Transparency International EU and Generation Climate Europe have now joined the EESC's network of European civil society organisations working to shape EU laws
Europeans need to know how EU decisions affect their lives if campaigns to boost voter turnout are to have any real effect. Messages need to be tailored to each EU country and barriers preventing young people from entering politics need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
Young people's mental health is being increasingly compromised by the excessive use of social media, concerns about climate change and a sense of powerlessness. This is a "political" issue for the EU because it can often be linked to the labour market and housing situation facing young people
The Recovery and Resilience Facility has increased the capacity for social investment in the EU. However, National Recovery and Resilience Plans, funded by the facility, are still plagued by shortcomings such as uneven investing in social programmes in different Member States, insufficient consultation with social partners and a gender dimension that is too weak
An interview with Nicoletta MERLO, one of the youngest members of the EESC. She is National Head of Youth Policies for CISL, one of the largest Italian trade union confederations. Nicoletta is a member of the bureau of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Youth Committee and has recently been appointed as a member of the NAT Bureau of the EESC.
Young people should receive the same pay and social security benefits as other workers, including the same minimum wages, which is still not the case in all Member States
The EESC calls for constant attention paid during implementation to the most marginalised young people, including young people with disabilities;
Believes that the expertise and experience of youth organisations in the EU, and around the world, is a great resource in the delivery of the plan;
Recommends that target countries should be encouraged and given the tools to have their own tangible dedicated youth policies and national youth councils or equivalents;
Suggests that activities focusing on education should be centred on equality, particularly protecting young girls.
