News

Entitled "Youth - Investing and Empowering", the new strategy acknowledges that young people are one of the most vulnerable groups in society, especially in the current economic and financial crisis, and in our ageing society, young people are a precious resource. the new strategy is cross-sectoral, with both short- and long-term actions. The actions involve key policy areas that affect Europe's young people, particularly youth education, employment, creativity and entrepreneurship, social inclusion, health and sport, civic participation, and volunteering. The new strategy also emphasises the importance of youth work and defines reinforced measures for a better implementation of youth policies at the EU level. The strategy "Youth – Investing and Empowering", which is a follow-up to the renewed social agenda announced by the European Commission in 2008, has the following goals:

• to create more opportunities for youth in education and employment,
• to improve access and full participation of all young people in society, and
• to foster solidarity between youth and society.

The Commission's adoption of the new strategy on youth follows an extensive consultation exercise undertaken in 2008, involving national authorities, the European Youth Forum, youth organizations and other stakeholders. (See MEMO). Young people themselves were consulted on-line and will now be invited to react to the Commission's proposals in a new phase of the permanent dialogue between the EU and its youth.

To know more:

• European Commission: Press Release "A new era of EU youth policies" (IP/09/644 on Rapid, 27 April 2009)

• Communication from the Commission "An EU Strategy for Youth – Investing and Empowering. A renewed open method of coordination to address youth challenges and opportunities"

• Commission Memo "The New EU Youth Strategy: the importance of consultation and dialogue"

• Commission Memo "EU Youth policies: Frequently Asked Questions"

• Commission Memo "The First EU Youth Report"

• Citizens' summary "New EU Youth strategy: Youth – Investing and Empowering"

• Commission staff working document accompanying the Communication from the Commission "An EU Strategy for Youth – Investing and Empowering" - IMPACT ASSESSMENT

• Commission staff working document accompanying the Communication from the Commission "An EU Strategy for Youth – Investing and Empowering" - Analysis of national reports concerning the implementation of the common objectives for a greater understanding and knowledge of youth

• Commission staff working document accompanying the Communication from the Commission "An EU Strategy for Youth – Investing and Empowering" - EU YOUTH REPORT

• Appendix to the Youth Report

• Presentation on EU's strategy for Youth: Investing and Empowering

• DG RTD report "European Research on Youth"

• Report on "Evaluation of the European Commission framework for cooperation in youth policy" and report on "Results of the online public consultation in the youth field"