European identity and youth participation
The Call for creating young people’s networks and getting involved with European policies’ debate
By Giulia Cassani & Costanza Piciollo
European Youth Together is a call for proposals of the EU targeting youth and newly established organizations, with a view to set up a European Youth Community.
The purpose of the action is to create regional partnerships and networks of organizations across borders so as to strengthen European identity and young people’s participation in democratic processes.
The call is addressed to youth organizations which want to add a European dimension to their activities. Inspired by policy debates, their proposals should encourage solidarity and inclusiveness through the construction of networks and the set-up of exchanges, trainings, and cross-border activities. The focus is on themes such as the European citizenship, Human Rights, Migration, Social Affairs and environmental concerns.
European Youth Together is part of the new Key Action 3 initiative designed to foster policy cooperation and dialogue. Raising awareness about the European agendas and narratives, it contributes to the development of new policies and reforms both at EU and systems’ level. This initiative is part of the Programme Erasmus+, one of the most visible success stories in the fields of education, training, youth and sport.
Trough the Call, the Programme reaches out to a larger part of the European citizens helping them to be equipped with the skills and competences needed in a dynamic society. The initiative takes into account the changing trends in youth participation, and the need for more sustained and stable funding support in the youth domain. Bearing in mind the new challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation, policies responses and recovery plans are required to mitigate its socio-economic negative impacts on younger generation.
Copyright picture: European Commission.