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heard, it is also essential that European and
national parties include more young people
as candidates to electable positions, and
that Member States of the European Union
lower the voting age of European Parliament
elections as well as all their elections to 16
years of age.
• Sustainable New Growth
The way out of the crisis and, in a broader
frame, the future of the EU also lies in
creating new growth, following a socially
and environmentally more sustainable
development model. Entrepreneurship and the
green economy thus have a huge importance
for youth autonomy, either as businesses
established by young people or as a source
of employment for young people. We call on
the EU to combat youth unemployment and
support a more sustainable economy. The EU
should push the Member States towards more
sustainable models of economy. In parallel, it
should ensure that the quality of jobs created
matches minimum standards. Notably, systems
of minimum wages need to be established, as
well as a European status for interns.
• A Stronger Union
For young people’s expectations to be met, it
is also crucial that the European Union takes a
leap forward. Many challenges can no longer be
handled by the Member States alone, notably
in terms of economic, fiscal, environmental,
social and employment policy. The EU should
seize to their full extent the competences it
already has, to strike a new and fairer balance
between austerity measures and social
policies. Similarly, we expect the EU to make
bold use of the provision included in Article
165 TFEU to “encourage [...] the participation
of young people in democratic life in Europe”,
and reinforce the space for young people in
European democracy.
• New Resources for New Investment
The European Union will also need the means
to act on such crucial topics, and this means
new resources for new investment. The
European Union should be given the ability to
raise its own resources through direct taxation
on environmental impact and through a
European financial transaction tax.
• A Social Europe
Finally, the European Union has set standards
for the defence of human rights, and built
on the values of democracy and the rule of
law, allowing generations to overcome old
antagonisms and live in peace. In parallel, it has
developed a European Social Model covering
the promotion of a high level of employment,
the guarantee of adequate social protection,
the fight against social exclusion, and a high
level of education, training and protection of
health, allowing its citizens to live in dignity. It
is essential for new generations to benefit from
this acquis and therefore it is crucial for the
European Union to firmly stand by these values
and to ensure that social reforms will not be at
the cost of young people.
Ideas for a better Europe – EYE2014 Report
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