European cooperation in the youth field (2010-18)

SUMMARY OF:

Resolution on a renewed system for EU cooperation in the youth field

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE RESOLUTION?

It sets out a renewed framework for an improved cooperation between EU countries in the youth field for the period 2010-18. It follows on from a first framework adopted in 2002 for the period 2002-09.

KEY POINTS

The main objective of this renewed framework or EU youth strategy is to improve the efficiency of the cooperation and actions already put in place and provide increased benefits to young people in the EU.

This strategy has 2 main objectives:

to provide more and equal opportunities for young people in education and in the labour market;
to encourage young people to actively participate in society.

These objectives should be met by promoting dialogue between youth and policymakers in order to increase active citizenship, foster social integration and ensure young people’s inclusion in EU policy development.

To this end, specific initiatives, targeting young people, and mainstreaming initiatives are encouraged in 8 specific fields:

education and training;
employment and entrepreneurship;
health and well-being;
participation of young people in the EU’s democratic process and in society in the context of a specific EU structured dialogue;
voluntary activities;
social inclusion;
youth and the world with actions directed to help young people to engage themselves outside the EU or become more involved in areas such as climate change, international cooperation and human rights;
creativity and culture.

Role of EU countries and the European Commission

The resolution calls on the European Commission and EU countries to adopt measures that contribute to achieving the objectives of the youth strategy. Actions in such fields must be applied through an open method of coordination, which requires political commitment from EU countries and specific working methods.

The main implementation instruments of the EU youth strategy are:

mutual learning between the EU countries,
evidence-based focus,
monitoring and reporting,
dialogue with youth and
the mobilisation of EU programmes, such as the Erasmus+ programme.

The EU youth strategy also encourages them to take due account of youth issues in other policy fields impacting on the lives of young people, such as youth employment (including the youth guarantee scheme) and social inclusion (EU platform against poverty and social exclusion).

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

Youth portal (European Commission)
EU youth strategy (European Commission)
EU youth report (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Council Resolution of 27 November 2009 on a renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-2018) (OJ C 311, 19.12.2009, pp. 1-11).