvement  of  social  partners,  flexicurity  strategies  integrating  the  four  policy  components 
(flexible  and  reliable  contractual  arrangements,  effective  lifelong  learning  systems,  active 
labour market policies, modern social security systems). Policy interventions and employment 
measures  should  be  reviewed  and  tailored  to  the  national  circumstances  and  preferences. 
Member States should use the European Social Fund to provide young people with transition 
pathways  from  education  to  work,  in  particular  where  vocational  training  systems  are  less 
developed, and put a stronger focus on youth in structural policies aiming at the reduction of 
regional disparities. 

3.3.  Promoting entrepreneurship 

Europe  needs  more  entrepreneurs.  Only  15%  of  workers  are  employers  or  self-employed  in 
the EU and figures dwindle to 4.2% for young people18. However, over half of young people 
indicate  that  they  would  be  interested  in  following  an  entrepreneurial  route19.  Fostering  the 
acquisition of entrepreneurial mindsets through education and training is crucial and has been 
recognised  as  a  key  competence.  The  European  Youth  Pact  and  recent  Commission 
initiatives20 also highlight the need for learning processes to support, as early as possible, the 
development  of  young  people's  participatory  skills  and  entrepreneurial  self-confidence  and 
know-how.  

There  is  a  need  to  create  favourable  conditions  for  young  entrepreneurs,  by  providing 
information,  financial  incentives  and  lifting  unnecessary  legal  and  administrative  burdens. 
There is also a need to address specific obstacles still met by young women to create and run 
a  business.  The  Commission  is  preparing  a  pilot  project  to  promote  the  mobility  of  young 
entrepreneurs.  

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18 
19 
20 

Employment in Europe 2004, p. 178. 
Employment in Europe 2006, p. 139. 
COM(2007) 359. 
2006 Labour Force Survey. 
Flash EB 192, April 2007. 
COM(2006) 33. See also Oslo agenda. 

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The Commission 

–  will increase monitoring of youth employment in Member States and promote best practice 

exchange 

–  will improve geographic mobility support through the EURES tool and launch in autumn 
2007  the  pilot  "Your  First  Job  Abroad"  initiative  for  young  workers  to  make  their  first 
mobility experience 

–  will propose in 2008 an initiative for a European quality charter on internships  

–  invites Member States to give more attention to youth in the National Reform Programmes 

and in multilateral surveillance 

–  invites Member States to establish flexicurity strategies including a specific focus on youth 
employment  objectives,  in  particular  in  the  light  of  the  approach  set  out  in  the  June 
Communication on flexicurity and the further work on flexicurity in the European Council  

–  invites  Member  States  to  promote  internships  with  a  strong  link  to  training  or  study 

curriculum and to define adequate frames for doing so 

–  invites Member States to promote entrepreneurship education as a key competence and to 
improve  conditions  for  young  entrepreneurs  e.g.  by  promoting  the  Entrepreneurship  and 
Innovation Programme amongst businesses and financial institutions to facilitate access to 
finance for the start-up of SME's by young entrepreneurs 

–  encourages  Member  States  to  use  national  policies  and  EU  funds,  in  particular  the 
European Social Fund, the European Regional Development Fundthe Cohesion Fund and 
the  Rural  Development  Fund  or  any  other  relevant  EU  funds  and  programmes,  for 
supporting young people's transition from education to employment and reducing regional 
disparities in this respect 

4. 

USING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF ALL  

Young  people's  participation  in  education,  employment  and  society  is  affected  by  poverty, 
social marginalisation, discrimination and poor health. Europe has a genuine interest for both 
economic and social reasons to ensure that no child and young person is excluded. 

4.1. 

Social inclusion  

Child  poverty  which  affects  19%  of  all  children  and  youngsters  below  18  is  a  major  pre-
occupation21.  Child  well-being  has  been  seen  to  have  important  effects  on  subsequent 
education and employment. Countries with high poverty risks for children and young people 
typically have high levels of unemployment. Breaking the inter-generational transmission of 
poverty is a key challenge, and policies should address the needs of both  children and their 
parents  in  a  comprehensive  manner.  More  emphasis  should  be  placed  on  pre-primary 
education and on the education of pupils living in disadvantaged areas.  

In  a  number  of  countries,  social  inclusion  of  youth  with  a  migrant  background  or  from 
disadvantaged minorities (in particular Roma) has so far not been successful. Often combined 
with  a  weak  socioeconomic  status  of  their  parents,  they  account  for  a  large  portion  of 
disadvantaged youth, have higher rates of early school leaving and often lower reading skills. 

21 

SEC(2007) 329. 

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The risk of economic inactivity for young people from ethnic minorities in some countries is 
one third higher than for the mainstream youth population.  

Achieving  social  inclusion  and  equal  opportunities  is  also  a  key  issue  for  disabled  young 
people. Eliminating barriers to their participation in education and training, as well as to their 
engagement  in  civic,  political  and  community  life  is  crucial.  For  all  youth  with  fewer 
capabilities,  active  labour  market  policies  and  measures  to  increase  their  participation  in 
vocational training are instrumental for improving opportunities to fully participate in society. 

4.2.  Gender imbalances  

Young  women  experience  higher  unemployment  rates  than  men  and  are  more  often  in  low 
quality,  part-time  and  fixed-term  jobs.  Although  they  have  made  substantial  progress  in  the 
last  decades  in  education,  their  potential  is  still  only  partially  reflected  in  labour  market 
performance, including persisting pay gaps which increase with age. Gender stereotypes play 
a major role in this situation since women and men follow traditional education and training 
paths, which often place women in occupations that are less valued and remunerated. Women 
work much less in technical fields, despite the existence of labour market shortages. Young 
men are overrepresented among early school leavers. 

4.3.  Better health  

Good  health  is  a  requisite  for  building  human  capital  and  full participation.  Much  ill-health 
later in life can be prevented early on. But a relatively high and increasing number of young 
people  suffer  already  from  health  problems:  e.g.  one  child  in  five  is  overweight  or  obese, 
around  10%  of  deaths  in  young  females  and  25%  in  young  males  are  related  to  alcohol. 
Young  people's  health  is  strongly  influenced  by  family,  school  and  social  circumstances. 
Lower socio-economic status and levels of education are associated with a higher incidence of 
mental and physical health problems, drug misuse and teenage pregnancy.  

Young people are a major target group of EU health and prevention policies (in the fields of 
alcohol, drug abuse, tobacco, consumer health, nutrition and obesity and HIV/AIDS, and soon 
mental health). Greater inter-sectoral collaboration is needed to address the social dimension 
of health and create tailored actions to promote young people's health. The Commission has 
also  highlighted  the  importance  of  promoting  better  nutrition  and  physical  activity  among 
young people to improve their health22. 

The Commission 

–  invites  Member  States  to  step  up  the  fight  against  child  poverty  notably  by  promoting 
equal opportunities for children and young people with respect to education, including pre-
primary education, as well as parents' labour market participation 

–  invites Member States to equip youth organisations and youth workers to deal with health 

issues 

–  will  prepare  a  new  health  strategy  in  2007  which  will  support  tailored  actions  for  young 

people  

22 

COM(2007) 391 and COM(2007) 279. 

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–  strongly supports actions to eliminate gender stereotypes in education, culture and on the 
labour  market  by  promoting  gender  mainstreaming  and  specific  actions  in  EU  education 
and culture programmes 

5. 

ACTIVE YOUNG CITIZENS 

Since the publication of the White Paper on Youth, the Commission and Member States have 
been  working  on  policies  for  fostering  young  people's  participative  skills  and  active 
engagement  in  society23.  Shaping  youth  policies  in  constant  dialogue  with  young  people  is 
instrumental to their success. 

5.1.  Youth participation 

Youth  participation  in  democratic  institutions  and  in  a  continuous  dialogue  with  policy 
makers  is  essential  to  the  sound  functioning  of  our  democracies  and  the  sustainability  of 
policies which impact on young people’s lives.  

The  Commission  recently24  called  on  Member  States  to  continue  their  efforts  to  increase 
youth  participation  and  formulate  coherent  information  strategies  for  young  people.  The 
Commission also launched  a  genuine dialogue with young people, structured from the local 
through  to  the  European  level  which  needs  to  be  fully  implemented.  The  European  Youth 
Summit "Your Europe" held in Rome in March 2007, the European Youth Week and regular 
Presidency  Youth  events  are  positive  steps  towards  such  a  structured  dialogue  with  young 
people. 

Involvement  in  cultural  activities  can  also  enable  young  people  to  express  their  creative 
energy  and  contribute  to  fostering  active  citizenship.  Furthermore,  cultural  activities  can 
promote inclusion and facilitate intergenerational and intercultural dialogue by forging links 
between  individuals  and  helping  to  transcend  national  identity.  This  lies  at  the  heart  of  the 
European  Year  on  Intercultural  Dialogue  in  2008,  which  will  have  a  major  focus  on  young 
people. They are also key messages in the Commission's Communication on culture25.  

5.2.  Voluntary activities  

Voluntary activities provide a valuable non-formal learning experience, which enables young 
people to acquire skills and facilitate their transition from education to employment. Through 
volunteering,  young  people  develop  values  such  as  mutual  understanding,  dialogue  and 
solidarity.  However,  it  must  be  pointed  out  that  voluntary  activities  are  not  a  substitute  for 
paid employment. 

Young Europeans have a positive view of programmes encouraging voluntary activities, with 
74%  believing  that  such  programmes  are  a  good  way  of  increasing  their  participation  in 
society.  The  EU  Youth  in  Action  Programme26  provides  a  framework  for  the  European 
Voluntary Service. 

23 
24 
25 
26 

Council Resolution C 168/2 (2002). 
COM(2006) 417. 
COM(2007) 242. 
From 1996 to 2006, 30 000 young European have benefited from this scheme. 

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Member  States'  reports  on  the  implementation  of  the  common  objectives  adopted  for 
voluntary activities within the Open Method of Coordination (OMC)27 show that exchanges 
of good practice, peer learning activities and evaluation tools would bring an added value in 
developing voluntary activities28. 

Obstacles such as visa difficulties and lack of insurance should be eliminated, and the linkage 
to  entitlements  to  social  security  provisions,  including  unemployment  benefits,  needs  to  be 
improved.  Cross-sectoral  cooperation  between  different  authorities  and  appropriate  legal 
frameworks  are  necessary29.  Recognition  of  skills  gained  by  young  people  in  volunteering 
contributes to facilitating their transition from education to employment. Good practices exist 
but a more coherent approach is needed, building on the ongoing reflection launched at EU 
level30. 

5.3.  Young people and the EU: A strengthened partnership  

Institutions  and  policies  have  a  key  role  to  play  in  broadening  opportunities  for  the  young 
generation to participate in society but young people themselves must also develop a sense of 
responsibility  for  their  education,  health,  integration  in  professional  life  and  engagement  in 
society.  

Youth organisations are a key resource in this respect. The role of the European Youth Forum 
is important in engaging such organisations, in particular national and local youth Councils, as 
well as young people with fewer opportunities in the structured dialogue with policy makers. 

The  development  of  the  European  Union  calls  for  a  strong  commitment.  In  a  recent 
Eurobarometer young people have expressed their support for the EU and  it  is  important to 
build on this31.  

The Commission proposes to reinforce the existing partnership between EU Institutions and 
youth representatives in a declaration highlighting the relevance of a structured dialogue with 
young people at all levels and in the fields covered by this Communication. The agenda is to 
be  defined  together  with  young  people.  The  dialogue  should  associate  relevant  stakeholders 
and  youth  organisations.  It  should  also  include  young  people  with  fewer  opportunities  and 
those who are not members of an organisation.  

Other areas of interest to young people, such as sustainable development, the future of the EU 
or aid to developing countries, could also be addressed in the framework of this partnership.  

An EU report on youth should be drafted every three years in association with young people, 
drawing on existing information and reporting on developments in the areas addressed in this 
communication. Ministers have welcomed such a report32.  

27 
28 
29 

30 
31 
32 

Council Resolution 13996/04 (2004). 
See detailed analysis in SEC(2007) 1084 presented with this Communication. 
See  section  3  of  the  staff  working  document  on  voluntary  activities  of  young  people  for  more 
substantiated information about obstacles. 
Decision No 2241/2004/EC. 
Youth EB 2007. 
Council Conclusions 8771 (25 May 2007). 

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The Commission 

For participation 

–  invites  Member  States  within  the  youth  OMC  to  implement  the  reinforced  common 
objectives  for  participation  by  and  information  for  young  people  and  to  implement  the 
structured dialogue 

–  invites  Member  States  to  give  young  people  a  role  within  the  activities  planned  for  the 

European Year on intercultural dialogue 

–  in cooperation with Member States and with due respect to their competences, will study 
existing  national  practices  regarding  access  for  young  people  to  culture,  with  a  view  to 
facilitating such access 

–  will use relevant EU programmes33, in cooperation with Member States, to promote young 

people's participation, in a coordinated approach 

For voluntary activities  

–  invites Member States  to develop programmes, strategies, explore improvements to legal 
frameworks,  eliminate  obstacles  and  encourage  volunteering  of  young  people  with  fewer 
opportunities 

–  invites Member States to promote and recognise volunteering, building on Europass 

–  invites  Member  States  to  reinforce  the  OMC  on  voluntary  activities,  undertake  peer 

learning activities and develop monitoring tools at European level 

–  will  launch  a  consultation  and  impact  assessment  on  a  new  initiative  at  EU  level  to 

promote and recognise voluntary activities of young people 

For a strengthened partnership 

–  invites the European Institutions and young people to reinforce their partnership in a joint 

declaration foreseen later this year 

–  invites the European Youth Forum, within the structured dialogue, to voice the concerns of 
young  people  with  fewer  opportunities  and  of  those  who  are  not  members  of  any 
organisation  

–  will draw up an EU report on youth to be prepared by the Commission every three years  

6. 

CONCLUSIONS 

The present Communication is a major step in a policy process on youth issues which started 
in 2001 with the White Paper on Youth. It conveys, in a context of aging societies, a strong 
message for better, earlier and more investment in young people to promote their education, 
employment,  social  inclusion,  health  and  active  citizenship  in  a  lifecycle  approach. 
Investment  should  not  merely  be  financial.  Personal  involvement  is  needed  by  relevant 
stakeholders,  such  as  policy  makers,  labour  and  education  institutions,  enterprises,  youth 
workers, researchers, families and organisations working for and with young people. 

33 

For  instance  Youth  in  Action,  Lifelong  Learning,  Competitiveness  and  Innovation  framework 
programme  and  its  more  specific  entrepreneurship  and  innovation  programme  and  the  proposed 
Community Action programme in the field of Health 2007–2013. 

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The  Communication  highlights  the  need  to  substantially  reduce  youth  unemployment  and 
improve the quality of jobs. All young people, and Europe as a whole, need to have the skills 
and  opportunities  to  work  productively  for  economic  and  social  well-being.  Key  to  young 
people's full participation is access to a good job which also requires qualitative and relevant 
education. Promoting full participation of young managers, entrepreneurs and workers is also 
a key component in building innovative, knowledge based and internationally competitive EU 
economies. 

Working towards young people's full participation in society can be done more successfully 
through  a  transversal  youth  strategy.  This  requires  stronger  cross-sectoral  cooperation 
between  policy  fields  impacting  on  youth  and  a  greater  focus  on  youth  in  such  policies. 
Member States are to this end invited to take a number of measures aiming at forging closer 
links  between  existing  processes,  such  as  the  Lisbon  Strategy,  health  strategies  and  various 
open methods of coordination34, in order for them to deliver further and better opportunities 
for young people, and concentrate on actions that will be more beneficial to young people's 
professional integration, social inclusion and active citizenship. 

The  Commission  proposes  a  number  of  new  initiatives  building  bridges  between  education 
and employment and fostering  young people's active citizenship. These include an initiative 
on  a  European  quality  charter  on  internships,  a  pilot  initiative  "Your  First  Job  Abroad",  an 
upcoming new health strategy, an impact assessment on voluntary activities for young people 
and  a  study  pertaining  to  young  people's  access  to  culture.  In  addition  the  Commission 
proposes  to  promote  transversal  coordination  through  an  EU  report  on  youth  every  three 
years. 

Full participation of young people in society can however only be successful if young people 
are committed to work as partners towards this objective, hence the Commission's proposal to 
empower  young  people  and  strengthen  the  existing  partnership  between  the  European 
Institutions and the young generation. 

34 

In the fields of education, inclusion and youth. 

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(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

Technical Annex: List of reference documents (in chronological order) 

COM(2001) 681: White Paper on a new impetus for European Youth (21.11.2001) 

Education and Training 2010 C 142/1: Detailed Work Programme on the follow-up of 
the objectives of Education and training systems in Europe (14.6.2002) 

Council Resolution C 168/2 (2002): Resolution of the Council and the representatives 
of  the  governments  of  the  Member  States  meeting  within  the  Council  regarding  the 
framework of European Cooperation in the youth field (27.6.2002) 

Council Resolution Guidance: Council Resolution on Strengthening Policies, Systems 
and Practices in the field of Guidance. (May 2004) 
http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/2010/doc/resolution2004_en.pdf  

(5) 

Employment in Europe (EiE) 2004: Employment in Europe 2004 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

Council  Resolution  13996/04  (2004):  Council  Resolution  on  Common  objectives  for 
voluntary activities (15.11.2004) 

Decision No 2241/2004/EC: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council 
of  15.12.2004  on  a  Single  Community  framework  for  the  transparency  of 
qualifications and competences (Europass) 

European  Youth  Pact:  Annex  1  to  the  Presidency  Conclusions  of  the  European 
Council of 22 and 23 March 2005 

COM(2005)  206:  Commission  Communication  on  European  policies  concerning 
youth  -  Addressing  the  concerns  of  young  people  in  Europe  –  implementing  the 
European Youth Pact and promoting active citizenship (30.5.2005) 

(10)  COM(2006)  33:  Commission  Communication  on  Implementing  the  Community 
Lisbon Programme: Fostering entrepreneurial mindsets through education and learning 
(13.2.2006) 

(11)  COM(2006)  208:  Commission  Communication  "Delivering  on  the  modernisation 

agenda for universities: education, research and innovation" (10.5.2006) 

(12)  COM(2006)  417:  Commission  Communication  on  the  follow-up  of  the  White  Paper 
on  a  new  impetus  for  European  Youth:  Implementing  the  common  objectives  for 
participation  by  and  information  for  young  people  in  view  of  promoting  their  active 
citizenship (20.7.2006) 

(13)  COM(2006) 481: Commission Communication on Efficiency and Equity in European 

education and training systems (8.9.2006) 

(14)  COM(2006) 571: Commission Communication "The demographic future of Europe – 

from challenge to opportunity" (12.10.2006) 

(15)  Employment in Europe (EiE) 2006: Employment in Europe 2006  

EN 

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(16)  European  Employment  Observatory  Review:  Autumn  2005  (Youth  employment). 
Luxembourg:  Office  for  Official  Publications  of  the  European  Communities,  2006. 
ISSN 1725-5376 

(17)  Recommendation 2006/962/EC: Recommendation of the European Parliament and of 

the Council on key competences for lifelong learning (18.12.2006) 

(18)  COM(2006)  857:  Commission  Communication  "Employment  in  rural  areas:  closing 

the jobs gap" (21.12.2006) 

(19)  SEC(2006)  1772:  Commission  Staff  Working  Document:  Report  on  employment  in 

rural areas (21.12.2006) 

(20)  SEC(2007)  329:  Commission  Staff  Working  Document:  Joint  Report  on  Social 

Protection and Social Inclusion. Supporting document (6.3.2007) 

(21)  BEPA April 2007: Bureau of European Policy Advisers "Investing in youth: an 

empowerment strategy" 
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/policy_advisers/publications/index_en.htm 

(22)  COM(2007)  244:  Commission  Communication  "Promoting  solidarity  between  the 

generations" (10.5.2007) 

(23)  Council Conclusions 8771 (2007): on future perspectives for European cooperation in 

the field of youth policy (25.5.2007) 

(24)  COM(2007) 279: White Paper on a Strategy for Europe for Nutrition, Overweight and 

Obesity related health issues (30.5.2007) 

(25)  COM(2007)  359:  Commission  Communication  "Towards  common  principles  of 
flexicurity: More and better jobs through flexibility and security" (27.6.2007) 

(26)  Youth EB 2007: "Looking behind the figures – the main results of the Eurobarometer 

2007 survey on youth" of February 2007, on http://ec.europa.eu/youth/index_en.html 

(27)  Flash EB 192, Entrepreneurship Survey of the EU (25 Member States), United States, 

Iceland and Norway: Analytical Report, April 2007 

(28)  Progress Report 2007: Progress towards Lisbon objectives in Education and Training: 

DG EAC 2007 Report based on indicators and benchmarks (forthcoming) 

(29)  COM(2007) 242: Commission Communication on a European agenda for culture in a 

globalizing world (10.5.2007) 

(30)  COM(2007) 391: White Paper on sport: the EU and sport: matching expectations, and 

annexed Action Plan (11.7.2007) 

(31)  Oslo agenda for Entrepreneurship Education in Europe 

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/entrepreneurship/support_measures/training_education/d
oc/oslo_agenda_final.pdf 

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(32)  Career  Guidance  Handbook:  Career  Guidance  –  A  handbook  for  policy-makers. 

Commission staff working paper and joint publication with OECD. 
http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/53/53/34060761.pdf 

(33)  LFS: "Labour Force Survey - User Guide" Eurostat 2007 

(34)  European  Alliance  of  Families:  launched  by  Member  States  at  the  Spring  European 

Council 2007. For more details see 
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/families/european-alliance-for-
families_en.html 

(35)  European  Youth  Portal:  overall  source  of 

information 

for  young  people. 

http://europa.eu/youth  

(36)  Youth in Action Programme 2007-2013: the new EU programme in the field of youth. 

http://ec.europa.eu/youth 

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