240 MEP CANDIDATES SIGN UP TO MAKE NEXT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT MOST YOUTH FRIENDLY EVER

Brussels, 22nd May 2014 // Two hundred and forty candidates for the next European Parliament have signed up to the European Youth Forum’s LoveYouthFuture pledges and have committed to ensuring that the next European Parliament is youth-friendly. There is time for candidates to sign up to the pledges until voting day!

Of the 240 MEP candidates that have pledged to defend youth rights during their mandate as MEPs, if elected, many (83) were from the Greens, next most supportive of the political groups was the Socialists & Democrats (69), then EPP (36), followed by ALDE (32), with eight candidates from the European Left pledging and 13 pledgers that are not aligned with a party[1].

The countries with most candidates that have pledged are mostly located in the traditional “north” of Europe: with 22 from Germany, 18 from Austria, 17 from Finland and 15 from Belgium (see full list below). When it comes to gender the figures are also interesting; 116 pledgers are female and 124 are male – this is noteworthy given the make-up of the European Parliament (slightly more than a third of MEPs are women).

The 11 LoveYouthFuture pledges commit the candidates to fight for more protections for young people, youth rights, quality education, youth participation in decision–making and more job opportunities for young people. Two of the main candidates for the presidency of the European Commision, Martin Schulz and Ska Keller, have also signed the LoveYouthFuture pledges.

The European Youth Forum firmly believes that the EU has a crucial role to play in improving the lives of young people. Young people’s rights have been overridden during the economic crisis and prolonged austerity measures. Therefore the upcoming elections are an essential opportunity for young people themselves to ensure a Europe which is truly pro-youth.

Peter Matjašič, President of the European Youth Forum, said:

“The European Youth Forum is delighted to see that candidates are taking the situation of young people in Europe seriously. Having so many sign the LoveYouthFuture pledges is a sign that youth is high on the agenda for these elections. There is still time for candidates to show young people across Europe that their future representatives do not ignore them, by signing up to our pledges! MEP candidates have to prove to young people that this time, it really is different.”

MEP candidates can still sign the pledges at www.loveyouthfuture.eu and are invited to do so to ensure youth rights are guaranteed in Europe. As well as monitoring closely the newly-elected MEPs on their implementation of the Pledges in the Parliament, the Youth Forum will work closely with them, to ensure the next European Parliament is a youth-friendly one.

[ENDS]

Notes to the editor:

About LoveYouthFuture

LoveYouthFuture is the European Youth Forum’s campaign to ensure youth rights in Europe. MEPs and candidates are being asked to sign the LoveYouthFuture pledges and make their commitment to youth, which they can promote in their campaign. More information on LoveYouthFuture can be found here www.loveyouthfuture.eu

About the European Youth Forum

The European Youth Forum is the platform of youth organisations in Europe. Independent, democratic, youth-led, it represents 98 National Youth Councils and international youth organisations from across the continent. The Forum works to empower young people to participate actively in society to improve their own lives, by representing and advocating their needs and interests and those of their organisations towards the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations. For more information, visit www.youthforum.org

About LoveYouthFuture pledgers

Gender

116 Female

124 Male

Party

ALDE: 32

EPP: 36

Greens: 83

European Left: 8

Non-alligned: 13

S&D: 69

Country

UK: 8

Sweden: 10

Spain: 12

Slovenia: 8

Slovakia: 7

Romania: 7

Portugal: 3

Poland: 3

Netherlands: 13

Malta: 4

Luxembourg: 9

Lithuania: 7

Latvia: 3

Italy: 7

Ireland: 12

Hungary: 2

Greece: 10

Germany: 22

France: 11

Finland: 17

Estonia: 9

Denmark: 1

Czech Republic: 9

Cyprus: 4

Croatia: 6

Bulgaria: 2

Belgium: 15

Austria 18

[1]These are actual figures and are not weighted by the number of candidates per party