Annex to the letter sent by the European Youth Forum and the Romanian Youth Council in the context of the September 2016 Bratislava EU Summit.

1. Unleashing the potential of Europe’s youth
Input from youth perspective for the EU27 Summit in Bratislava on 16th
September 2016
Europe's young people are among the most innovative, creative and mobile generation that
this continent has ever seen. More and more young people make use of digital and
communications technologies and take advantage of the absence of borders and the ease of
mobility that the European Union now provides. They are also more inclined to be European-
minded. For example, 75% of 18- to 24-year-olds voted to remain in the recent United Kingdom
referendum. This "Erasmus generation" has never seen borders in Europe. Thus, young
people more than other generations tend to identify as European.
However, strong barriers persist across Europe. Many young people cannot take advantage
of the political, economic and social benefits that a connected Europe provides. Such exclusion
has an enormous impact and affected young people are at risk of becoming a "lost generation".
With an ageing population, Europe needs to take action to ensure the inclusion of all young
people.
The European Union can be a champion in engaging and reducing barriers facing young
people but it must take a comprehensive, consistent approach.
Measures should include:
On employment
Young people were especially affected during the recent financial and economic crises. Even
now, youth unemployment within the EU remains at worryingly high levels, nearly 20%, and in
some Member States still 1 in 2 young people are without a job. The risk of a lost generation
has never been more acute, with huge economic and social costs for European states. A lack
of opportunities connected with economic and social exclusion means that young people are
not able to make the transition from education to quality jobs and an autonomous life. The
violent extremism and radicalisation of a small minority of young people highlights this
‘malaise’ in society. Europe can only benefit from having more young people provided with
quality jobs. This is why it is now high time for the European Union and its Member States to
invest in quality job creation.
Investment in job creation
The EU and its Member States should prioritise investment that creates quality jobs – looking
especially at youth-friendly or emerging sectors, such as the green economy. This should be
accompanied by support to young entrepreneurs that want to create their own jobs and jobs
for others. The EU and its Member States must ensure young people have entrepreneurship
skills to inspire and empower them to do set up their own business if they wish. The EU and

2. Member States must also focus on reducing the administrative and financial obstacles that
young people face in setting up their own businesses, particularly in the social economy.
Continued funding for the Youth Guarantee
One of the key current initiatives at the EU level to improve young people’s transition from
education to work is the Youth Guarantee.
The Youth Guarantee is beginning to have an impact at local level but it takes time and
continued investment for changes to take place. The European Union and Members States
must commit additional funding for the Youth Guarantee to achieve its goal of providing young
people with quality jobs. Practice also shows that the Youth Guarantee works best in Members
States where youth organisations and young people themselves are systematically involved
in the implementation process.
Equal pay for equal work and social inclusion
All young people should have the opportunity to learn, work and be equal members of society.
However, 1 in 5 young people today are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. A youth
minimum wage is in place in 8 EU Member States meaning that in some countries young
people earn only half the “adult” wage for the same job. Youth minimum wages as well as the
continued practice of unpaid internships are discriminatory and must be abolished.
Furthermore, for a comprehensive approach to social inclusion of young people, the EU and
its Member States must also invest in crucial services for young people, from employment
services and career guidance, to care services (for children and older people) as well as
housing support and accessible healthcare, free from discrimination.
On investment
Beyond investing first in quality job creation, it is crucial for the EU and its Member States to
invest more in education, young people, and future generations to build a more sustainable
future. These sectors need to be made a top priority in the discussions around the Multiannual
Financial Framework review and its successor: currently only approximately 1.84% of the EU
budget benefits young people directly Both the EU and its Member States should be strongly
encouraged to increase their support of education and young people.
Structural investment into youth and education
The EU and its Member States have to invest more into youth and education through EU
programmes, Investment Plan for Europe and national budgets. More specifically, they should
move away from a project-based support of youth and educational organisations (which
encourages short-term thinking and creates uncertainty) towards structural support of
organisations that are doing demonstrably good work in developing potential of young people.

3. Only through sustainable funding can the youth and education sectors deliver the urgently
needed positive long-term results.
Increase funding for Europe for Citizens programme
Increasing support for the Europe for Citizens programme as a way to promote civic
participation and increase the understanding of Europe’s history and diversity. The level of
support should reach at least the one of the previous financial framework (2007-2014).
On participation
The European Union is facing a surge of populism, extremism and euroscepticism that might,
if left unchecked, form an existential threat to its survival. Ensuring participation of all citizens
in decision-making is the key to deliver with relevant, legitimate and appropriate policy
proposals. With young people, the traditional allies of the European project, often disengaged
from traditional forms of political participation, our open, inclusive and pluralist societies are at
risk. To ensure the long-term stability and sutainability of our democracies, European leaders
can:
Quality citizenship education in curricula
Ensure that each young person has access to citizenship education in their school
curriculum that also encompasses the dimension of European citizenship. Ensuring a shared
understanding of Europe and of its fundamental values is of utmost importance. It is also
crucial that citizenship initiatives should go beyond theory and provide young people with the
skills and competences they need to be confident and actively involved in democratic
processes. These would include political skills, embracing new and different forms of political
activism, and financial, digital, and media literacy. These goals could be achieved by
encouraging a greater cooperation between schools and youth organisations and by
empowering young people to participate actively in decision-making processes that are
relevant for the organisation of school life, thus creating the habit of political participation from
an early age. Moreover, other forms of participation, such as e-participation, need to be
supported.
Youth people participating in discussion on the future of Europe
Young people themselves must be a part of the decision-making regarding youth priorities.
Complementing the Structured Dialogue with young people that gathers young people,
representatives from Youth Ministries and the European Commission, Member States could
set the example by engaging with young people around the meetings of the European
Council, paving the way for greater youth participation. For example, the European Youth
Forum would be keen to engage in the organisation of side-summits creating "youth
conclusions" that would feed into the actual summits, while reflecting the views of
representative youth delegates. Whenever, the future of Europe is being discussed and

4. decided upon, young people young and youth organisations should be involved at the national
and European level. They have the biggest stake in our common future and are the most
excluded age group from today’s politics.
On mobility
Today, young people are more than ever eager to travel within the EU, benefitting from free
movement. They learn other languages, study and work abroad while developing their skills.
Unfortunately, not all young people have this opportunity and often those that would benefit
most from a learning experience abroad face economic or social barriers.
Free movement
Guaranteeing free-movement of citizens within the EU is crucial for young people,
including young people from the UK who have largely been in favour of remaining in the EU,
and the EU citizens living and studying in the UK. Free movement ensures portability of social
rights across borders and it is a precondition of economically strong and socially united
Europe. Therefore, the continuation of free movement of citizens to visit, work and study within
the EU (and the UK after an eventual split) should be a political priority.
Expanding support for Erasmus+
Erasmus+ is probably the most effective and popular EU programme. Therefore, the EU
should continue developing it and increase funding for of the opportunities offered to young
people through this programme. The Erasmus+ programme should be expanded to as many
young people as possible in Europe.
A "secondary school Erasmus+ programme" would offer opportunities to all young people
from different backgrounds, including those who do not have access to tertiary education.