European Youth Forum welcomes establishment of new Youth Intergroup in the European Parliament

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11th December 2014

Press contacts: Sarah Farndale, European Youth Forum, + 32 2286 9436 / +32 490 390 665 sarah.farndale@youthforum.org / press@youthforum.org

European Youth Forum welcomes establishment of new Youth Intergroup in the European Parliament

Brussels, 11th December 2014 // The European Youth Forum welcomes the re-establishment, by the European Parliament, of an Intergroup on Youth Issues, helping to give young people the voice within Parliament that is desperately needed.

Strong support was received for the re-establishment of this intergroup. Though not official Parliament committees, intergroups are formed by MEPs with a view to debating issues of significant importance and, therefore, can develop strong influence in the Parliament.

For the last five years, the Youth Intergroup of the European Parliament provided a unique space for MEPs from different political groups and committees to exchange views and work together on comprehensive and effective policies affecting young people, in conjunction with youth civil society and young people themselves. Not only a space for MEPs to discuss policy development, this intergroup is a real bridge between elected representatives and youth civil society.

The continued existence of the Youth Intergroup is crucial as it consistently brings youth to the attention of MEPs, other European institutions and facilitates improvements for Europe’s young people, such as, in the past, the Youth Guarantee and the Erasmus+ programme.

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

“We are delighted that the European Parliament has chosen to re-establish the Youth Intergroup. This is an important sign for young people that the Parliament will listen to their concerns over the next five years. At a time when young people face huge difficulties, not least that unemployment remains stubbornly high, with 21.6 per cent of young people unemployed, it is heartening to see that there is an appetite within the Parliament to tackle these urgent issues.

“We hope that the Youth Intergroup will build on the great work done by the previous one and we very much look forward to supporting and working closely with them to help to improve the lives of young people across Europe.”

MEP Eider Gardiazabal Rubial, Chair of the previous Youth Intergroup, comments:

“We are very grateful for the strong support received from the political groups for the re-establishment of this important intergroup and are delighted that its vital work will continue. I look forward to continuing to work with youth civil society, and particularly the European Youth Forum, in making sure that youth issues are firmly on the European Parliament’s agenda.”

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Notes to the editor:

About the European Youth Forum

The European Youth Forum is the platform of youth organisations in Europe. Independent, democratic, youth-led, it represents 99 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