22.11.2022
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 443/45
1.6.
The EESC calls for a stronger focus on vocational education and training, by combining apprenticeship schemes with academic learning at secondary and tertiary level.
The Committee believes that close collaboration between education and training policy and the business community must be enhanced and focus should be placed more on competences than qualifications.
1.7.
The EESC welcomes the Economic and Investment Plan (EIP) for the Western Balkans, calling for the improvement of labour market participation, especially of young people and women, disadvantaged groups and minorities, in particular Roma.
The implementation of the EIP should maximise the benefit for young people.
1.8.
The EESC calls for the Youth Guarantee in the Western Balkans to be implemented following the Council recommendations on a reinforced Youth Guarantee (2).
1.9.
In order to implement a Youth Guarantee in the Western Balkans, the EESC calls for increasing the capacities of the public employment services (PES) and their staff in the countries of the region.
1.10.
The EESC draws attention to the importance of cooperation between various partners to address the issue of youth unemployment.
Partnerships should be established across all levels of government, between Youth Guarantee providers and relevant stakeholders, such as social partners, educational and training institutions, youth organisations and other CSOs.
1.11.
The EESC believes that attention and support should be given to the capacity building of social partners and the development of social dialogue and collective bargaining in order to mitigate precarious working conditions and improve the quality of jobs.
The EESC also calls on the social partners of the Western Balkans, at national and sectoral level, to actively involve young people in all their activities, including collective bargaining.
1.12.
Taking into account the possibilities of the European Year of Youth proclaimed for 2022, the EESC is convinced that addressing the challenges facing young people and bringing Europe closer to young people should be an approach not limited only to young people living in the EU; it should also apply to young people from all Western Balkans partners.
1.13.
The EESC encourages the EU and our partners from the Western Balkans, in line with the EU Youth Strategy, to introduce a youth impact assessment tool, so-called Youth Test.
This Youth Test would ensure that young people are considered during policy-making processes, it would enable to create better targeted policies and to identify any mitigation measures necessary to avoid negative impact on young people.
1.14.
The EESC believes that efforts are required from the Governments of Western Balkan partners in setting regional cooperation as a policy priority.
In supporting this transformation and advancing regional cooperation as a policy priority, the EU should support the Western Balkans in identifying key areas and avenues which could foster changes for citizens of all Western Balkans, especially for young people.
1.15.
The Conclusions of the 2021 Western Balkans Summit in Berlin of the Berlin Process (3) underline the need for strengthening youth organisations and networks.
The EESC invites the European Commission to further examine ways to support relevant youth structures e.g. national youth councils and youth umbrella organisations in the Western Balkans, on a regional level, allowing for regional youth policy dialogue.
(2) (3)
Council Recommendation of 30 October 2020 on A Bridge to Jobs — Reinforcing the Youth Guarantee and replacing the Council Recommendation of 22 April 2013 on establishing a Youth Guarantee (OJ C 372, 4.11.2020, p. 1).
Western Balkans Summit of the Berlin Process, Berlin Summit 2021, chair's Conclusion.