In the framework of its campaign for free mobility for young people in Europe, the European Youth Forum (YFJ) set up a stand on Mobility issues at the EYE 2014 (see elsewhere in this edition of EFILife). As a member of the YFJ and an active participant in the Mobility working group, EFIL was present at the stand with its staff.
The Mobility stand activities focused on visa and residence permit liberalisation, to provide information on the ongoing revision of the visa regulation by the EU institutions and on the problems faced by young people from third countries taking part in youth exchanges and mobility projects in the EU.
Another member of the Mobility Working Group, the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) presented at the stand the outcomes of a survey on visas and residence permits: check the report here.
Visitors were asked to share their experiences, both positive and negative, with the EU visa system and their thoughts about the importance of youth mobility. Their stories – more than 200 – will be collected in an online advocacy platform to show decision-makers what is at stake.
The Mobility Working Group will meet in Moldova, Chisinau to plan the advocacy strategy as from September 2014, when the new European Parliament and European Commission will start discussing the two legislation proposals regarding visas for third country nationals.
The European Youth Forum is also involved in the work of the European Platform for Learning Mobility (EPLM): EFIL – Elisa Briga- represented the YFJ at the EPLM Steering Group meeting on 21-22 May in Bonn, Germany. The EPLM is an open Platform that aims at bringing together policy makers, practitioners and researchers in the field of Learning Mobility. Their main activity is organising a conference every 2 years which aims at sharing between stakeholders and discussions on the latest developments in the field.
For more: elisa.briga@afs.org
