DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL YOUTH COUNCILS
Youth Participation in Policies on the European Level
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hrough youth organisation, young people accomplish their freedom to association and accomplishing their interest on both national and European levels. Joint and proactive standing up in front of institutions in a solidarity manner is a key factor for articulation of the needs of young people and attitudes on issues they are directly concerned with.
Looking at the European practices, we can conclude that there are highly organised and functional structures, bodies and mechanisms that guarantee youth participation. Two key factors are important within the complex structure of the European Union concerning the position of youth: [1] recognition of importance of youth issues and [2] institutional structure for protection of rights of young people. The area of policies for young people is regulated with the European acquis communautaire, and still EU recognises the importance of these issues and the need to deal with it in cooperation with Member States. The European Union accomplishes that through the method of open coordination and structural dialogues. The most important body in the institutional structure of EU for the protection of the rights and interest of youth is the Directorate General for Education and Culture, Youth Department. EU key documents for work with young people have been drafted within this body: White Paper – A New Impetus for European Youth of 2001, and EU Strategy for youth – Investing and Empowering of 2009. The European Youth Forum (EYF) is an umbrella organisation of young people on the Pan-European level that is recognised as the representative organisation of youth in the European Union. EYF is a platform of the national youth councils and international non-governmental youth organisations in Europe. EYF advocates the right of young people in the international institutions such as the European Union, the Council of Europe and the United Nations. It was established in 1996 by national youth councils and international non-governmental youth organisations. The vision of the European Youth Forum is to be the voice of young people in Europe, where young people are equal citizens and are encouraged and supported to achieve in full their potentials as global citizens. The European Youth Forum has 99 organisations - members, connects more than 10 million young people whose aim is to represent their common interest. Member organisations of EYF are divided in two piers: The National Youth Council and International Non-Governmental Youth Organisation. Within the membership, there are three levels: an observer, a candidate and a full-fledged member. Pursuant to the Forum Statute, the right to vote is given only to full-fledged members.
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