Youths are the change agents who can turn challenges into progress for all - Claudette Abela Baldacchino

Youths are the change agents who can turn challenges into progress for all –
Claudette Abela Baldacchino – Member Committee of the Regions
Address during the ECOSY Summer Camp Carpentras France

Youths believe in challenges, and the challenge ahead of us is that of a Europe for people. Youths, the Face book Generation has a natural, and I would say professional role to play in adapting European policies and resources which focus on people’s real concerns.

Youths are the stakeholders of the 21st century, therefore, a multi-stakeholder approach is needed, with the involvement of youths organizations in the process of a European Dream of a Europe for people. Youths are the change agents who can turn challenges into progress for all.

This was the main message delivered during the 9th ECOSY Summer Camp taking place on 25th – 31st July 2008 by ECOSY – Young European Socialists and MJS – Mouvement des Jeunes Socialistes on behalf of the Malta Labour Party and the PES Group at the Committee of the Regions. A message delivered during the “Social Europe for everyone” Conference on 30th July. Due to the quality of the program, the number of registered participants reached 2000. The Summer Camp has been a very exciting and politically relevant event!

The other speakers on the panel were Benoit Hamon MEP, Mia DeVits MEP, Zita Gurmai (MEP and PES Women President), Philip Cordery (PES Secretary General) and Dirk Jarre (Social Platform Vice President). The debate was moderated by Nils Hindarsmann, ECOSY Vice President.

The new young leader of the Malta Labour Party Joseph Muscat also featured during the discussions between the speakers and 'old active members of ECOSY'. They described Joseph Muscat as an energetic and visionary during the debate. It was said that ‘The motivation shown by Joseph Muscat, a colleague and friend from Malta during his active days in ECOSY through the Forum Zghazagh Laburisti gives a breath of fresh air to European politics’. Described a member of ‘the old generation of ECOSY’, Joseph Muscat featured as a role model for the youth in Europe.

Equal members of society
Young people are facing increasing difficulties in accessing quality education, decent employment and in their ability to live autonomously as equal members of society. Language difficulties are selected as the primary reason that a job abroad might be hard to find in all Member States except Malta, where the main reason young people think it might be difficult to find a job abroad is being unable to afford it.[1]

Today, young people face greater challenges, and longer transitions to realizing autonomy. Unaffordable housing costs, reduced access to social protection benefits, accompanied with difficulties in finding a secure footing in the employment market are realities that can stand in the way of young people becoming autonomous. Young people are also concerned about the rising of food and fuel costs.

In this context, it is of the utmost importance to ensure the availability, sustainability and functioning of social policy that encourages and enables young people to achieve their full potential and to live autonomous lives.

Our common interests
Youths are interested in the formation of policies for the betterment of their well-being, the well being of others, their localites, their regions, their municipalities, and look forward for a better environment.

I care, we care …who does not care about his or her family, his/her grandparents, friends and neighbors? about Europe in general? The European Union must not be the missing link in the era of globalization.

We cannot solve our problems in isolation from each other, however, this is not a one size fits all! Young people have a European Dream as well. What are our dreams?

Employment
Employment is the key to welfare and full integration in society. Therefore, ensuring that young people can enter the world of work and have decent jobs must be one of the overall aims of the European Social Model.

Education
Education lays the basis for achieving one’s potential as well as for one’s integration in society – both through the transfer of the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for active participation as a citizen, and also through the development of skills and competencies to be creative, entrepreneurial and employable. In this sense, quality education free of charge, tailored to the needs of the learner in terms of personal development and relevance to the labour market should be a key element of the European Social Model.

Autonomy
Autonomy signifies that young people have the necessary support, resources and opportunities to choose to live independently; to enjoy the possibility of full social and political participation in all sectors of everyday life; and to be able to take independent decisions. Employment and education are important prerequisites for young people to achieve autonomy.

When we dream, we strive to achieve what we dreamt upon. We long :

In making Europe into an Environmental Union
A New Social Europe and a strong and fair economy
Ensuring a Europe of security and citizens’ rights
Developing an effective migration policy
Promoting a proactive peace and development policy

When we dream, we strive to achieve what we dreamt upon. These are all challenges in front of us, lets stive to achieve this dream. The Party of European Socialists is offering to make that dream reality!



[1] Abstract from the survey among young people aged between 15-30 in the European Union The Gallup Organization European Commission 2007