“2022 will be the European year of youth” reminded President Macron on December 9 during the press conference presenting the French presidency of the European Union (FPEU).

Indeed, the European Commission has just defined, in cooperation with the European Parliament and the Member States, the framework of the actions it intends to promote during this year:  supporting the generation that has sacrificed the most during the pandemic, encouraging all young people to become active citizens and actors of positive change, promoting the opportunities that EU policies offer to young people, drawing on the vision of young people to strengthen the common EU project, of which the Erasmus + programme is part.

In the wake of the announcement made by President von der Leyen in her 2021 State of the Union address made on September 15, the Commission has adopted today its formal proposal to make 2022 the European Year of Youth. Indeed, according to the Commission, “Europe needs the vision, engagement and participation of all young people to build a better future, that is greener, more inclusive and digital”.

The pandemic as background

In parallel to a report about the “implementation of the strategy of the European Union in favour of youth for the 2019-2021 period”, the Commission notes in the introduction of this report that “access of young people to the opportunities available in term of education, employment, mobility and democratic participation has improved until late 2019, i.e. until the COVID-19 pandemic”.

But according to European institutions, “the pandemic has led to disruptions of education, training and learning activities, a loss of job and career opportunities, social isolation and mental health issues”. This is why the European Year of Youth will aim to “give young people more and better opportunities for the future”.

Four main areas of work

In such context, the Commission intends, in cooperation with the European Parliament, Member States, regional and local authorities, stakeholders and young people themselves, wants to act upon four areas of work:

• to honour and support the generation that has sacrificed the most during the pandemic, giving young people new hopes, strength and confidence in the future by highlighting how the green and digital transitions offer renewed perspectives and opportunities”;
• to encourage all young people, especially “those with fewer opportunities, from disadvantaged backgrounds or belonging to vulnerable groups”, to become “active citizens and actors of positive change”;
• to promote opportunities provided by EU policies for young people to “support their personal, social and professional development”;
• to draw inspiration from the actions, vision and insights of young people to “further strengthen and invigorate the common EU project” including Erasmus +, international students exchange programme.

A series of activities

To design its programme, the Commission has drawn inspiration from all contributions submitted along the months by young Europeans on the European Youth Portal. Working together with other EU institutions, Member States, civil society organisations and young people, the Commission is completing “a number of activities throughout the year at European, national, regional and local level”.  The scope of activities (already available on the European Youth Portal) will cover “issues that mostly affect young people, such as equality and inclusion, sustainability, mental health and well-being, and quality employment”.

The European Year of Youth will go hand in hand with NextGenerationEU programme, which reopens “perspectives for young people, including quality jobs and education and training opportunities for the Europe of the future, and supports young people's participation in society”.

To know more 

- Presentation of the European Year of Youth by the European Commission

- Presentation of the European Year of Youth by the European Parliament

- The European Youth Portal

- The NextGenerationEU programme

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