YOUTH IDEAS REPORT FOR THE CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE OF EUROPE
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
YOUTH IDEAS REPORT
FOR THE CONFERENCE
ON THE FUTURE OF EUROPE
Youth Ideas report
1
CONTENTS
Message from the editors..................................................4
Climate change and environment ................................6
Health.......................................................................................8
A stronger economy, social justice and jobs............ 10
Digital transformation...................................................... 12
Values and rights, rule of law, security........................ 14
Migration............................................................................... 16
Education, youth, culture and sport .......................... 18
EU and the world ............................................................. 20
European democracy........................................................ 22
Other....................................................................................... 24
Youth Ideas report
3
MESSAGE FROM THE EDITORS
In 2021, we all ask the same collective question: what now? What is the next
piece of history going to look like?
Europe has faced enormous challenges in the past three years. Across our
diverse continent, our citizens have faced floods, forest fires, economic
downfall, human rights violations, threats to their livelihoods, and lives. Each
of us has lived through a global pandemic that has shown us just how fragile
our economies and health services can be, and how important it is to protect
and support each other. Our unity is more valuable than ever.
The Conference on the Future of Europe has the potential to change the
direction in which we are heading. It has made it more important than ever to
collect, shape and voice the visions of those who are and will continue to be at
the centre of Europe’s future: young people.
What policies and laws can younger generations advocate for to ensure a safe
and vibrant future? That’s where this Youth Ideas report comes in.
Youth Ideas report
This report is the result of the youth consultation process organised by the
European Parliament in the framework of the Conference, contributing to
4
the citizens’ consultations process happening at local, national and European
level and online on futureu.europa.eu.
The collection of young people’s ideas culminated in EYE2021: the fourth
edition of the European Youth Event that brought together at the European
Parliament in Strasbourg thousands of young people from all over the
European Union and beyond, to shape and share their ideas on the future
of Europe.
Since the last EYE report was published following EYE2018, young people
have made their voices heard by demanding climate policies that can ensure
our future; educational policies that offer fair chances to everyone; social
policies that support where support is needed and much more. There is no
doubt that Europe has an active young generation eager to shape the future,
which was also showcased by a sharp increase of young people’s participation
in the last European elections.
Over the past six months, the European Parliament collected over 1500 ideas
and proposals from young citizens around the continent on Youthideas.eu.
The most popular ideas from the youth consultations, chosen by us, the EYE
editorial team, were taken to EYE2021 and further developed by participants
during ideation sessions. Out of these, 20 ideas were selected and all EYE
participants, onsite and online, voted to choose the top 5 ideas, presented at
the closing of the event. This document collects the 20 final ideas developed
at the EYE, highlighting in colour the most supported proposals discussed
at the closing plenary of EYE2021. Many more youth ideas from the
consultation process can be found on search.youthideas.eu.
We believe these most voted ideas are a true and fair representation of young
people’s top expectations for future policymaking.
A report like this would not have been possible without all the young people
who participated in the youth consultations and made the effort to share with
the world the changes that they would like to see happen. Neither would it
have been possible without the many young people who joined EYE2021 to
further develop the most popular ideas - thank you!
This report is more than just a collection of ideas, it’s a voice of many,
with a concrete vision for our shared future. It will be uploaded to the
Conference platform futureu.europa.eu as part of EYE2021, and presented
to the Conference on the Future of Europe plenary and the Members of the
European Parliament to serve as inspiration for the political debate and future
Youth Ideas report
policy proposals.
The EYE2021 Editors team
5
CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENT
MAKE RECYCLING EASIER ACROSS THE EU
Borders should not interrupt our back into these vending machines.
efforts to reduce waste and tran-
In order to make this work across
sition to green and circular econ-
the EU, it is critical that manufac-
omies. Member States currently
turing and material use are unified.
have diverging approaches to re-
Additionally, simplifying the com-
cycling policies, which results in
position of packaging will ensure
disruption to recycling habits and
that every single scrap can be ef-
huge amounts of waste. This is why
fectively recycled everywhere. This
it is important to come up with a
system should be implemented
standardised recycling system
with a significant transition period,
that applies to the whole conti-
to allow adjustments in produc-
nent. A good approach can be seen
tion, and time to educate people
in the system of ‘reverse vending
on new practices and expecta-
machines’. Citizens will pay a small
tions. Mandatory labels could also
fee whenever they buy packaged
empower and inform customers
goods that will be returned to them
about this new system and where
when they deposit the packaging
to recycle their waste.
Youth Ideas report
6
GREEN EQUALITY WITHIN BUSINESS
The empowerment of eco-friend- can make access to credit more flex-
ly, small businesses is a key tool to ible for smaller companies who re-
achieving a green transition. Large, spect green trends and practices.
less sustainable corporations remain
Additionally, it is important that the
dominant in the market, leaving al-
European Union encourages and
most no room for greener companies
subsidises the creation of local mar-
to compete. To ensure that economic
kets, where small business farmers
growth is ecological, EU institutions
can sell local produce to nearby con-
should remove all incentives to use
sumers, shifting the focus from large
fossil fuels, immediately. These funds
supermarket consumption and mak-
can then be repurposed to develop
Youth Ideas report
ing local consumption more attrac-
eco-friendly initiatives within small
tive for families and customers.
business ventures. For example, we
7
HEALTH
HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HEALTH
We need to take a more holistic ap- • Lessons on eating a healthy diet and
proach to health on an institutional the importance of exercising, for
level. A new EU health pact would schools to employ
educate people on the importance
• Mental health safe spaces in cities
of eating a balanced diet, exercising,
and towns, where people can seek
and employ mental health experts
refuge in busy areas if they suffer a
within schools. COVID-19 has shown
panic attack or other symptoms of a
us that we must educate and em-
mental illness
power people to take better care of
their mental and physical health. • An information campaign which
signposts citizens to reliable infor-
New legislation should include:
mation on eating well and looking
• Support to train and empower men- after your mental wellbeing
tal health experts within schools
Youth Ideas report
8
HOLD COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE
Climate change is wreaking havoc general healthcare and welfare.
on our and our planet’s health, and We need to immediately come up
the problem is becoming more ur- with a strategy to measure com-
gent. Floods, droughts, toxic waste pany waste and pollution in cities;
and air pollution within cities is we can look at rising chronic dis-
damaging the health of European ease and allergy rates as markers
populations. for local pollution and damage to
population health.
We need to hold companies ac-
countable to the damage they Additionally, employers must facil-
do to our lakes, oceans, air and itate the use of sustainable trans-
land for the sake of our wellbeing. port, such as public railways and
Companies should be sanctioned bicycles via subsidies or appropri-
for damage to the environment, ate storage facilities. These choic-
and subsequent consequences on es not only better the planet, but
public health. Often it is the pub- better our physical health.
Youth Ideas report
lic and public funds that pay for
9
A STRONGER ECONOMY,
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND JOBS
QUALITY START TO WORKING LIFE
Reducing youth unemployment • Create a platform in coordination
should be a primary EU priority, espe- with youth organisations and em-
cially in a post-pandemic economy. ployers (companies, institutions,
The Union should allocate more fi- and NGOs) to help young people to
nancial resources to initiatives which find paid internships according to
facilitate new jobs for young peo- their preferences across a range of
ple and assist young people in enter- industries.
ing the job market.
• Create a network of mediators with-
We need to: in Member State schools, to reach
potential “early school leavers”, and
• Establish specific funds to end un-
educate them on their options. This
paid internships, regardless of edu-
is especially important for underde-
cation or social status.
veloped countries.
Youth Ideas report
10FISCAL AND POLITICAL INTEGRATION WITHIN THE EU
To ensure better integration within underdeveloped Member States.
the Union, now is the time to apply
• It would lead to a larger budget and
one fiscal system across the EU,
common fiscal policy legislation.
in order to achieve Member State
equality. • It would minimise bureaucracy.
This fiscal integration would have • We could develop investments for
many advantages: other proposals, such as common
wage policies, a joint action against
Youth Ideas report
• It would result in fairer distribu-
unemployment and a consistent re-
tion of funds between wealthy and
tirement age.
11DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
EDUCATION ON THE SAFE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Education on safe social media use • Integrate digital literacy into the
should be a priority in 2021, as plat- school curriculum.
forms come to dominate our per-
• Celebrate international digital
sonal and professional lives. Digitally
days, during which children will be
literate people will not only be better
provided with practical and theo-
equipped to deal with cyber threats,
retical lessons.
but will also use social media plat-
forms with respect and tolerance. • Use interactive games as learning
tools.
No one should be left behind in the
digital world; we must educate all • Create a simulated social media plat-
generations to use their digital form, so children can learn about the
presence with care. For children in danger of cyber attacks and avoid
particular, we can: the real life consequences.
Youth Ideas report
12STRENGTHEN EU LEGISLATION ON CYBERSECURITY
In our increasingly digital world, we cybercrime is, and what legislation
need a greater level of cybersecu- we should adopt. Such an institution
rity by strengthening international needs to be shielded from potential
legislative frameworks. An EU-wide lobbying and large corporations.
legislation is needed in order to en-
Legislation should also guarantee
sure that citizen privacy and digital
that online platforms verify user ID
rights are more effectively protected.
in order to fight online anonymity,
The EU should create a committee which can lead to online abuse, inva-
Youth Ideas report
of experts who will represent all lid information and cyber attacks.
Member States and define what a
13VALUES AND RIGHTS, RULE OF LAW, SECURITY
THE RULE OF LAW
The EU is a union of values. We timelines. The Court of Justice
want binding mechanisms to must remain the only competent
uphold the Union’s values ex- court to adjudicate EU law, includ-
pressed in Article 2 of the Treaty, ing matters concerning rule of law.
such as rule of law and respect
We must give full effect to the
for minority rights. The treaties
rule of law conditionality clause
should be changed so that the
attached to the EU budget and
unanimity rule in Article 7 is re-
the Next Generation EU fund. The
placed by a qualified majority
Commission must adopt relevant
rule. Moreover, the European
guidelines now.
Commission and the Parliament
should have a vote in the process, In addition, the EU must assess
included in the calculation for the Member States’ respect for the EU’s
qualified majority. Once launched, fundamental values, modelled on
Article 7 processes must have clear the pre-accession reporting pro-
cesses for candidate countries.
Youth Ideas report
14EQUAL RIGHTS FOR LGBT +
The EU should embrace dignity, fair- initiatives, by promoting awareness
ness and respect as recognised and of LGBT+ issues, and empowering re-
shared values. We must ensure that gional and national activist groups.
LGBT+ communities across the EU This support should take the form
enjoy equal rights. The EU can and of an action plan, event production,
should define attacks against the new LGBT+ publications and funded
LGBT+ community as hate crimes. group initiatives. Our communities
need to be better informed about the
Real change begins in collective at-
rights that LGBT+ people are current-
titudes, and top down initiatives on
ly lacking, and struggles that LGBT+
their own, without support from the
communities face. Empathy and un-
Youth Ideas report
ground, can be counterproductive.
derstanding is the first step in em-
The EU needs to support bottom-up
powering others.
15MIGRATION
SUPPORT FOR YOUNG REFUGEE SCHOLARS
The EU should fund a program which scholars should have access to pre-
gives access to EU universities to paratory training if needed.
refugee students and scholars. It
A central European fund would be
should identify European universities
the best way to sponsor universities
interested in hosting refugee schol-
that accept refugee students, sup-
ars, and liaise with the UNHCR to
porting primary needs such as ac-
identify and contact refugee scholars.
commodation, food, and language
Universities could set some require-
courses. Such a program would help
ments for scholars, such as specific
the EU to respond to the challenge of
knowledge criteria, but should not be
an ageing population; strengthen EU
allowed to discriminate on grounds
values of solidarity and human dig-
of origins in any way. Interested can-
nity; allow refugees to gain skills in
didates should receive support from
return for contribution to host coun-
the EU, which would provide fund-
tries, allow host countries to gain a
ing for NGOs that in turn supports
new, skilled workforce; and, impor-
candidates throughout the applica-
tantly, reduce mistrust of migrants
tion process. Once accepted, refugee
and populist rhetoric.
Youth Ideas report
16BETTER SUPPORT TO ASYLUM SEEKERS
The accommodation of asylum seekers medicine and infant needs;
for long periods in camps in Member
• support integration in destination
States is inhumane and unsustaina-
states, reducing unwillingness to ac-
ble. Improving this situation must be
cept migrants;
a priority. The EU should strengthen
centralised funding which incentivis- • provide technical support and ad-
es Member States to accept migrants. vice across the EU.
Funding should be used to sponsor
• Assistance should also be given to
states’ acceptance of migrants, and to
states to set up apprenticeships for
streamline bureaucratic and integra-
asylum seekers, and accelerate inte-
tion processes. It should be used to:
gration; enabling them to contrib-
• immediately recruit translators and ute to their host countries; and re-
immigration lawyers to be present ducing host communities’ mistrust
in Mediterranean countries, reduc- of migrants. This may be comple-
ing processing times for asylum re- mented by increased recognition
quests; of migrants’ previous qualifications,
and by assigning processed asylum
• provide for migrants’ initial needs in
seekers to Member States according
Youth Ideas report
countries of immediate reception;
to their skills and states’ needs.
and cover the cost of food, shelter,
17EDUCATION, YOUTH, CULTURE AND SPORT
NON-FORMAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS
The EU must provide more funding responsible, and conscientious citi-
to enable all young Europeans to par- zens and non-formal education is a
ticipate in non-formal education. The great place to allow for a more holistic
mechanisms already exist: Bridging education.
Education, Study and Training (BEST)
In addition, a European non-formal
would easily fit into the Erasmus+
education program could create a
programme alongside actions such as
platform bridging the gap between
eTwinning and staff exchanges. What
school teachers and service providers
we need now is the political will.
that can provide expertise on topics
Non-formal education can have relevant to contemporary life. The
many different faces - among them platform would also feature informa-
voluntary services, youth exchang- tion on innovative, interactive and
es and sports programmes. Young engaging learning methodologies as
Europeans need to learn practical well as networking opportunities.
skills to grow into well-rounded,
Youth Ideas report
18BETTER SCHOOL CURRICULA
Let’s rethink school curricula! If schools help to strengthen both,
European schools need to offer a we could create a more vibrant, di-
more useful and practical educa- verse and engaged society in which
tion, and include subjects relevant we are one Europe, working towards
to life in the contemporary world, common goals and actively engaging
such as mental health awareness, sex with the world. We can respond to
education, digital and financial liter- challenges on a political and personal
acy, environmental education and level, effectively.
intercultural skills. Schools need to
Creating these new school subjects
continuously reevaluate what their
is beneficial to young people and
students need in order to facilitate a
Europe as a whole in several ways.
generation that is prepared for the
Exposing young Europeans to topics
workforce.
with modern and practical implica-
Furthermore, in an increasingly glo- tions will help nurture a citizenry that
balised world, both intercultural skills is open-minded, inclusive and toler-
and knowledge about the opportuni- ant. It will build empathy and bring
Youth Ideas report
ties and benefits that Europe brings Europeans closer together.
become more and more important.
19EU AND THE WORLD
FEDERAL EUROPE
Climate change, COVID-19 and governments will allow us the op-
international security concerns portunity to invest in health policy
represent significant challenges to and climate change.
the European Union, its Member
Furthermore, a federal Europe can
States and citizens. To tackle them,
unify people from all backgrounds
we need to commit to a federal
and ideologies, and strengthen
state.
European identity by bridging
This way, we can become a greater internal gaps, which, in turn, will
global force to be reckoned with – then make the State of Europe a
economically, politically, militarily, strong, resilient player. This gives
and culturally. A federal Europe is us the ability to speak with a com-
by no means an easy task, but a mon voice and enables us to pro-
long-term project with great pros- mote European values and peace
pects: cutting costs to national in an international arena.
Youth Ideas report
20STRONGER COMMON FOREIGN POLICY
A more effective common foreign • Promote values, for example by ef-
policy could give the European Union fectively banning any trade of goods
a stronger presence in world nego- which supports forced labour.
tiations, and eliminate the need for
• Strengthen a European identity –
several bilateral agreements between
and build trust from citizens in this
Member States and third party coun-
new power.
tries. As a strong, multilateral and
non-hegemonic power, our Union • Improve resistance vis-à-vis and re-
can address global challenges and act appropriately to undemocratic
react more quickly and efficiently to powers and security threats
international security threats both in
• Assure our voices are heard in in-
Europe and worldwide.
ternational negotiations and world
Youth Ideas report
By adopting a common foreign policy, politics
we can:
21EUROPEAN DEMOCRACY
A SINGLE STANDARDISED EU PASSPORT
Let’s unlock the potential of EU citi- all EU countries: it should be as easy
zenship! As a first step, we can create to move within the EU as it is to move
a single, standardised EU passport within a Member State.
and ID card for all EU citizens, which
When designing such policies and
would be valid for entry and resi-
processes, we must ensure every-
dence within all Member States.
one is treated equally. Therefore, we
Secondly, we must experience should make EU-wide rules for relo-
Europe in order to feel European. For cation to and registration in different
that, it is important to make it easier Member States. For example, EU citi-
for citizens to live in different Member zens should be allowed to vote in all
States and move between them. elections of the country they reside
That’s why we need standardised re- in - regardless of their native country.
location and registration processes in
Youth Ideas report
22TRANSNATIONAL LISTS AND “SPITZENKANDIDATEN”
FOR EU ELECTIONS
The EU has a problem: its citizens are elections truly transnational, forcing
still not properly represented, which politicians to take the opinions of all
affects their trust in politics and Europeans into account.
their level of engagement with poli-
The same should apply to the can-
cy-makers.
didates for the President of the
To change this, the European Commission who should not be elect-
Parliament elections need to be more ed in backroom negotiations among
European, and not 27 elections hap- winning parties. We should enforce
pening at the same time. We should the so-called “Spitzenkandidaten”
use transnational lists, where voters system, where each party announces
would be given a list of national can- their candidate for the President of
didates, and an additional list with the Commission before the election
candidates from all Member States. campaign in the case that this party
This way, a voter could vote for both gains a majority. Through active par-
- their country candidate and anoth- ticipation in the campaign and direct
er country’s candidate, creating two interaction with the citizens, the fu-
different ways for politicians to be ture President could become more
elected. With this, we can make sure closely connected to the European
Youth Ideas report
that candidates still represent all re- population.
gions, and at the same time make the
23OTHER
UNITE IN MULTILINGUALISM
Let’s unite for multilingualism! to use their native tongue. More
funding must facilitate language
More EU funding should be used
classes and train teachers who can
to support multilingualism. As a
promote multilingualism in the
first step, language learning in
education system.
schools needs to be reformed:
whereas many students get to As a next step, we can enhance
study languages spoken in larger youth exchanges such as study
EU countries, only few get to study trips aimed at learning a foreign
languages spoken by fewer EU language, as well as changing offi-
citizens, even though those lan- cial communication. Some events
guages might be spoken in coun- and programs targeted at young
tries much closer to them. Many Europeans are already carried out
bilingual students are also unable in multiple languages: more EU
to study their native language in funding could enable even more
school, and many languages spo- events and programs to provide
ken by national, ethnic and lin- such language learning opportu-
guistic minorities are not offered nities to young Europeans.
to them, threatening their right
Youth Ideas report
24PRIORITISE TRANSPARENCY IN EU POLITICS
All European policies need to be eval- decisions in elections.
uated in a transparent way. Some of
Secondly, the work of lobbyists in the
them may not reach their goals or
EU must be made more transparent.
target communities: they might, for
Lobbyists must be regulated more
example, forget to take the specif-
strictly to make sure that politicians
ic situation of citizens living in rural
listen to their voters. Over the past
areas or economically weaker coun-
few years, there have been some in-
tries into account. To learn from the
itial efforts to strengthen regulation.
mistakes we have made in the past
These are a step in the right direction:
and create better policies in the
one way to further foster transparen-
future, citizens must be able to un-
cy would, for example, be to expand
derstand why individual policies are
the scope and use of transparency
created and reformed: transparent
registers. Such measures will addi-
and understandable evaluations will
Youth Ideas report
tionally increase citizens’ trust in the
enable them to make well-informed
Union and in its policies.
25EYE2021.EU
SEARCH.YOUTHIDEAS.EU
INSTAGRAM.COM/EP_EYE
FACEBOOK.COM/YOUTHEP
Youth Ideas report
TWITTER.COM/EUROPARL_EYE
26You can also read
