A new European Union youth strategy (Communication)

In its opinion, the EESC welcomes the EU Youth Strategy for 2019 – 2027 and in particular the creation of the EU Youth Coordinator as a part of it. It also makes a series of recommendations, such as:

• the Strategy should be more connected with existing EU programmes, such Erasmus+, the Youth Guarantee and the European Solidarity Corps;
• it should focus on the cross sectoral approach, taking a holistic view of young people and their needs and rights; the EU Youth policy should be included in the European Semester process;
• the scope of the Strategy should be extended by action aiming at protecting, supporting and equipping young people with rights, knowledge and skills to face global current challenges;
• the Strategy should pay more attention to employment issues affecting young people, as well as other social issues such as mental health, equality and education. It should also promote democracy, a broader civic engagement, including voting, volunteering, youth-led NGOs, workplace democracy and social dialogue.

Key points

• In its opinion, the EESC welcomes the EU Youth Strategy for 2019–2027 (hereafter Strategy) and in particular the creation of the EU Youth Coordinator as a part of it.
• The Committee believes that the Strategy should be more connected with existing EU programmes, such Erasmus+, the Youth Guarantee and the European Solidarity Corps.
• The EESC believes that, for the Strategy to deliver, it should focus on the three following objectives:

- The cross sectoral approach, taking a holistic view of young people and their needs and rights;

- The new EU Youth Co-ordinator should primarily lead on cross-sectoral work and be a senior position;

- The EU Youth policy should be included in the European Semester process to focus more on delivery, particularly in cross-sectoral areas.

• The Committee recommends that the Strategy pays more attention to employment issues affecting young people, particularly in terms of the discussion on the future of work as well as other social issues such as mental health, equality and education.
• In addition to promoting democracy, the EESC believes that the Strategy should also promote a broader civic engagement, including voting, volunteering, youth-led NGOs, workplace democracy and social dialogue.