The report on “Strengthening a youth perspective in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly” (Doc. 15871) proposes the creation of structured avenues so that the views, expectations, and concerns of the youth are systematically included in all the Council of Europe’s intergovernmental and other deliberations.
To support the inclusion of young people into the Assembly’s decision-making processes, the Assembly should create mechanisms to guarantee that these young participants actually represent the views of young people. These mechanisms should guarantee protection from biased youth perspectives in the Assembly’s deliberations, as such perspectives would dimish the quality of its policies and recommendations.
Issues regarding economic growth, social mobility, job creation, and price stability should be treated with particular attention. A recent Eurobarometer survey indicates that only 33% of young Europeans are “satisfied” with the measures taken by their governments to fight the high cost of living. A 2021 survey reports that 66% of young Europeans judge the current situation of their national economy as “bad.” This survey also shows that these economic concerns are higher among young women and young Europeans with fewer educational opportunities than their peers, which shows the importance of tackling this issue.
The Assembly should ensure that by design, mechanisms created for youth participation are inclusive, transparent, reasonable, and non-arbitrary. This approach will guarantee that all young voices are heard independently of their financial muscle, organisational size, and political connections. The Assembly should also guarantee that its final resolution to be adopted on the basis of Doc. 15871 includes among its priorities the following economic issues: the high cost of living (housing and energy particularly), the financial exclusion of young migrants, and the lack of productivity growth and market opportunities.