C 184/6
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
25.5.2023
1.4.
The EESC stresses that data collection and monitoring are a key challenge for the implementation of the YAP, and that regular reporting by the European Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS), relevant funded agencies and civil society organisations (CSOs) should feature, consistent with the mapping and gap analysis of international data on youth recently undertaken by the European Commission (1).
1.5.
The EESC welcomes and encourages links with the work of the United Nations (UN) and its agencies in this area, particularly with regard to the Youth Peace and Security Agenda and any synergies with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
1.6.
The EESC believes that headline EU youth policies like Erasmus+ and the Youth Guarantee can be helpful in working in the areas of youth engagement and youth polices.
In utilising such structures, attention should be paid to the independence of application procedures and issues like visas and languages.
1.7.
The EESC recommends the Council of the EU to encourage EU Member States to have their own plans that focus on similar issues as the YAP and work in partnership with civil society, in particular youth organisations.
In addition, existing linkages and civil society partnerships between EU Member States and target countries should be built on and enhanced, particularly between youth organisations.
1.8.
The EESC also recommends that target countries should be encouraged and given the tools to have their own tangible dedicated youth policies and national youth councils or equivalents.
At the same time, the Commission should be guided by the principles of human rights when supporting the target countries.
1.9.
The EESC believes that linkages should be made between the YAP and the European Year of Skills to ensure that this work is prioritised in partner countries.
1.10.
The EESC is of the opinion that activities focusing on education should be centred on equality, particularly protecting young girls, and that strategies should ensure the engagement of hardest to reach.
All scholarship opportunities should be open, transparent and have deliberate methods to encourage those hardest to reach.
1.11.
The EESC strongly believes that civic engagement with all CSOs should be fostered such as youth groups, trade unions and young entrepreneurs groups.
1.12.
The EESC considers that EU trade policy needs to examine its impact and connection with young people, particularly under trade and sustainability chapters and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).
1.13.
The EESC recommends that specific mental health community-based services for young people and targets for both output numbers and qualitative mental health improvements should be developed for work with young people in external action, consistent with the European Commission’s study.
1.14.
The EESC believes that the fight against child labour should be an important part of YAP, so that child labour finally becomes history in the 21st century.
2.
Background information: relevant EESC activities 2.1.
In October 2018, the EESC adopted its opinion on the new EU Youth Strategy (2) highlighting the need for a cross sectoral approach to youth and the need for more attention to be given to employment, mental health, equality and education.
It also highlighted the importance of the EU’s external action policies in this regard.
(1) (2)
Kalantaryan, S., McMahon, S. and Ueffing, P., Youth in external action, JRC130554, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2022.
OJ C 62, 15.2.2019, p. 142.