Date of release : 17-02-2005

Policy area : Education, Youth and Culture Education, Youth and Culture

On 17 February, Marie-Josée Jacobs, current President of the Council of European Youth Ministers, received Renaldas Vaisbrodas, President of the European Youth Forum and Charel Schmit, President of the Conférence Générale de la Jeunesse luxembourgeoise (General Conference of Luxembourg Youth) for a discussion about the priorities of the Luxembourg Presidency concerning European youth policy.  The discussions about the European Youth Pact are an important topical issue.

 The idea of a European Youth Pact started out from the initiative by the Heads of State and Government of Germany, Spain, France and Sweden calling for recognition of the essential role of young people in achieving the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy through the adoption of a youth pact.  The Commission included the initiative in its communication on the mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy.

 The European Youth Ministers will soon adopt a contribution to the mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy in which they call on the European Heads of State and Government to adopt the initiative of the Youth Pact proposed by the Commission in its communication.  The Pact should make a special reference to the fields of employment, education and training as well as balancing work and family life.

 During the discussion, the European Youth Forum emphasised the importance of this European Youth Pact, and the opportunity that it offered to carry out a holistic and coherent policy towards young people.  Mr. Renaldas Vaisbrodas also highlighted the importance of consulting young people in the drafting of the Pact.