About 260 young people and policy-makers will work side by side at the EU Youth Conference, a four-day event in Riga, to discuss pathways to youth empowerment for political participation. Held from 23 to 26 March under the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the conference will seek ways to increase involvement of young people in the democratic life of Europe – an issue high on the agenda of the Presidency trio (Italy-Latvia-Luxembourg).
“The energy, enthusiasm and creativity of young people form a dynamic force, which can contribute greatly to the growth of Europe. However, only 28% of young people with the right to vote participated in last year’s European Parliament elections. This is the perfect moment to pave the pathways for the political participation of young people, and I look forward to the conference which mobilises governmental, NGO and private efforts. Empowering young citizens to become involved in political and decision-making processes benefits democracy, and we should address any barriers that exist in both formal and informal youth engagement,” emphasised the Latvian Minister for Education and Science, Ms Mārīte Seile.
The conference will feature plenary sessions with experts from the United Kingdom, Germany and other countries, as well as various workshops. Joint recommendations drawn up after the conference will be brought to attention of the EU Youth Ministers at the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council on 18 May 2015.
Five months prior to the conference, a broad consultation was carried out with young people and policy-makers in all EU countries. Called the Structured Dialogue, this exercise is a continuous joint reflection on the priorities, implementation, and follow-up of European cooperation in the youth field.
A number of barriers that limit the political participation of young people have previously been identified by various studies. These include the absence of legal frameworks; a lack of citizenship education; the inability and unwillingness of politicians to engage with young people in political processes; a growing lack of trust and interest in politics among young people; the lack of a participatory culture within educational establishments; insufficient involvement and cooperation by a wide range of stakeholders; and insufficient financial resources.
Political participation is one of the Latvian Presidency’s priorities in the field of youth. The conference is organised by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia.
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