External WindowAER Youth Regional NetworkAssembly of European Regions set up the AERYouth Regional Network (YRN) conceived as ac o m m o n p l a t f o r m o f y o u t h r e g i o n a lorganisations/councils/parliaments on regionallevel in Europe. This platform is a forum fordiscussion and exchange of experience betweenyoungsters across all the European Regions. Theidea is to bring together young people fromEuropean Regions and give them an opportunity toexchange, to share ideas, experiences, differences,hopes, fears, and problems and to find togethersolutions to their problems or fears. The networkallows putting into practice the EU principle ofsubsidiarity in the field of youth policy.In a globalise world and in a Europe more andmore willing to get closer to its citizens youth issues are a subject of great importance.It is an obvious thing to say that young people are the future. But this must be repeated because it seems to be too oftenforgotten that indeed, the future of a village or a town, of a Region or a country, the future of Europe or of the world itself issecured be the young people.The participation of young people in all aspects of life is crucial precisely because young people are affected by the decisionsmade by governments, whether at a Regional, national or inter/trans-national level. Policy areas such as housing,environment, transport and education, to name but a few, have a direct impact on the lives of youngsters just as much as onthose of the adults.The world of today is just as much the concern of young people as the world of tomorrow. To deny the young people oftoday the opportunity to participate in the governance of society is to deny them the right to affect what happens aroundthem and impact on their future destiny.Europe is not only a continent of countries but also a continent of Regions. In all aspects of life certain issues are bettersolved at different levels of government (local, Regional, national or European). It is therefore crucial to allow youngpeople to involve in the management of these issues at all levels.There are various youth councils/organisations/parliaments/associations at national or European level, but less on Regionallevel. The degree of organisation and the presence of such youth organisations depend of course on the specific nationalconditions and traditions of political participation and civic culture. The Regional participatory democracy is obviouslymore developed in countries with an advanced civic and political culture of the population and where Regions have astrong degree of autonomy. This trend is less visible in more centralized countries (but there are of course exceptions, in theScandinavian countries) with a more diminished democratic experience (especially the ex-communist countries).However, some practical aspects of day-to-day life might concern the Regional level more then other tiers of government(for instance: environment, secondary schools, youth unemployment in the Regions, social inclusion, gender imbalances:according to the competencies of the Regions in each country). This might be of the young people's concern as well, reasonfor which they should be given the opportunity to have a say on the issues they consider important. Moreover, allowingthem to meet young people from other European Regions might help them to better identify their common concerns andproblems, to contextualise their specific problems and eventually, to inspire them to find appropriate solutions for theseproblems.<strong>Sahaj</strong> Setu • March 201122
Because it fully understands the stakes of this policy in the long run, the AER is committed to pay more attention toyouth issues.The AER project 'AER Regional Youth Network' (YRN) creates a newopportunity for young people to have a say on issues of their concern atregional level. Even if different sub-regional groupings of youthorganisations in Europe exist, the AER initiative is singular because of itswide area of coverage at pan-European level. With member Regions fromalmost all the countries of Europe (not only EU member states) and due tothe gained experience, the motivation and the know-how of its team, theAER potential to foster such a project is real and convincing. In fact, the AERhas important experiences in developing projects and organising events todevelop the Regional dimension of this particular policy.Source: Assembly of European Regions websiteSolutionsSudoku Solution2 1 4 8 6 7 5 9 33 9 7 5 1 4 2 8 66 5 8 2 9 3 4 7 11 4 5 3 2 9 7 6 89 7 3 4 8 6 1 2 58 6 2 1 7 5 9 3 47 3 1 6 5 2 8 4 94 8 9 7 3 1 6 5 25 2 6 9 4 8 3 1 7Crossword SolutionW H A R F P A I N F U LAGERPA R B A G EIO C K SOLGA C T U A LBSOLVICA M U R A IOI V IEBE A S I E S TIDGESDRECMPEA R N E S TILS A L MMF L A W E DOIIEA G R E EO R RA R L I E RT E OA D D E R<strong>Sahaj</strong> Setu • March 201123
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