Other developments in Europe and beyond

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New Europass framework announced

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The European framework for the transparency of qualifications, Europass, has the overall objective to support the mobility of people in Europe, including education and employment purposes. Now, 12 years after its creation, a proposal for revision has been put forward, within the ‘New Skills Agenda for Europe’ initiative.


EU’s free InterRail scheme?

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The European Commission said it was ready to consider handing out free InterRail tickets to all young Europeans when they turn 18, picking up on a proposal made by members of the European Parliament in an attempt to counter the wave of euroscepticism spreading across the continent. While the Commission discusses this proposal, high quality Erasmus+ projects are denied funding because of insufficient budget allocated to the programme. We believe a higher investment in Erasmus+ which ensures quality learning mobility, is a better choice in periods when choices need to be made.

EU Youth Guarantee Scheme shows success, and G20 leaders call for quality jobs!

The latest  International Labour Organisations’ report shows that youth unemployment is again on the rise. In the meantime, the EU scheme to get young people into work or training within four months, the Youth Guarantee, is starting to reap rewards for young people across Europe. According to a report released by the European Commission, 9 million young people have taken up an offer of a job or further training through the scheme.Here is the European Youth Forum’s reaction. Also, G20 leaders promise they will work to ensure that our economic growth serves the needs of everyone and benefits all countries and all people including in particular women, youth and disadvantaged groups, generating more quality jobs.

The Youth Forum at the UN Human rights Council

President Johanna Nyman represented the Youth Forum at a panel on youth and human rights on 22 September. The European Youth Forum called on United Nations member states to take concrete action.

State of the Union speech by the President of the European Commission  

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President Junker gave a much awaited speech on the state of the European Union on 14 September. Although Junker in his welcome statement says that he cannot accept Europe as the continent of youth unemployment, he decided – in the revision of the budget, also called MFF – an effective cut in funding of more than three-quarters for the Youth Guarantee.

Also, Junker announced the set up of a European Solidarity Corps, supporting youth volunteer across the EU where help is most needed. “By voluntarily joining the European Solidarity Corps, these young people will be able to develop their skills and get not only work but also invaluable human experience”. We are look forward to seeing how this will be implemented, along with the European Voluntary Service (EVS) which is celebrating its 20th Anniversary.

Here you can find the European youth Forum’s and the LLLPlatform reactions.

EU youth strategy 

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The European Commission and the European Parliament are assessing the EU Youth Strategy   This July, in a meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education (CULT), MEPs adopted a report on the Assessment of the EU Youth Strategy 2013-2015. EFIL took part to the public consultation which ended mid September 2016.

Young people reveal their 50 ideas for a better Europe.

50 of the best ideas from the European Youth Event – to which EFIL took part to – have been collected in a report and presented to Parliament on 6 September. Few will be forwarded to parliamentary committees through the European Youth Hearings in the European Parliament. This is a platform to engage young Europeans and participants of the EYE2016 in shaping the political agenda. During the hearings, young people present ideas to Parliamentary Committees and exchange views with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). The hearings kicked off on 11 October with a presentation to a joint committee meeting of Foreign Affairs (AFET) and Development (DEVE).

The EU step towards Sustainable development

The 

EU environment ministers approved the ratification of the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement enters into force 30 days after ratification by at least 55 countries representing at least 55% of global emissions.sd-watch

SDG Watch Europe, the new European, cross-sectoral CSO alliance of a broad range of NGOs from development, environment, social, education, human rights and other sectors, will be holding its launch event on 13 October at the Permanent Representation of Nordrhein-Westfalen in Brussels. The goal of this newly established coalition is to hold the EU and the governments of its Member States to account within the framework they have committed to by adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

The AFS network is also committed to promote and implement the Sustainable development goals and we showed it during the AFS Sustainability Challenge!

Check out these publications!