92002E1833

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1833/02

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 June 2002)

Subject: Commission aid for the creation of the European General Council for Youth

The objective on the part of European youth movements of creating a European General Youth Council is a response to the perceived need for an instrument which would bring together the youth movements of the countries of Europe, thus making it possible to express positions on matters of particular interest to young people on a Community-wide basis, and to put forward, on a consultative basis, proposals for dealing with young people's problems and realising their aspirations.

The proposal to create such a European General Youth Council deserves strong encouragement from the Community authorities, given its potential for moving beyond purely local and national interests and breaking down physical and psychological barriers.

Does the Commission consider that it should contribute to consolidating the idea of a European General Youth Council, which would serve as a forum enabling young people in the Member States to seek solutions to the problems confronting them and propose responses to the challenges thrown up by European integration?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(4 September 2002)

The Commission shares the view of the Honourable Member on the importance of promoting a framework for listening to the young people of Europe.

It was with this in mind that the Commission produced the White Paper entitled A New Impetus for European Youth(1), whose adoption in November 2001 was preceded by wide-ranging consultations of young people. These consultations revealed inter alia a wish among young people to get more involved in society, thus making participation one of the priorities of the White Paper.

It is with a view to promoting such participation that one of the proposals contained in the White Paper aims to consolidate a European youth consultation structure.

With this in mind, rather than support the creation of a new structure, as proposed by the Honourable Member, the Commission proposes in its White Paper that the European Youth Forum, which it has been funding since 1979 and whose membership consists of National Youth Councils and non-governmental youth organisations, should form the basis of a European youth consultation structure, while asking it to become more accessible to young people who are not members of youth organisations and without excluding direct youth consultations.

(1) COM(2001) 681 final.