Discussions with EU Commissioner Glenn Micallef

The discussion focused on the future direction of the EU Youth Strategy, opportunities for young people to participate, and the role of the European Youth Goals. Micallef identified as a key priority the need to reach young people who are not, or only inadequately, addressed by existing participation formats and European programmes. To ensure that participation becomes truly more inclusive, access must be specifically improved and greater account must be taken of the different realities of young people’s lives.

Other key priorities for the Commissioner include the recognition of youth work as a professional field, the empowerment of young people, and lowering the voting age to 16. During the discussion, it became clear that young people must not be viewed solely as a target group for European policy. They must be given the opportunity to help shape political decisions themselves and to take responsibility for the future of Europe.

The Bundesjugendring emphasised that this requires sustainable and effective participation structures. Young people must not simply be invited to individual events on an ad hoc basis or consulted after decisions have already been taken. Their perspectives must be incorporated into political processes at an early stage, in a binding and transparent manner. This also involves anchoring the Youth Goals more firmly in European policy and using them as a cross-departmental guide for political initiatives.

Another key part of the discussion was the financial security of the European youth sector. Micallef signalled his support for the call for earmarking within the European Union’s Multiannual Financial Framework. The aim is to provide independent and reliably secured funding for youth policy, youth programmes and youth organisations. The Bundesjugendring made it clear that such earmarking is necessary to ensure that the youth sector does not have to compete with other policy areas for limited resources. Only with long-term and adequate funding can youth organisations create stable structures, ensure the ongoing participation of young people and facilitate European cooperation.

The discussion also touched on the increasing pressures facing young people and civil society organisations, which are coming under political and financial pressure in various European countries. Micallef expressed deep concern about these developments and voiced his solidarity with the young people and organisations affected. Current developments in Germany were also discussed. For the Bundesjugendring, one thing is clear: a democratic European Union needs an independent, diverse and effective youth civil society.

The direct and open exchange with the EU Commissioner demonstrated the importance that dialogue with youth organisations can have for an effective European youth policy. At the same time, the discussion offered a unique opportunity to raise specific concerns from within the Bundesjugendring’s structures directly with the relevant policy-maker at the European Commission.

A further meeting with Sophie Schmitz from the Bundesjugendring’s Executive Board and the EU Youth Representative Nevio Chodura is already planned to take place during the EU Youth Conference in Dublin.