FUTURE OF YOUTH GUARANTEE MUST BE SECURED

Senator Rebecca Moynihan
18 May 2017

Commenting on the launch of the Party of European Socialist’s (PES) Act for Youth Plan campaign, Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin Cllr Rebecca Moynihan has called for support for the four key points of the #Act4Youth campaign, and said that the future of the Youth Guarantee programme must be secured.

Cllr Moynihan said:

“I’m delighted to support the second #Act4Youth day of action, which is coordinated throughout Europe on Friday 19th May, and brings together PES members across the continent in a focused day of action on Jobs, Education, Culture and Children.

“The Labour Party knows that youth unemployment needs to be specifically targeted. The Labour Party led the way in supporting the Ballymun Youth Guarantee Project and supports the continuation of the EU Youth Guarantee programme.

“The future of the successful Youth Guarantee programme must now be secured, and continue the good work that has been started.

“That is why we are focusing in particular on the need to ensure that the Youth Guarantee is made permanent at a European level. We want to ensure there is a commitment at an EU level of €5 billion a year for this programme.

“That would ensure every person under the age of 30 is guaranteed an appropriate job, apprenticeship, traineeship or an opportunity for continuing education within four months of finishing their compulsory education or leaving their previous job.

“We are also campaigning for enlarged access to the Erasmus exchange programme, European cultural cheques, and a European child guarantee to lift children out of poverty.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Cllr Rebecca Moynihan is the Labour party general election candidate for Dublin South Central.

The #Act4Youth campaign calls for a European Youth Plan that includes:
· A permanent Youth Guarantee
· Erasmus+ for all
· A European culture cheque
· A Child Guarantee

The European Youth Plan Action Day II will be held on Friday 19th May across Europe. It is the flagship campaign of the Party of European Socialists. The Plan contains 4 main pillars – JOBS, EDUCATION, CULTURE and CHILDREN. We are fighting for more employment chances for young people, education accessible to everyone, free access to culture for all young people, and good nutrition, healthcare and childcare for every child.

The four key pillars of the campaign are:

1. Making the Youth Guarantee permanent. Quality Jobs and Training for Young People.
The EU Youth Guarantee programme guarantees young people an appropriate job, apprenticeship, traineeship or an opportunity for continuing education within four months of finishing their compulsory education or leaving their previous job. It has been a huge success. We want to make this guarantee permanent, increase its funding to 5 billion euro a year (total funding of 20 billion euro until 2020) and raise the age limit to 30.

2. Erasmus for All. Enlarging access to exchange programmes.
Erasmus+ is one of the EU’s success stories, offering life-changing exchange opportunities to young people, opening up their minds and helping them build both their European citizenship and future career. But only a few people can benefit from it. We want to further widen the accessibility and strengthen the funding of Erasmus+, so that secondary school students, technical and professional apprentices can also benefit.

3. European Culture Cheques for all young people. Culture should be accessible to all.
Young peo ple shou ld be encouraged to take part in cultural activities and access cultural performances and heritage. We want to introduce European Youth Cheques for cultural activities – free access for all young people in the EU to cultural events and venues. Initiatives similar to this Culture Cheque are already underway in countries like Italy and Malta, introduced by the social democratic governments in these countries.

4. Introducing a European Child Guarantee. Lifting children out of poverty.
More than 1 in 4 children in the EU are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. We can no longer tolerate this situation. We call for the EU to develop a European Child Guarantee which ensures that every European child at risk of poverty has access to free quality health care, free quality education, free quality childcare, decent housing and adequate nutrition.
Further information available at youthplan.eu and follow on Twitter with #Act4Youth.

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