EP adopts Andrea Bocskor’s report

The European Parliament accepted on October 27th Andrea Bocskor’s report on the evaluation of the EU’s 2013-2015 youth strategy. “The future of Europe and the European community,” said Fidesz MEP Andrea Bocskor, “depends on the youth, therefore it is vital that we support them along European and national values.”

The economic crisis hit the youth hard and has had long-term impact on their lives. Youth unemployment increased. The gap among particular groups of the youth widened and some of them lost ground according to certain social and civic indicators. The future became uncertain for many, and more young adults became socially inactive.

According to research, youth unemployment reached a record high in 2013 at 24.4 percent before falling to 18.9 percent in 2016. The educational and employment indicators show an improving trend for the period under review. “In light of the results, it is clear that we have progressed in many fields, but further measures need to be taken in order to decrease youth unemployment, increase quality of life and their vision of the future and ensure equal opportunities for all,” said the EPP representative. To achieve these goals, more systematic and efficient cooperation is needed on a European level but especially on a Member State level in sectors like employment, education, culture and sports. In addition, it is important to involve local and regional municipalities, youth associations and NGOs in youth issues. Andrea Bocskor emphasized that guaranteeing adequate financial instruments such as Erasmus+, European Social Fund, Horizon 2020 and the Youth Employment Initiative is of the utmost importance. All of these programs contribute to reaching an ever wider group of youth.

Knowledge and qualifications remain the greatest assets as the unemployment rate is still lower among graduates than the unqualified. Thus, it is important to improve the quality of education and to synchronize it more efficiently with the job market’s demand. Education systems should be more harmonized with the labor market in order to provide better opportunities for youth. Digital and applied sciences have to become dominant; digital and other skills need to be improved. “The acknowledgement of skills gained through informal, non-formal education and lifelong learning is very important, as well as the European, cross-border accreditation of qualifications and academic degrees in the European labor market,” said Andrea Bocskor.

“As a result of the aging of the population, Europe has to rapidly activate the youth. A conscious family and youth policy, the program to support home ownership, family tax benefits and more could offer great help. Particular countries – like Hungary – have already realized this and indicators are on the rise, but there is still a lot to be done,” said the Fidesz MEP and vice-chair of the CULT Committee.

The report underlines the significant role of family, school, sport and churches in the healthy development and socialization of young people. It further highlights the involvement of local and regional communities in youth policy. It points to the importance of the mother tongue and polyglotism along national and European principles. In this regard it is in the interest of the Member States that they sustain such institutions that guarantee education for national or language minorities in their native language.

The motivation and support of rural youth, living in less developed regions must be a high priority – with social inclusion as well as social and talent management programs – that is in accordance with an opinion released by the Committee of the Regions on the similar topic.

When submitting the report Andrea Bocskor said that we should extend the EU’s youth-related programs to the members of the Eastern Partnership in order to provide equal opportunities and avoid even larger differences.