Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on Full involvement of young people in society
Date: 2008-04-10
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: education policy, employment policy, poverty, social integration, social participation, vocational training, youth policy

5.7.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 172/65

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on ‘Full involvement of young people in society’

(2008/C 172/13)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

— regrets that although,

in the communication, the Commission sets out the need for cooperation
between policy makers and interest groups at European, national, regional and local level in the devel-
opment of the youth strategy, it has failed to describe in detail the role that regional and local authori-
ties would play.

— emphasises that youth policy is largely implemented at regional and local level. Local and regional
strategies contribute substantially to ensuring that young people take up high-quality measures aimed
at better education and training, better social and professional integration, and active citizenship.

— agrees with the Commission that national and regional education and training systems must teach
basic skills geared to the labour market. It should not be overlooked, however, that solid, basic educa-
tion which helps shape personalities is important too for an individual's participation in social life.

— considers, in contrast to the Commission, that the priority with children of pre-school age is not so

much to develop key abilities, as to develop their overall personalities.

— deems the dual training system used in a number of countries, which combines training at work and
school and is geared to integrating as many young people as possible in the labour market, to be an
exemplary training method, and regrets that vocational training in many Member States is considered
unattractive and difficult to accept.

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Rapporteur: Gebhard HALDER (AT/EPP); President of the Vorarlberg Landtag

Reference document

Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic
and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — Promoting young people's full participation
in education, employment and society

COM(2007) 498 final

Policy recommendations

OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

General comments on the Commission Communication

1.
notes that young people provide society with its potential
for development. The future of the European Union, its Member
States and its regional and local authorities depends more and
more on whether we succeed in creating a child and youth-
friendly society.

emphasises that young people are also crucial for devel-
2.
oping the economic strength of the European regions and muni-
cipalities and their ability to survive global competition. More-
over, involving EU citizens in society is an important corner-
stone for social cohesion and the peaceful and democratic devel-
opment of Europe, and one which must already be set during
youth.

3.
draws attention to the Committee of the Regions' opinion
on the demographic future of Europe (1). Too few children are
being born to maintain current population levels. This is leading
to far-reaching changes in the size and age structure of the Euro-
pean population. It therefore highlights the need for a policy
which is adapted to the different generations and is sustainable.

4.
recognises therefore that the Youth Pact adopted by the
European Council in Spring 2005 (2), the Commission Commu-
nication on European policies concerning youth (3), and the
the utmost
present Communication deal with a subject of
importance.

supports the cross-cutting approach proposed by the
5.
It is important to take the concerns of young
Commission.
people into account consistently in all policy areas, in order to
achieve greater focus on young people's special needs.

points out

that responsibility for

the introduction of
6.
suitable measures in the areas dealt with in the Communication
— education and training, youth and employment -, lies with
the Member States and the regional and local level of govern-
ment. The European level plays a supplementary coordinating
and supporting role.

(1) Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the demographic future

of Europe, CoR 341/2006 rev. 3.

(2) Appendix I to the Conclusions of the Presidency of the European

Council, Brussels 22 and 23 March 2005 (7619/05).

(3) Communication from the Commission to the Council on European
policies concerning youth ‘Addressing the concerns of young people in
Europe — implementing the European Youth Pact and promoting
active citizenship’, COM(2005) 206 final.

7.
against this background, calls on the Commission to check
whether the proposed measures conform to the principles of
subsidiarity and proportionality which have been consolidated
with the EU Reform Treaty.

notes that the Commission has not presented an impact
8.
assessment in connection with the communication, and regrets
that it has not examined the additional administrative and finan-
cial burden that its implementation would create at regional and
local level.

Importance for the regional and local level

9.
regrets that although, in the communication, the Commis-
sion sets out the need for cooperation between policy makers
and interest groups at European, national, regional and local
level in the development of the youth strategy, it has failed to
describe in detail the role that regional and local authorities
would play.

emphasises that youth policy is largely implemented at
10.
regional and local level. Local and regional strategies contribute
substantially to ensuring that young people take up high-quality
measures aimed at better education and training, better social
and professional integration, and active citizenship. The regional
and local level is best placed to focus on the specific needs of
young people, and, therefore, more targeted action can be taken
here.

11.
calls on the Commission to respect national, regional
and local diversity in the areas of education, youth and employ-
In drawing up and implementing the coordinating,
ment.
supporting and supplementary measures,
it must not only
involve the national but also regional and local authorities.

Better and more education for all young people

12.
stresses that European education and training systems are
key factors in developing the long-term competitive potential of
the work
the EU, and therefore welcomes the substance of
programme entitled ‘Education and Training 2010’ (4). At the
same time though,
the responsibility of
Member States, and regional and local authorities, for deter-
mining the content and form of education systems, must be
respected, as must the diversity of cultures and languages.

it points out

that

(4) Detailed work programme on the follow-up of the objectives of educa-

tion and training systems in Europe, OJ C 142/01 of 14.6.2002.

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13.
agrees with the Commission that national and regional
education and training systems must teach basic skills geared to
the labour market. It should not be overlooked, however, that
solid, basic education which helps shape personalities is impor-
tant too for an individual's participation in social life.

that

considers,

in contrast

to the Commission,

14.
the
priority with children of pre-school age is not so much to
develop key abilities, as to develop their overall personalities.
Nonetheless, by offering very young children inter alia tech-
nology or science-related possibilities for play, their potential
and interest in these areas can be awakened in a playful manner.
This can be a major
influencing subsequent career
choices.

factor

the

highlights

importance of promoting

language
15.
learning as part of early childhood education. This is particularly
important for migrant children. It is also the basis for acquiring
further languages later.

16.
deems the dual training system used in a number of
countries, which combines training at work and school and is
geared to integrating as many young people as possible in the
labour market, to be an exemplary training method, and regrets
that vocational training in many Member States is considered
unattractive and difficult to accept. However, this system, along
with post-secondary and university education in general,
is
facing higher and higher qualification requirements for a large
number of jobs. The attractiveness of this education system
needs to be boosted, in particular by improving the possibilities
for university access which the dual education system can offer.

therefore believes that education levels need to be raised
17.
overall. Highly qualified and motivated teaching staff and trai-
ners who not only have technical knowledge and teaching abil-
ities, but also social integrational skills (5), are a crucial prerequi-
site for this. In addition, curricula must reflect the requirements
of the labour market.

to implement

welcomes the fact that the Commission has called on the
18.
Member States
the European Qualifications
Framework, and requests that national and regional diversity in
education be taken into account here. Thus, for example, solu-
tions need to be found for the inclusion of training modules
geared to working life.

19.
highlights the importance of the EU programmes for life-
long learning and ‘Youth in Action’; These programmes which
focus on cross-border mobility and the formal and informal
learning associated with this, are a valuable complement to
national, regional and local education policies.

20.
calls on the Commission to look into the situation faced
by disadvantaged young people in greater detail in the Commu-
nication and the measures put forward by it (for example in the
EU programmes). Training schemes, such as vocational training

(5) See also Commission Communication ‘Improving the Quality of
Teacher Education’, COM(2007) 392 and the Conclusions of the
Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member
States on improving the quality of teacher education, OJ C 300/6 of
12.12 2007.

with a strong integrational element, can be useful
in giving
these young people the opportunity to develop their individual
potential and establish themselves in the labour market. They
offer disadvantaged young people the possibility to complete
training over a longer period of time or obtain partial qualifica-
tions. Here intensive social support and mentoring for young
people is important, and this can only be provided at regional
and local level. These schemes can also help reduce the number
of school drop-outs, which is still very high.

Youth and Employment: a challenge for Europe

notes that the transition from school to working life is

21.
becoming increasingly difficult for young people to master.

22.
already now many European regions are confronted with
a paradoxical situation where they face, in some cases, very high
youth unemployment (6) and at the same time must deal with
shortages of
labour — especially highly skilled workers —
which are set to grow.

23.
highlights that the professional and social integration of
young people in disadvantaged city and rural areas is particu-
larly difficult, and, in this context, emphasises the importance of
to support
European, national,
convergence and improve regional competitiveness, not least
also as a way of creating the conditions required for qualified
young people to stay in these regions.

regional and local policies

24.
agrees with the Commission that particular attention
must be paid to youth employment in the national reform
programmes for growth and employment, and calls for reform
programmes to be optimally dovetailed with the measures in
the 'Education and training 2010' work programme.

requests that

the EU Lisbon peer review process,

25.
in
which Member State governments are engaged, be extended to
allow local and regional authorities and other stakeholders to
benefit from peer exchanges across the EU, which would enable
them to explore local and regional initiatives targeted at young
people not in employment, education and training.

26.
considers the steady growth in precarious working condi-
tions with low job security as a fundamental problem, especially
for young employees, who are often unable to achieve stable
and adequate working/income conditions over many years, and
are thus unable to lead independent lives.

therefore calls on the EU Institutions, the Member States
27.
and regional and local authorities to ensure a sound balance
between the interests of the employers and employees, in other
words, between flexibility and security, is struck in any imple-
mentation of flexicurity. The social integration of young people
must not be made more difficult.

(6) According to reports, youth unemployment currently stands at 17.4 %.

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that

believes

intensive,

28.
the Commission does not adequately
address the employment of disadvantaged young people. Besides
preventative measures which concern above all labour market-
tailor-made
oriented education for young people,
support measures — including those of a social kind — are
needed to integrate young people, especially disadvantaged ones,
in the labour market. It is crucial here to include all young
people without exception, and to integrate them in the employ-
ment process within the shortest time possible, as has also been
called for in the European Employment Strategy. This may also
require ‘safety nets’
for disadvantaged young people seeking
work, and the introduction of publically financed qualification
and employment programmes targeted at young people (7).

29.
points out that the EU structural funds, especially the
European Social Fund (ESF), make it possible to fund these
kinds of projects, and supports the call made by the Commis-
sion in the Communication for the ESF to place greater focus
on youth employment wherever regional circumstances — high
youth unemployment — so require.

30.
considers improving young people's employability, as
well as their willingness to enter employment, as an essential
task for national, regional and local authorities. Efforts in the
provision of personal career guidance and information, amongst
other things, should be stepped up to raise young people's
awareness about career paths that offer good prospects. This
might also help secure gender balance in certain career groups.

31.
supports the quality framework for work experience by
the Commission which is to provide general guidance, since trai-
nees — who are increasingly employed across borders — are in
some cases improperly used as ‘cheap labour’. Quality work
experience, however, provides young people with a useful
opportunity to gain initial experience in the work place, which
can often play a substantial and decisive role in subsequent
career choices and education. Young people in training must be
encouraged to gain work experience, and the range of work
available for this expanded.

32.
points out that not just basic training, but also further
vocational training is becoming more important. The technical
knowledge and skills required at work are changing rapidly. The
challenge therefore is to improve the attractiveness and open-
ness of
further
further education and expand the range of
education measures on offer.
It is important to give young
people who do not have adequate basic training the opportunity
to catch up on their knowledge and close skill gaps (second
chance) (8).

(7) In some cases, easily accessible ‘work experience’ should be made avail-
able to young people who have lost touch with public and educational
institutions. The partial and temporary payment of labour costs can
also act as an incentive for companies to take on first time entrants to
the labour market. Studies show that this can have a positive macro-
economic impact, especially if one also considers the socio-political
impact that a larger number of long-term unemployed would other-
wise have.

(8) These education measures, which are also funded by the ESF, are an
essential precondition for entry into the labour market. Examples
include literacy courses or courses for completing compulsory educa-
tion.

Using everyone's potential to the full

notes that children and young people from poor families
33.
are particularly disadvantaged in many respects, and in some
cases are also excluded from education and employment oppor-
tunities, as well as health services. In addition, poverty is often
‘inherited’: poverty and social exclusion in adult life are the
consequences of a disadvantaged childhood and youth.

34.
stresses, therefore, that fighting poverty and social exclu-
sion must be a priority. This is primarily a national, regional
and local responsibility and requires close coordination between
economic, employment, education and social policy, as well as a
cross-cutting approach to youth policy issues.

believes that

35.
reducing the risk of poverty faced by
families with children must be the starting point. Special atten-
tion needs to be paid to socio-economic factors such as segrega-
tion and parents in long-term unemployment and of low educa-
tion levels, in order to avoid permanent poverty traps.

36.
points out that it is often local and regional authorities
that are responsible for looking after and educating orphans and
children from problem families, and that they put in place the
conditions that enable such children to live independent lives.

37.
points out that mastery of the language of the country of
residence is a precondition for rapid integration, better results at
school and greater opportunities in the labour market, and is
thus also a major factor in fighting poverty.

Active young citizens

emphasises that

38.
involving young people — allowing
them to contribute and share in social life — strengthens chil-
dren and teenagers, gives them self-confidence and promotes
democracy and active citizenship.

points

special

to the

39.
importance of participation
processes at local and regional level. Participation is at its most
vibrant and stable in places where young people help shape
their environment and where they directly experience the effects
of such participation.

40.
notes that it is very important to introduce children and
young people to local and regional self-government mechanisms
by familiarising them with the positions, functions and responsi-
bilities of
local elected representatives and their capacity to
improve local people's living and working conditions.

41.
would welcome an exchange of experience at European
level to boost local and regional participation initiatives, and
calls on national and EU authorities, as well as regional and
local ones, to develop youth policy by adopting a cross-sectoral
approach and working in close cooperation with young people.

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42.
considers the proposal by the European Commission to
present a regular youth report to be a positive step. The report
will help analyse young people's living conditions and set out
their concerns; it will thus create a basis for cross-sectoral youth
policies at the national regional, local and EU level. Care should
be taken to ensure that no new reporting duties are created for
the Member States, regions, and municipalities. The existing
numerous reporting obligations, which also offer insight into
young people's living conditions, already contain much of the
information needed.

43.
stresses that voluntary activities are an important oppor-
tunity for young people to become actively involved in society
and at the same time gain initial work experience, helping them
to make future career choices.

44.
points out that voluntary work also allows knowledge
and skills to be acquired that could be useful in later working

life. Recognising the qualifications acquired through such
informal learning is necessary for boosting the attractiveness of
these activities.

45.
welcomes, therefore, the ‘Youth pass’ introduced by the
Commission as part of the EU-programme ‘Youth in Action’,
which serves as an individual certificate on the quality of the
work carried out by young people in the programme, and
supports the Commission's plan to include informally acquired
qualifications to the Community Framework for the transpar-
ency of qualifications and competences (Europass) (9).

46.
calls for greater attention to be paid to disadvantaged
young people at all levels to ensure that they are given more
opportunities to become involved in social and voluntary activ-
ities.

Brussels, 10 April 2008.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Luc VAN DEN BRANDE

(9) Cf. Decision No 2241/2004/EC.