Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-02-28-Speech-4-046"
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"en.20020228.3.4-046"2
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Madam President, I should first like to express my appreciation of the work done by Lissy Gröner. She has always been a standard bearer for the young in the House, pressing for full commitment to a genuine policy for youth. Incidentally, in no way can youth policy be likened to propaganda. It is, in fact, the polar opposite. The Youth programme encourages people to get to know each other, it promotes additional languages, cultures, and freedom of expression. In so doing, the programme helps to foster fundamental values such as tolerance, diversity and solidarity. These are the foundations on which the citizens’ Europe must be built. Every year we make it possible for hundreds of thousands of young people to work together, to interact with their peers and with other cultures, and to commit themselves to helping those in greatest need to improve their lot in society. This is indeed civilising work, not mere propaganda
I would now like to deal with the various issues that the speakers have raised. We have endeavoured to improve the management of the programme and to make it easier to participate. A number of Members have, in fact, recognised the effort made in recent years and months. We have already succeeded in reducing the time it takes to come to a decision. I do not claim that things are perfect, but they are far better than they were at the outset. I can assure you that we will persevere to ensure that simplified administrative procedures and shorter decision-making processes become the norm.
A number of speakers highlighted the significance of opening this programme up to disadvantaged youngsters. I was delighted to hear Members refer to specific cases illustrating how disadvantaged youngsters have benefited from the programmes. The programmes helped participants to develop as persons and integrate into society. This good work will, of course, continue. You will be aware that 50% of the centralised projects are open to these young people. We shall do our best to ensure that the remaining projects become more accessible to them in the future.
In this connection, I should mention that the priorities, namely combating racism and xenophobia, are to be strengthened in 2002. These priorities will be taken into account both at country level by those countries involved in the programme and at the level of activities involving third countries, especially in the Mediterranean area. It has been shown that youth exchanges and dialogue help to nip problems in the bud so they do not develop further. A willingness to be receptive to others and try to understand them is the basis of a harmonious society.
Then there is the issue of girls. We most certainly want the Youth programmes to reach out to girls too. I can assure you here and now that we are close to equality and that the programme is open to almost 50% of girls. The Euromed Youth programme is still causing concern, due to low female participation. At the beginning of the year I met with the Youth Ministers of the Maghreb countries and made it abundantly clear that we hope to see at least 50% female participation there as well. The reason is that we are trying to help build a harmonious society in those countries also, and the ‘feminine influence’ tends to promote peace. It is therefore essential to ensure female participation in the Youth programmes to attain the desired results.
Madam President, you are doubtless aware that the Youth policy was totally transformed following large-scale consultation with hundreds of thousands of young people in all Member States. Young people were given an opportunity to express what they expect of Europe, and they were listened to. Their ideas have been incorporated into the White Paper on Youth. This direct exchange of views with young people is set to continue in 2002. A series of meetings is planned. An electronic portal is also in place, so young people can access information on Europe.
In conclusion, I should like to inform the House that the Euromed Youth II programme has just been launched. EUR 14 million is allocated to it for the period 2002-2004, which represents a 40% increase in available funds. This is very significant, because we need to foster links with countries in the southern Mediterranean and in northern Africa in order to promote better understanding and to ensure that immigrants to Europe from those areas provide solutions rather than creating additional difficulties. In the same spirit, the intercultural dialogue is to be extended to include the countries of south-eastern Europe and the Community of Independent States. In addition, further programmes have been launched with enlargement in mind. They aim to facilitate more youth exchanges in border regions in the future."@en1
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