Resolution: Time to Act: More Quality Employment!
The economic and financial crisis has had a significant negative effect on the people of Europe, but young people have been hardest hit1 . In January 2015, the youth unemployment rate was 21.2% in the EU28 and 22.9% in the euro area2 . These figures have been worsened by austerity measures meant for fiscal consolidation as a result of the crisis. Cuts to public budgets, especially to education, greater flexibility of employment protection regulation and age-based cuts to minimum wages and unemployment benefits, have all contributed to elevating young people’s risk of falling into poverty and social exclusion. We recognise that in disadvantaged neighbourhoods the situation is even more difficult for young people, often being the second or third generation without work (meaning that their precariousness existed before the economic crisis). The consequences of the current development have an impact on the individual as well as the whole society.
Related publications
![](https://www.youthforum.org/files/_660x371_crop_center-center_82_line/240712-PP-Erasmus-overview.jpg 660w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_1320x742_crop_center-center_61_line/240712-PP-Erasmus-overview.jpg 1320w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_440x247_crop_center-center_82_line/240712-PP-Erasmus-overview.jpg 440w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_880x495_crop_center-center_61_line/240712-PP-Erasmus-overview.jpg 880w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_375x210_crop_center-center_60_line/240712-PP-Erasmus-overview.jpg 375w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_750x421_crop_center-center_45_line/240712-PP-Erasmus-overview.jpg 750w)
The future of the Erasmus+ Programme
The relevance of the Erasmus+ Programme gains special light in the current context of global democratic backsliding. However, there are still areas where improvements can be made to ensure that Erasmus+ appropriately reaches all young people and supports the youth sector in Europe.
![](https://www.youthforum.org/files/_660x371_crop_center-center_82_line/Youth-organisations-across-Europe_overview.png 660w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_1320x742_crop_center-center_61_line/Youth-organisations-across-Europe_overview.png 1320w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_440x247_crop_center-center_82_line/Youth-organisations-across-Europe_overview.png 440w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_880x495_crop_center-center_61_line/Youth-organisations-across-Europe_overview.png 880w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_375x210_crop_center-center_60_line/Youth-organisations-across-Europe_overview.png 375w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_750x421_crop_center-center_45_line/Youth-organisations-across-Europe_overview.png 750w)
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.
![](https://www.youthforum.org/files/_660x371_crop_center-center_82_line/Civic-spaces-Georgia_overview.png 660w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_1320x742_crop_center-center_61_line/Civic-spaces-Georgia_overview.png 1320w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_440x247_crop_center-center_82_line/Civic-spaces-Georgia_overview.png 440w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_880x495_crop_center-center_61_line/Civic-spaces-Georgia_overview.png 880w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_375x210_crop_center-center_60_line/Civic-spaces-Georgia_overview.png 375w, https://www.youthforum.org/files/_750x421_crop_center-center_45_line/Civic-spaces-Georgia_overview.png 750w)
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.