Future Cities: Shaping Europe from the bottom up
The 2016 edition of EUobserver's Regions & Cities magazine looks at the cities of the future in Europe. While the EU is grappling with challenging problems - Brexit, migration, the economy, terrorism, to name a few - many European cities are reinventing themselves and tackling these problems in their own way.
The 2016 edition of EUobserver's Regions & Cities magazine looks at the cities of the future in Europe. While the EU is grappling with challenging problems - Brexit, migration, the economy, terrorism, to name a few - many European cities are reinventing themselves and tackling these problems in their own way.
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We believe in youth, we<br />
believe in ano<strong>the</strong>r <strong>Europe</strong>.<br />
What kind of <strong>Europe</strong> will <strong>the</strong> next generation of <strong>Europe</strong>ans be living in?<br />
Will <strong>the</strong>y live in a prosperous, open and friendly Union with opportunities<br />
for everyone? Or will <strong>the</strong>y be confined to a <strong>Europe</strong><br />
divided by walls, restrictions and differences?<br />
The future of <strong>Europe</strong> will be in <strong>the</strong> hands of <strong>the</strong> next generation of<br />
<strong>Europe</strong>ans, but right now that generation faces immense uncertainties.<br />
We, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Europe</strong>an Socialists and Democrats, want <strong>the</strong> <strong>Europe</strong>an Union<br />
to give young people a clearer, brighter future by promoting:<br />
Jobs and training opportunities for youth.<br />
1<br />
HOW? By extending <strong>the</strong> Youth Guarantee – a <strong>Europe</strong>an programme that guarantees young<br />
people an appropriate job, apprenticeship, traineeship or an opportunity for continuing education<br />
within four months of finishing <strong>the</strong>ir compulsory education or leaving <strong>the</strong>ir previous job. We<br />
want to make <strong>the</strong> programme permanent, increase its funding <strong>from</strong> € 6 billion to € 20 billion,<br />
and raise <strong>the</strong> age limit <strong>up</strong> to 30.<br />
More international exchange programmes 2for young <strong>Europe</strong>ans.<br />
Culture within everyone’s reach.<br />
3<br />
WHY? Because <strong>Europe</strong> is changing. More and more young people are studying in different<br />
countries and graduating with more knowledge and experience, developing <strong>the</strong>ir full<br />
potential. The Erasmus+ programme helped a lot with that. Now we want to extend <strong>the</strong><br />
Erasmus+ international exchange programme also to high schools and vocational training.<br />
WHERE? All over <strong>Europe</strong> young people should receive s<strong>up</strong>port to create and access culture.<br />
We will introduce <strong>Europe</strong>an Culture Cheques, which will provide young people with free<br />
access to cultural events and venues and will s<strong>up</strong>port young artists in <strong>the</strong>ir creative process.<br />
We all need access to culture, because art can change people for <strong>the</strong> better.<br />
Good childcare for all <strong>Europe</strong>ans.<br />
4<br />
WHEN? Right now, because children are our future and <strong>the</strong> most fragile members of our<br />
societies. The current economic crisis is threatening some of <strong>the</strong> basic needs of children in<br />
<strong>the</strong> EU. We s<strong>up</strong>port <strong>the</strong> Child Guarantee initiative and we want <strong>Europe</strong>an and national policies<br />
to address <strong>the</strong>se needs of all children, so that <strong>the</strong>y have access to free health checks,<br />
an affordable place in quality childcare and a healthy meal at school.<br />
These are <strong>the</strong> 4 pillars of our EUROPEAN YOUTH PLAN.<br />
Will you s<strong>up</strong>port us?<br />
www.pes.eu<br />
Sergei Stanishev,<br />
President of <strong>the</strong> Party of <strong>Europe</strong>an Socialists