download - Deutsches Jugendinstitut e.V.

Dr. Susann Burchardt, Dr. Heike Förster, Tatjana Mögling
German Youth Institute e.V. Halle/Saale
Introduction
This documented European experts’ conference “Children and Young Persons in
Disadvantaged Neighbourhoods – New Cohesion Strategies” was organised by the
German Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth within the
framework of the German EU Presidency of the European Council and took place from
26 to 28 June 2007 with ca. 400 participants in the Congress Centre Leipzig.
This conference was a continuation of the European discussion process concerning
action plans and integration strategies for young persons in disadvantaged neighbourhoods,
urban areas and rural regions which had begun in Berlin in 2004 and was resumed in
Strasbourg in 2006.
In Berlin and Strasbourg, it became clear that the existing problems in European
countries displayed a wide range of differences in certain parts. This is underlined by the
results of the scientific accompaniment to the programme “Development and
opportunities for young persons in disadvantaged neighbourhoods (E&C) ” and other
studies: disadvantaged urban areas and regions in Europe display a wide range of
substantial socio-environmental and socio-structural differences which display a high
degree of inhomogeneity. Correspondingly, the individual approaches in the handling of
these problems in disadvantaged neighbourhoods are also highly variable.
A systematic comparison of fundamental national political strategies has not yet been
undertaken on a European level.
The local actors in European countries repeatedly establish that accessible data for the
description of problem complexes in their neighbouring areas display substantial
differences. This has meant that local authorities with little knowledge of general
conditions and problem complexes have encountered great difficulties in the planning of
concrete development targets for their disadvantaged neighbourhoods. This produces
uncertainty as to which specific approaches are necessary for the improvement of living
conditions and opportunities for young persons in these areas.
Against this background, the aim of the European experts’ conference in Leipzig was
the comparison of national strategies and programmes from a variety of European
countries and also relevant national frameworks, institutional facilities and local
implementation. Similarities and differences should be established and a joint European
learning process initiated. Through this process, recommendations for the development of
strategies for the integration of young persons in disadvantaged neighbourhoods should be
developed for EU member states and the European political bodies.
The European experts’ conference in Leipzig examined the differing social and political
general framework of the various national strategies and programmes for children in
disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
The welfare state concept of a country provides general criteria for political, economic
and social decisions, e.g. who should receive which social services and welfare benefits and
under which conditions these services are performed and by whom. Differences in welfare
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