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European Youth DayWednesday, January 25, 2012 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (GMT+0100)Brussels, Belgium |
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Event Details
Thanks to all the participants for their contribution to the European Youth Day! The organisation of the event would like to thank all the speakers and guests, who turned this initiative into a big success.
Click here to see our photo-gallery of the 2nd European Youth Day!
The European Youth Day aims to utilise the momentum of this flagship initiative to bring youth issues to the fore, promote active dialogue on how we can improve the lives of Europe’s youngsters and encourage their participation in society as well as helping to establish links between decision makers and those to whom the initiative is addressed.
Given the worrying situation young people across Europe are currently confronted with concerning education and employment, we believe that it is vital that young people have the opportunity to know and engage with this initiative.
What is the European Youth Day?
The European Youth Day is an event brought by the European Youth Action Group. After the success of last edition, the 2nd European Youth Day will take place the 25th January 2012.
The Day will begin with opening speeches from Mrs Mercedes Bresso (President of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union) and Mr Staffan Nilsson (President of the European Economic and Social Committee).
Two panel discussions will follow; firstly on education and then on youth employment and volunteering opened by Mr László Andor (Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion). Participants in the panel discussions include Members of the European Parliament, Members of the Committee of the Regions and representatives from youth organisations. There will be a break in between the two panel discussions and a Round Table with participants from different youth groups will complete the day.
Why hold the European Youth Day?
Young people across Europe are facing increasingly tough times; youth unemployment is at an all time high and opportunities are scarce, especially for those who have not pursued a high level of education. Given that young people account for around one fifth of the population, this situation is unsustainable.
In response, the EU has made youth issues one of its priorities, by developing policies and programmes for young people from the Youth DG of the European Commission.
Who should attend?
The European Youth Day is open to anyone who has an interest in youth issues and would like to know more about them, as well as take advantage of this valuable opportunity to discuss, debate and engage with decision-makers at EU level. Please note that attendance will not be reimbursed.
Where?
At the Committee of the Regions of the European Union, Room JDE 52, 101 Rue Belliard, 1040 Brussels.
When?
On Wednesday 25th January, from 9.00 am until 4.00 pm.
Questions and queries?
For more information about this event please contact:
Dario ANNOSCIA: dario.annoscia@cor.europa.eu
Anne HERRMANN: anne.herrmann@cor.europa.eu
We look forward to welcoming you to Brussels for this unique, lively new event!
When & Where
101 Rue Belliard
1040 Brussels
Belgium
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (GMT+0100)
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Hosted By
European Youth Action Group
The European Youth Action Group a collective of young people, primarily based in the Committee of the Regions and including people working in all of the European Institutions. The aim of the group is to give EU trainees a collective voice on the policy areas which matter to them most. One such area is the Youth on the Move initiative, one of the 7 flagship initiatives of the EU 2020 Strategy.
Latest news on the EYD agenda!
Everything is ready for the Second European Youth Day! A final update on our agenda includes Mr. Domenico Lenarduzzi, founder father of the well-known Erasmus program, who will attend the European Youth Day and will take part in the Education panel about Youth Mobility in Higher Education.
Our speakers... in a nutshell
Mario Soares is a professor, a member of the National Council of the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers and a Member of the Economic and Social Committee (EESC) since 2000.
As part of the EESC, he is currently the rapporteur presenting the institution's views on the Economic crisis, education and the labour market. In his contribution to European legislative efforts, he highlights the importance of education and training as key tools for combating the crisis. He stresses the need to improve relations between education and the world of work, thereby ensuring a better integration of young people into the labour market. Quality jobs are high on his list of priorities.
Prof. Soares will be speaking on the first panel, focusing on Youth Mobility in Higher Education.
MEPs corner
Marian Harkin is an Independent MEP for the North and West Constituency of Ireland. Marian was elected as an Independent Member of the Irish Parliament and has been elected twice as a Member of the European Parliament. 
As a Member of the the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) in the European Parliament, Marian is a full member and ALDE co-ordinator of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee. She is also President and founding member of the European Parliament Volunteering Interest Group and she successfully led the campaign in the Parliament to have 2011 designated as the European Year on Volunteering. Throughout this campaign Marian worked constantly with “The Alliance” – a network of NGO’s and Voluntary Organisations. She always insisted that the Voluntary Sector would play a central role during the year and her objective is that there will be added value at European level.
Marian Harkin will take part in our Employment and Volunteering panel.
Our speakers... in a nutshell
Staffan Nilsson is President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). Based in Brussels, it enables civil society organisations across Europe to take part in the EU policy and decision-making process. “Engaging people for a sustainable Europe” is Staffan Nilsson's political message for his term of office. Since 1995, when he became a member of the EESC, he has actively brought his expertise by coordinating the EESC work on the Lisbon Strategy and later on the Europe 2020 strategy. The EESC believes that leaving the young people aside would mean compromising the future of the EU. In several opinions on youth and employment, the EESC has stressed that the magic triangle Education/Training - Employment - Growth is the key.
Staffan Nilsson has been a farmer in northern Sweden for more than thirty years now and a long-standing leader in the Swedish Farmers' Federation (LRF) and in other associations in the field of education and culture, development and aid. He will provide the welcome address on the European Youth Day.
From the Commission...
Raymond Maes joined the European Commission in 2000. He is currently Acting Head of the Unit 'Youth employment, entrepreneurship and microfinances facility' in the Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion DG. One of the tasks of the Unit is to follow-up the implementation of the 'Youth on the move' and the 'Youth Opportunities' Initiatives and develop support to entrepreneurship and self-employment as means to fight unemployment and social exclusion (such as Progress Microfinance).
Raymond Maes will open the second panel on Employment and Volunteering.
Guests' bio
Flavia Buiarelli studied International Relations in Italy and in Belgium. Before joining Earlall– European Association of Regional and Local Authorities for Lifelong Learning, she worked in European networks as policy officer responsible for education and youth policies. As Business Manager of EARLALL, Ms Buiarelli animates the internal debates inside the association and brings the regional perspective about lifelong learning at European level.
She will take part in the Education panel of the European Youth Day.
Our speakers... in a nutshell
Allan Päll is a political science student from Estonia and the Chairperson of the European Students' Union (ESU) since July 2011, having previously been Vice-Chairperson. In 2007-09 he led social policy and student financing policy and research in the Federation of Estonian Student Unions (EÜL) and has also been closely involved in the EUROSTUDENT project in Estonia. Before being elected Chairperson, he coordinated the work of ESU on EU policies and Quality Assurance and also led ESU's project "Quest for Quality for Students", which looks into information provision and aims to build a quality concept from the students' perspective.
Allan will be speaking in our panel on Education.
The EU Committee of the Regions announces the European Youth Day!
From the Commission...
László Andor has been the EU's Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion since February 2010. Between 2005 and 2010 he represented Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Croatia on the Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London. Previously he was an associate professor at Corvinus University of Budapest and King Sigismund College, editor of journals, and advisor to the Hungarian Prime Minister.
Hungarian national, Mr Andor graduated from the University of Economic Sciences in Budapest in 1989, studied at George Washington University, Washington, D.C., and earned a Master's degree in Development Economics at the University of Manchester in 1993 as a British Council Fellow. He holds a Ph.D in Economics from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
László Andor will provide the closing statement for the European Youth Day.
News!
The German politician Martin Schulz was elected today President of the European Parliament by a majority of 387 votes. He has been the leader of the S&D Group since 2009 and will hold the EP Presidency for the next semester.
From DG Education and Culture
Pascal Lejeune joined the European Commission in 1986, after studies in management in Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris and a first professional experience at the Headquarters of the oil company Total in Paris. His first position in the Commission was in Directorate-General for Budget. In 1993 he joined the then Task Force for Human Resources, Education, Training and Youth, now Directorate-General for Education and Culture. He occupied various positions related to financial and budgetary issues. Since 2006, he is Head of the Unit in charge of the implementation of the Youth in Action Programme. He is currently acting Director for Youth and Sport.
Check out the European Youth Day on the EU Calendar!
MEPs corner
Doris Pack, born in Germany, was elected a Member of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats (EPP-ED) in the European Parliament in 1989. She graduated from teaching college in 1965 and worked as a teacher until she was employed by the Saarland Ministry of Education. In her extensive political career she became a Member of the Bundestag, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and of the Western European Union Assembly. She is currently the Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education in the European Parliament.
Doris Pack will take part in the Education panel of the European Youth Day.
Our speakers… in a nutshell
Peter Matjašič, born and raised in Slovenia, graduated in International Relations, speaks eight languages and has been active in the field of European youth work for nearly ten years: as an active volunteer, youth trainer and facilitator, youth representative (e.g. Secretary-General of JEF-Europe 2008-10) and since January 2011 President of the European Youth Forum (YFJ). He set up the English version of thenewfederalist.eu in 2006, serving as its first Editor-in-Chief. Currently he is part of the Soliya Network Fellowship, a diverse group of young leaders from around the world who are committed to building cross-cultural understanding by using new media technologies.
Peter will be speaking in our Employment and Volunteering panel.
Mrs Mercedes Bresso, President of the EU Committee of the Regions, and other guests confirmed for the 2nd European Youth Day! Check out our agenda - updated 13/01/2012
UPDATE: Invitation to Round Table discussion
As part of the European Youth Day, we would like to invite you to participate in a Round Table discussion of the panels' issues - education, employment and volunteering - to be held at 14h00 on Wednesday, 25th January 2012, after the contributions from our distinguished guests.
Please confirm your attendance by registering on this site (Select 'European Youth Day - Round Table, 14h00, Guest Pass'). Note that space is limited, so please reserve early!
Thank you, and we look forward to your contribution to the debate!
European Youth Action Group
Check out the agenda for the 2nd European Youth Day! - updated 09/01/2012