Joint letter condemning Council Recommendation on Quality Framework for Traineeships
Date: 11th March 2014
We, the undersigned, condemn the Council Recommendation on a Quality Framework for Traineeships approved by the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) on 10th March.
The situation of interns across Europe is unacceptable, and the Quality Framework for Traineeships proposes next to nothing to remedy this.
Internships must primarily be a learning opportunity for young people, to help them access quality employment. At the same time, interns have the right to quality work experience with safe and fair working conditions. The Recommendation does not ensure this. There are no proposals in the Recommendation that require internship providers to pay their interns or offer them access to social protection. This is deplorable: interns must be paid for the work they undertake as part of internships outside education. The Recommendation fails to address this, perpetuating the fact that internships are not accessible to all young people and thus have become a clear form of social discrimination. Furthermore, the Recommendation does nothing to remedy the fact that poor quality internships are replacing jobs and have thus become a subtle form of precarious employment for young people.
We are extremely disappointed that the Council was unable to agree on Recommendation which abides by the key principles that have been called for by so many youth organisations, civil society actors and other European institutions, as set forth in the European Quality Charter on Internships and Apprenticeships. This is a clear failure to address a pressing demand of young people, in a time when already Europe’s youth are in a vulnerable position as a result of the economic crisis.
The Council has failed to finally turn words into action and has missed the opportunity to deliver to European youth a Quality Framework for Traineeships which ensures their rights are respected.
European Youth Forum
Co-signed by:
B!ngo (Brussels Interns NGO)
ESU (European Students Union)
ESN (Erasmus Student Network)
InternsGoPro
Microsoft Europe
Obessu (Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions)
National Youth Councils
CJE (Consejo de la Juventad de Espana)
FNG (Forum Nazionale Giovani)
MSS (Mladinski Svet Slovenjie)
National organisations
Génération Précaire
Geneva Interns Organisation
InternAware UK
Reppublica Degli Stagisti
Related articles & publications
![](https://www.youthforum.org/files/_660x371_crop_center-center_82_line/240724-HLPF-SDG-loading_img-copy.jpg 660w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_1320x742_crop_center-center_61_line/240724-HLPF-SDG-loading_img-copy.jpg 1320w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_440x247_crop_center-center_82_line/240724-HLPF-SDG-loading_img-copy.jpg 440w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_880x495_crop_center-center_61_line/240724-HLPF-SDG-loading_img-copy.jpg 880w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_375x210_crop_center-center_60_line/240724-HLPF-SDG-loading_img-copy.jpg 375w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_750x421_crop_center-center_45_line/240724-HLPF-SDG-loading_img-copy.jpg 750w)
Urging for immediate action on Sustainable Development Goals
We attended the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development. This is the main United Nations conference dedicated to tracking the progress of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
![](https://www.youthforum.org/files/_660x371_crop_center-center_82_line/EYF-2024_DIETER-VANFRAECHEM_Day-1_304-2.jpg 660w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_1320x742_crop_center-center_61_line/EYF-2024_DIETER-VANFRAECHEM_Day-1_304-2.jpg 1320w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_440x247_crop_center-center_82_line/EYF-2024_DIETER-VANFRAECHEM_Day-1_304-2.jpg 440w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_880x495_crop_center-center_61_line/EYF-2024_DIETER-VANFRAECHEM_Day-1_304-2.jpg 880w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_375x210_crop_center-center_60_line/EYF-2024_DIETER-VANFRAECHEM_Day-1_304-2.jpg 375w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_750x421_crop_center-center_45_line/EYF-2024_DIETER-VANFRAECHEM_Day-1_304-2.jpg 750w)
European Culture and Education can’t be left to the hands of Eurosceptics!
Block anti-democratic forces across the political spectrum from holding essential and influential positions in the European Parliament.
![](https://www.youthforum.org/files/_660x371_crop_center-center_82_line/IMGL1533_druk-c-Michiel-Devijver.jpg 660w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_1320x742_crop_center-center_61_line/IMGL1533_druk-c-Michiel-Devijver.jpg 1320w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_440x247_crop_center-center_82_line/IMGL1533_druk-c-Michiel-Devijver.jpg 440w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_880x495_crop_center-center_61_line/IMGL1533_druk-c-Michiel-Devijver.jpg 880w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_375x210_crop_center-center_60_line/IMGL1533_druk-c-Michiel-Devijver.jpg 375w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_750x421_crop_center-center_45_line/IMGL1533_druk-c-Michiel-Devijver.jpg 750w)
Ghent: they are the city, the European Youth Capital city
As summer approaches Ghent is buzzing more than ever! After a spectacular opening in February, the European Youth Capital 2024 has continued to impress with a series of events celebrating young people and creativity. Check out a recap of the highlights so far and a preview of what's to come.