“Youth employment – what next?” - the European Youth Forum and the Youth Intergroup Round table at the European Parliament

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 3rd April 2014

PRESS CONTACTS: Alexandre Beddock

alexandre.beddock@youthforum.org / press@youthforum.org and tel: (+32) 2 286 94 23.

“Youth employment – what next?” – the European Youth Forum and the Youth Intergroup roundtable at the European Parliament

Brussels, 3rd April 2014 // The European Youth Forum and the European Parliament Youth Intergroup are hosting a roundtable on Monday 7th April on youth employment, 2.30-5.00pm at the European Parliament, PHS 7 C 050

At Monday’s event The European Youth Forum will present its publication “Quality Jobs for Young People”, which finds that the economic crisis and austerity measures that have gripped Europe over the past several years have had huge consequences for young people in terms of jobs but also in terms of their quality of life, autonomy and levels of social inclusion. The youth unemployment rate still stands at a worrying 23.5% and 7,8 millions of young people under the age of 25 are considered as NEETs (not in employment, education or training). In total, this is more than a quarter of the young Europeans who are today without, professional, educational or training activities.

The publication argues that recent initiatives at EU-level to tackle youth employment and social exclusion, such as the Youth Employment Initiative and the Youth Guarantee are positive steps, but not enough. Much more needs to be done to avoid poverty and social exclusion amongst young people. The publication highlights that young people, particularly since the onset of the crisis, are increasingly engaged in precarious work, moving from one temporary job to another, and thus unable to reach autonomy and their full participation in society. One generation’s problems are being unfairly passed along to the younger generation and this is manifested in youth unemployment and poverty.

The Youth Forum’s publication finds that one key challenge is to bridge the gap between education and the labour market. Whilst stating that there is a place for quality internships, part-time jobs and apprenticeships, the publication insists that the key aim should be quality jobs, which provide young people with the opportunity to live autonomous lives.

The presentation of the publication will be followed by a discussion with decision-makers, representatives of trade unions, the International Labour Organisation and young people on what the next steps should be to overcome the social exclusion of young Europeans and ensure quality employment for Europe’s youth.

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

“Europe now stands at a crossroads: six years after the start of the crisis and with the European elections just weeks away, this is the moment to take action on youth unemployment. The situation is critical for young people and a broader macroeconomic strategy as well as a more coherent and ambitious approach to youth employment must now be defined, in order to tackle precarious position of Europe’s youth and the onset of long-term unemployment.”

(ENDS)

Notes to editor:

Peter Peter Matjašič, the President of the European Youth Forum, is available for media interviews on request. Please contact alexander.beddock@youthforum.org / press@youthforum.org if you would like to attend the event or to request an interview.

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