Survey on the European Year of Youth
2022 will be the European Year of Youth. The aim is to offer young people better opportunities for the future. What are their expectations for this year? The EU Commission has launched an online survey on this subject: anyone interested can take part up until 17 November.
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The European Year of Youth: whether climate change, social issues or the digital transformation – young people are at the centre of political decisions.
Photo: Getty Images/damircudic
Over the course of next year, the Commission will be collaborating with other EU institutions, member states and organisations of civil society to offer various activities at European, national, regional and local level. The aim is to address issues that primarily affect young people: equality and inclusion, sustainability, mental health and well-being, and quality jobs.
On 15 September, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced in her State of the Union address that 2022 would be declared the European Year of Youth. The aim throughout the year will be to focus on those who gave up so much for others during the pandemic, von der Leyen told the European Parliament.
Young people’s ideas and expectations
A key point here is that young people themselves are to be involved in organising the European Year of Youth. For this reason, anyone interested is invited to submit their ideas and suggestions. A survey has been launched on the European Youth Portal for this purpose –
see here.
Aims of the European Year of Youth
The aims of the Commission along with the European Parliament, member states and regional and local authorities in organising the European Year of Youth are as follows:
- Demonstrate appreciation and support for the generation that suffered most as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The aim is not just to offer new perspectives and opportunities in the form of ecological and digital change but also fresh hope, strength and optimism.
- Encourage all young people to get involved in civic and political activities.
- Expand the range of opportunities offered by EU policy for young people in terms of their personal, social and professional development in a green, digital and inclusive world. The European Year of Youth goes hand in hand with the implementation of NextGenerationEU, which is dedicated to ensuring high-quality jobs, education and training opportunities.
- Draw inspiration from the actions, ideas and convictions of young people in order to drive forward and revitalise European integration based on the Conference on the Future of Europe.
European Years have been declared by the European Union since 1983. Always dedicated to specific topics, they seek to initiate discussion at national and European level. In European Years, additional funding is usually provided for relevant local, national and cross-border projects.