A New Deal for and with Youth

In the midst of a European crisis, this week’s European Council will make crucial decisions that will affect millions of people across the continent. In the interest of young people, the European Youth Forum is sending an open letter to appeal to the Council for an investment in youth and an investment in the future. The letter, addressed to all Heads of State and Governments and President of theEuropean Council Herman Van Rompuy, urges them to consider youth in their development of long-term plans, particularly in the Multi-Annual Financial Framework for 2014-2020. Currently, the funds of the Youth in Action programme for the overall cycle of 7 years is less than the amount spent by the EU on subsidising the wine sector in the single year of 2011. The Youth Forum calls on the EU Council to change this by making a financial commitment to the social structures that affect young people-- the economic and political impact of the social exclusion of youth is too high to be ignored. The end to the current European predicament lays in the creation of sustainable strategies; let’s recognise a strong, and comprehensive investment in young people as a key priority for growth, stability, and wellbeing of society as a whole.