Resolution on democracy (YDE Congress 2018)

The national interests often take over the common European ones, leading to a lack of unity and commitment to a solid and shared supranational Project.
Additionally, Democracy, Human Rights and legality, which we consider as the main assets of the European Union, have been violated in recent years.
Therefore, sovereignty has become one of the main issues to be addressed, understanding it as the right of the citizens to decide their own future and political, economic and social destiny. Indeed, the concept of sovereignty must be approached in conjunction with the notion of democracy. We cannot accept that citizens still have no access to sovereignty in a society that demands greater political and social participation. We strongly oppose any model of governance that prevents citizens from taking an active role in it.
In this sense, Young Democrats for Europe stand for shared sovereignty between the European Union and citizens in a multilevel governance framework. In fact, Democracy being a main pillar of the legitimacy of the European project and, therefore, Young Democrats for Europe show their fierce commitment towards the democratic values of the EU: equality, inclusion, diversity, cohesion, tolerance and respect.

Resolution on Identity, Culture and Education (YDE Congress 2018)

Strengthening European values and shared identity through culture and education

We, Young Democrats for Europe, see growing populist movements and Euroscepticism as a threat to European values and democratic societies. We consider the best way to address those challenges is through Education and Culture to improve open mindedness and develop multicultural comprehension.

Strengthen European shared identity

Our modern European societies are the result of a common history and not the result of a sum of single national narratives, we feel it is necessary for young Europeans to become aware of this reality. And what places would be more appropriate than schools to ensure a historical transmission and a citizen awakening?

Inexpensive and symbolic, history textbooks co-constructed between European countries may be an appropriate response. Recognizing the specificities of each culture, this manual may develop a transnational perspective of the relations between countries in order to propose a common and enriched History to high school students who could then better understand each national vision.

Now in a context of renewed internal tensions on the continent and in the face of the emergence of populist political forces, it is more necessary than ever to carry out this project.

In line with school education, Europe Day must be a crucial moment in the education of young Europeans. We propose to make this Day special in European schools in particular with special events on European History and values.

Improve mobility across Europe

Geographic mobility rates within EU countries and between EU countries are around one percent, which is twice lower than mobility rates in the US, Canada or Australia.

We know however that geographical mobility can be a powerful tool to fight youth unemployment and reinforce the European cohesion. We should also notice that today young people moving to another EU countries are rather well-educated and come from wealthy origins, which are less likely to suffer from long unemployment periods. Our challenge is therefore to develop geographical mobility for all young Europeans.

In past decades, Europe launched several programs to ensure Young Europeans are able to get education or work experience abroad. Former Leonardo program, current Erasmus+ and Comenius actions managed to increase awareness on intra-European
mobility for a short period of time, and lowered barriers to move abroad to study or work. But more should be done.

We advocate for new initiatives to be launched Europe-wide. We aim first at increasing support from the Erasmus program to associations. Young Europeans are engaged in many associations to lead and carry out projects in different fields from sport to poverty mitigation. Those young leaders should benefit more from EU action to foster youth commitment across the continent.

Second, we would like to set a common framework for secondary school’s final exam in order to initiate convergence in Europe for access to higher education and professional education.

Third, we think time has come to launch a renewal of the so-called “European classes” initiated by public authorities. More Europeans should take part in such classes and spend a semester in another European country before they turn 18.

Build a common cultural policy for young people

Since 1992, culture is a European competence. It is therefore very important in the process of European construction: it makes it possible to think of it as a global project and not only as the addition of national perspectives. Art and culture have a prominent role to increase the sense of belonging to a community, and ensure social integration, economic development, equity and inclusion. That’s why it makes sense to promote it at the European scale.

It is necessary to make culture accessible for as many people as possible. For that, on one hand, it could be interesting to connect territories in which culture is not always accessible.

First, like the European capitals of culture in terms of selection, we could imagine traveling exhibitions from the largest European museums in medium-sized city areas that do not have internationally known museums and thus give a new impetus to the local artistic community.

In parallel, long-term partnerships can also be created between different urban areas and more rural ones, thus bringing internationally renowned artists to areas that would otherwise not have had access to that, and reciprocally publicizing works that would not have been otherwise. For this, an European impulse would be relevant.

On the other hand, we have to admit that Eurovision is currently the only time of the year when Europeans find themselves side by side around their television. That is why we could imagine the creation of a European media dedicated to youth, which would raise awareness of our common membership while showing the richness of the diversity of our different nations.

Finally, a third proposal could be the creation of a European “culture voucher” that could be distributed to 18-year-olds through a system of partnerships with different cultural institutes allowing them to access a cultural offer for free. This would promote access to cultural practices of various kinds for all young Europeans: opera, theater, but also cinema and concerts.

These three proposals are therefore intended to raise the European public’s awareness of culture, even outside large urban areas, and also to sensitize the youth to the awareness of the richness that exists within the European Union.

YDE Congress 2018: New Board elected!

Young Democrats for Europe have elected a new board of ten members for a two year mandate, during their Congress held in Brussels on the 30th of June 2018, led by:  Begoña Garteizaurrekoa as President, Loris Mastromatteo as Secretary General, Anita Velic as Spokesperson, and Peter Schueppenhauer as Treasurer.

Coming from more than 12 European countries, delegates and guests discussed the need of fostering democratic values within the EU, among other topics.

Begoña Garteizaurrekoa, newly elected president, pointed out that: “The Youth is not only the future of the EU, but also its present. The development of Youth’s vital projects depends on their human and social development, being crucial to build active and committed players within the society”.

During the congress, two resolutions were approved by the Young Democrats for Europe: On one hand, one on democracy and a second one on Identity, Culture and Education.

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The Young Democrats for Europe is the youth wing of the European Democratic Party and one of the youth wings of the ALDE Group. The European Democratic Party is one of the European political party officially recognised by the European Parliament.

Founded in 2007, The Young Democrats for Europe primarily seek the establishment of a stronger and more integrated Europe and embrace the core values of the European Union: democracy, freedom, equality, participation, sustainability and solidarity. Their mission is also to foster greater political involvement of the European youth and raise awareness on the many problems it faces, such as access to higher education, mobility and unemployment.

 

Welcome to Latvijas Reģionu Apvienībai Jaunatnes nodaļa from Latvia!

The Young Democrats for Europe have the pleasure to welcome a new observing member:  Latvijas Reģionu Apvienībai Jaunatnes nodaļa from Latvia. We are particularly happy to extend our reach in one of the Baltic countries, a key part of the EU now and in the future.

Following LRA Jaunatnes nodaļa president’s participation in our event this year, we are happy to continue our collaboration more formally with our Latvian friends and organise events in the Baltic countries soon with them.

LRA at ALDE SA

LRA jn president at the 2017 Summer Academy

A Summer Academy aiming at an innovative and efficient Europe!

Last week, on the 28th and 29th of June 2017, the Young Democrats for Europe and the European Liberal Youth organised the 2017 Summer Academy with the support of the ALDE Group in the European Parliament on the topic “Innovation and Efficiency: Building the Europe that Citizens Dream of”. This event gathered more than 90 young Democrats and Liberals from all over Europe.

Amongst them young democrat activists from San Marino, France, Basque Country, Canarias, Iceland, Latvia, Hungary, Germany, Cyprus and other EU countries.

Not only composed of panels, a debate on the Future of Europe was organised under the European Youth Forum patronage and with speakers from other Political Party Youth organisations. For more details on what Antoine Carette (our president) and Sissel Kvist (LYMEC president) had to say about priorities for Europe’s future:

A common LYMEC – YDE statement was also drafted and is available on our website.

Find out more about this event from our member organisations:

Young Democrats for Europe (YDE)
Jeunes Democrates Europeens (JDE)
YDE is the youth wing of the European Party.We embrace the key role of democratic principles, underlined in the Lisbon Treaty and shrined in our political belief: democracy, freedom, equality, participation, sustainability and solidarity.

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