15.6.2017   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 189/35

1.

The political background to this issue as set out in Annex to these conclusions.

2.

The communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions entitled ‘An EU strategy for youth — Investing and empowering. A renewed open method of coordination to address youth challenges and opportunities’ (1) sought to establish a cross-sectoral approach to empower young people in Europe and give them the resources and opportunities to achieve autonomy.

3.

The Council resolution on ‘A renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-2018)’ (2), embodied the most comprehensive and ambitious EU youth strategy to date. The time-span of the framework coincided with the financial and economic crisis which, while negatively affecting all EU citizens and Member States to a greater or lesser extent, adversely and disproportionately impacted on young people, and on young people with fewer opportunities in particular, resulting in high levels of unemployment and increasing the risk of social dislocation, political alienation and even violent radicalisation and extremism that in turn challenged democratic values and social cohesion.

4.

As evident in the European Commission’s Youth Reports of 2012 and 2015 and the Joint Report of the Council and the Commission on the implementation of the renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-18) (3), the framework has made an important and valuable contribution not only to cooperation in the youth field but to the lives, prospects, well-being, participation and inclusion of young people across the European Union.

5.

The EU Work Plans for Youth of 2014-2015 (4) and 2016-2018 (5) have strengthened and enhanced the instruments and processes for implementation of the renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field, aligning it more with the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy and addressing emerging challenges.

6.

The operational time frame of the renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field will expire at the end of 2018 and the operational time frames of both Europe 2020, the European Union’s 10-year jobs and growth strategy, and the Erasmus+ programme will expire at the end of 2020.

7.

The promotion and safeguarding of the values of the European Union, as set out in Article 2 of the TEU (6), and the fostering of young people’s sense of European identity and trust in the European project through developing their competences and promoting their political participation, civic engagement, voluntary activities and learning mobility will continue to be fundamental in determining future European cooperation in the youth field.

8.

The role of youth work, non-formal and informal learning is of central importance to the youth field and contribute to the development of young people’s competences.

9.

A new framework for European cooperation in the youth field, post-2018, emphasising a cross-sectoral approach with a clear added value at EU level and including possible EU Work Plans for Youth should be developed and supported whilst taking into account the evaluation results of the current framework.

10.

ensure that the development of the framework for future European cooperation in the youth field is evidence-based, informed and underpinned by broad-based and inclusive consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including young people, youth work providers (7), youth workers (both professional and voluntary) and policymakers at all levels so as to build consensus on, and commitment to, future youth policy aims and objectives;

11.

consider that the framework for future European cooperation in the youth field is cross-sectoral, flexible, responsive and transparent and take account of the rapidly changing political, social, cultural and economic circumstances of European and international levels;

12.

ensure that Erasmus+ and other programmes and instruments contribute, and where appropriate are aligned, to the implementation of the framework;

13.

put the main focus of the framework on the specific youth policy themes, which are in the competence of the structures responsible for youth but also further strengthen developments and initiatives in related policy fields so as to ensure cross-sectoral cooperation and reciprocal support;

14.

evaluate, review and renew the Structured Dialogue and its objectives with a view to facilitating innovative, meaningful and targeted constructive dialogue not only with young people from youth organisations but also those young people from diverse backgrounds, with fewer opportunities and non-organised youth;

15.

further consider the competences (knowledge, skills and attitudes) and values that young people need to sustain fulfilling personal, social and working lives and, in particular, to reach out to and include young people with fewer opportunities;

16.

have regard to the role that the internet, social media and digitalisation can play in promoting solidarity, political participation and active citizenship among young people and in combating political alienation, populism, propaganda and radicalisation that may lead to violent extremism;

17.

evaluate, further strengthen and develop where possible policy instruments, tools and methods and complementary collaborations like the partnership between EU-CoE in the youth field, with a view to maintain and enhance effective European cooperation in the youth field, post-2018.

18.

invite the future Presidencies to prepare a new draft framework for European cooperation in the youth field, post-2018, taking into account these conclusions as well as the forthcoming Commission initiative for an EU Youth Strategy — post-2018. This draft should be submitted to the Council with a view to its adoption.