Youth Strategy: empowering young people

“Investing in education and effective skills training are essential if we want to offer young Europeans better prospects and build a more dynamic, innovative and competitive economy,” highlighted Andrea Bocskor MEP after the European Parliament adopted her report on the 2013-2015 EU Youth Strategy.

Youth unemployment, reaching up to 40% in some countries, remains one of the major challenges in Europe. The risk of poverty and social exclusion has shifted from the elderly to the young. “We are responsible for our youth, we have to invest in their future,” stressed the Vice-Chairwomen of the CULT Committee.

Lifelong learning, volunteering and social activities are vital for encouraging youth participation, which can also have a huge impact on local communities and can help address many societal challenges Andrea Bocskor MEP

The EPP Group strongly believes that young people are drivers of growth, therefore we should help them to drive their own future and to become more entrepreneurial and innovative. “We should invest more in start-ups and in young people becoming entrepreneurs,” said the Rapporteur. 

In her view, the aim is to reduce youth unemployment, improve young people's quality of life and prospects for the future, achieve equal opportunities for all, increase social participation and prevent marginalisation.

“Lifelong learning, informal and non-formal learning, arts, sports, volunteering and social activities are vital for encouraging youth participation, which can also have a huge impact on local communities and can help address many societal challenges,” Andrea Bocskor MEP underlined.