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Autonomy : What is needed, in your view, to improve the chances of young people in your country to live an autonomous life? The most stressing problem in this sense is youth unemployment. Statistics show that young people are one of the most vulnerable social group in times of economic crises and one of the most affected when it comes to unemployment. Moreover, when talking about difficulties in becoming independent, we should also mention the possibility for young people to buy a house and live without their par-
Participation : In what ways are young people in your country participating in civic and political life? Whose responsibility is it that young people can and are participating in their societies? Has co-decision making been introduced at any level of your society? How was this carried out? What is the age limits for voting in your country? How many young people vote in elections? How is election information distributed to young people?
ents’ support. In Romania a large majority Romanian young people show a very low in-
until very late, even after having a family
terest in actively participating in civic and
of their own. Another issue would be the
political life. There is a dramatic difference
underpaid salaries for young people which
between rural and urban young people.
make it difficult for them to rent a place of
Most of young people who are actively par-
their own and so they have to share a home
ticipating in social and political life of their
with other 3-4 persons.
community are activating in youth NGOs. Nonetheless, only 2 % of young people are
Key points in achieving youth autonomy on
affiliated to an NGO and most of them are
long and medium term.
living in urban areas.
// policies of facilitating youth inclusion on
Participation of young people in decision
labour market earlier in life
making process is limited. The representatives of students participate at consulta-
// a better connectivity between univer-
tions when a new policy or law in educa-
sity curricula and requests on the labour
tion field is discussed, but a continuous
market
structured dialogue is lacking. Only a small number of young people are consulted
// fairer conditions of employment for
when policies in youth field are discussed
young people would be
which makes the sample not representative for youth’s needs. Moreover, representa-
// legislative initiatives related to the ac-
tive youth NGOs — as the Romania Youth
quisition of the 1st house
Council — have to initiate strong advocacy
Appendix
of young people still live with their families