High Quality or Unpaid and Unregulated? Uncovering National Internship Policies in Europe
Internships are often a first step in a young person’s working life. However, depending on where you are in the EU, your chances of being forced to start your professional career in an unpaid and unregulated internship can be worryingly high.
Our new report has put the spotlight on internship legislation in seven European Member States, evaluating the working conditions interns have to face.
Focusing on France, Romania, Croatia, Bulgaria, Austria, Ireland and Germany, our report offers a snapshot of what it’s like to work as an intern in Europe. By presenting a direct comparison of national legislation, it highlights how specific policies can make a big difference in giving interns protection or leaving them exposed to exploitation.
The report identifies that in some national contexts the requirement of a written contract is not enforced, nor the guarantee of quality training opportunities. Instead, free reign is given to the employers, creating a legal grey area where young people are unable to access their rights.
The failures in internship policies investigated in this report also highlights the limitations of the European Quality Framework for Traineeships, the EU’s core recommendation on the rights of interns and trainee workers. The Quality Framework is due to be reviewed this year and we call for it to be updated with a binding requirement for all open labour market interns (where they exist) to be recognised as employees. Young people deserve better!
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The situation of youth organisations across Europe
Youth Organisations across Europe are facing an increasingly challenging situation. Political and economic circumstances are leading to shrinking civic spaces and therefore a shrinking chance of youth organisations to fulfil their purpose and represent the voice of young people. Read the motion to find out which of the European Youth Forum's members have been impacted and how, as well as what we commit to internally as part of our Strategic Plan and what we call for externally.
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Protecting civil society and civic spaces in Georgia
In March 2023, the Government of Georgia initiated work on a legislative proposal on “foreign agents” that would have forced civil society organisations to be registered as being under foreign influence should they be receiving funding from sources outside of the country. As Georgia initiated negotiations for EU membership merely 6 months ago, this underscores how fragile Democracy and the Rule of Law are in our societies and how civic spaces must be protected tirelessly every day, everywhere.
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Empowering Youth Voices: Defending Democracy and European Values
We cannot deny the European Union and its values are facing threats from both inside and outside. The European Youth Forum is committed to actively speaking out against these threats and protecting the values of intercultural understanding, democracy, respect, diversity, human rights, active citizenship, and solidarity.