Youth work on the European agenda this week
This week, hundreds of youth work experts from 50 European countries are coming to Ghent for two conferences on Youth policy. The Belgian Presidency of the EU is focussing on youth work to give young people more opportunities in society and on the labour market.
Together they are preparing a resolution on youth work for the European Council of Ministers for Youth (16 November 2010). Belgium wants to show that youth work works.
- At the European Conference on the History of Youth Work and Youth Policy (5–7 July 2010), European policy makers, scientists and youth workers will learn lessons from the history and European diversity of youth work and youth policy. After all, there is no future without history.
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The European Youth Work Convention (7–10 July 2010) will debate the role of youth work: its benefits, needs and contributions to society. This will lead to an action plan to better support youth work. This means that youth work in turn can better support young people’s participation in society.
Belgium holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) from 1 July to 31 December 2010. Flanders is coordinating and organising the Youth section (in consultation with the French- and German-speaking Communities).
The three Belgian priorities for young people in this Presidency are:
- youth work
- young people and employment
- policy for children, young people and children’s rights
Council: Education, Youth, Culture and Sport
