On the 31st March, the European Commission unveiled its Work Programme for 2010 and beyond. The plan sets the annual objectives of the Commission and defines the concrete policy measures intended to achieve them. Recognising the heavy impact of the economic crisis on young people, the Commission formulates several initiatives directly aimed at youth issues.
As it elaborates its flagship initiatives for EU 2020, the Commission will present 'Youth on the move'. This new initiative aims to specify measures to improve the quality and reinforce the attractiveness of Europe's higher education. More mobility programmes, such as "ERASMUS for young entrepreneurs", and their accessibility to young Europeans are the main priorities. The existing 'Lifelong Learning' and 'Youth in Action' programmes will be drawn together in support.
The Commission also plans proposals to guide Member States to better recognition of informal and non-formal learning, as well as measures to tackle the issue of early school leaving. Lastly, a communication on youth employment is intended to increase job opportunities for young people, explore how to ease the transition from education to the labour market, and further promote training and apprenticeships.
The European Youth Forum is encouraged by these initiatives. In its proposals for a new Youth Agenda, the European Youth Forum called on the EU to make all possible efforts to prevent the increasing unemployment of youth and to cutting early school leaving. Expanding and improving the quality of mobility programmes were also requested, as well as support for the development of a framework for quality assurance in Non-Formal Education, in cooperation with youth organisations.
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