White paper "disappoints youth organisations

Citation

(2002), "White paper "disappoints youth organisations", Education + Training, Vol. 44 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2002.00444fab.010

White paper "disappoints youth organisations"

White paper "disappoints youth organisations"

Euro-MPs have welcomed the new impetus that the EU white paper has given to youth policy, but have noted the disappointment with which youth organizations and national youth councils have reacted to the document. The Commission says that the white paper aims to bridge the gap between young people and active citizenship within the EU, integrating them into society and encouraging them to get involved in the debate about the future of Europe. But a report by German Euro-MP Lissy Groner, adopted by the European Parliament committee on culture, youth, education, the media and sport, reveals widespread disappointment among youth organizations over the content of the white paper, caused in part by the unrealistically high expectations that the two-year consultation process raised. Lissy Groner believes that the Commission went into the consultation process with preconceived ideas of what young people wanted, and did not fully take on board the opinions of young people and youth organizations.

Ms Groner wants a specific article on youth policy included in the EU treaties, and more consideration given to young people from candidate countries. She recommends that the European Commission should assume responsibility for drawing up an annual report on youth policy in the EU, which would be forwarded to the European Council and European Parliament.