The young generation sacrificed: social, economic and political implications of the financial crisis
Reply to Recommendation
| Doc. 13073
| 21 November 2012
- Author(s):
- Committee of Ministers
- Origin
- Adopted
at the 1154th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (14 November 2012). 2012 - November Standing Committee
- Reply to Recommendation
- : Recommendation 2002
(2012)
- Thesaurus
1 The Committee of Ministers has carefully
examined Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 2002 (2012) on “The
young generation sacrificed: social, economic and political implications
of the financial crisis” and has drawn it to the attention of member
States’ governments. It has also forwarded the recommendation to
the relevant bodies of the Council of Europe.
Note
2 The Council of Europe’s commitment to young people is now
more essential than ever given the economic and financial crisis
and its impact on the situation of young people in Europe. In drawing
up the Council of Europe’s youth policy, the Committee of Ministers’
objective was to provide all young people with equal opportunities
and enable them to develop the knowledge and skills required to
play a full part in society.
Note It would underline
the cross-sectoral dimension of the youth policy and the importance
of involving young people in its formulation, implementation and
follow-up.
3 As the Assembly reiterates its proposal to draft a European
Framework Convention on the Rights of Young People, the Committee
of Ministers would draw attention to its reply to Parliamentary
Assembly Recommendation 1978 (2011), which is still relevant.
4 In addition to the legal and institutional measures recommended
by the Assembly to enhance European co-operation and foster young
people’s access to social and economic rights and opportunities,
the Committee of Ministers would underline the importance of quality
education in preparing young people for life as citizens and for
their integration in the labour market. It would also refer to the
guidelines set out in the Council of Europe’s Social Cohesion Strategy
and Action Plan (2010), which encourage member States to provide
all young people with equal opportunities on the labour market and
to support young people in disadvantaged situations.
5 The issues raised by the Assembly in its recommendations were
also tackled at the 9th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers
responsible for Youth (Saint Petersburg, 23-25 September 2012) which
dealt with the role innovative youth policies can play to improve
the access of young people to rights and at the 2nd Council of Europe
Conference of Ministers responsible for Social Cohesion (Istanbul,
11‑12 October 2012), entitled “Building a secure future for all”.
6 Pursuant to the Assembly’s recommendation that the Council
of Europe Development Bank (CEB) be closely involved (see paragraph
3.3), the Bank’s Governing Board indicated that the Bank “stands
ready to examine and to contribute, through its specific means of
action, to projects aimed at improving access to socio-economic
rights for vulnerable populations, and especially the young generation,
presented by its member States”.
7 As the Assembly notes, the North-South Centre plays an important
role in promoting youth-oriented policies and capacity-building
measures, in particular on the southern shores of the Mediterranean
and in Africa. It works in co-operation and co-ordination with
the other relevant Council of Europe bodies, not least in the framework
of the Council of Europe Policy towards Neighbouring Regions. Very
recently, the discussions at the 13th University for Youth and Development,
held by the North-South Centre (Mollina, 16‑23 September 2012) focused
on youth rights.
8 The Committee of Ministers would also underline the excellent
level of co-operation with the European Union, in particular in
the field of young people’s access to social, economic and political
rights. More specifically, attention should be drawn to the current
joint project between the Council of Europe and the European Commission,
named “Edgeryders”, which has set up an interaction channel between
young people and democratic institutions in Europe.
;