sexta-feira, 2 de setembro de 2016

Youth to leaders: Europe’s biggest crisis is economic


Youth to leaders: Europe’s biggest crisis is economic

The POLITICO Caucus polled 68 young leaders on the Continent’s future.

By
Vince Chadwick and Lawrence Wakefield
8/11/16, 5:30 AM CET


The greatest problem facing young people in Europe isn’t terrorism, Brexit, migration, or even climate change — for 81 percent of participants in POLITICO’s first Youth Caucus, the top concerns are youth unemployment and lack of economic growth.

Ahead of International Youth Day this Friday, we asked 68 young leaders, including MEPs, political advisers and heads of youth organizations what ails the bloc as part of POLITICO’s occasional pulse-taking of European influencers. Their anonymous answers highlight the EU’s ineffectiveness in reaching young people and not just “the lucky ones that go on Erasmus,” as one put it.

One respondent summed up the plight of young people in Europe today: “Unstable low paid jobs, if any. Stuck in trainee/internships forever. Forced to move to other countries and accept very flexible working conditions.”

The effect, as one put it, is that home ownership appears out of reach for this generation.

But if the EU can crack the economic challenge, fewer people “would be susceptible to radicalization and young people could see the benefits of the open borders and a shared European Union.”

Not one participant identified U.S. presidential hopeful Donald Trump as the greatest threat young Europeans face.
Brexit? Nix it

Despite fissures over Brexit, security and migration, 68 percent of the largely Europhile group believes that not only will the EU exist in 2025, it will be stronger.

The U.K.’s vote to leave the Union, however, is divisive. Roughly one-third of Caucus members said Brexit would strengthen the Continent. As one person put it: “It offers an opportunity to integrate. A veto was removed.” Another respondent felt liberated. “We can even stop thinking how London will react.”

But another third thought it would weaken the Continent and the remaining respondents said it would either make little difference or not happen at all.

It’s a “lose-lose” according to one Youth Caucus member, even if, as another said, “the EU will get back on its feet way faster than the U.K.”

Britain’s new Prime Minister Theresa May was also criticized for her tepid support for the Remain camp during the referendum campaign, evidence to one participant of “someone very cautious and tactical when the times demand men and women with courage, determination and beliefs.”

“Brits who protest in London with a EU flag on their face — a year ago none of us would have believed that to be a success,” as one put it. “It shows, however, that Brexit woke up many pro-Europeans who grew accustomed to the benefits the EU brings us.”

Reaching the younger generation

To reach younger citizens, politicians should focus on relevant policies and better engagement with schools and universities, according to more than 61 percent of respondents.

“Introduce civic education in every secondary school in the EU to allow young people to understand the importance of voting, both in their countries and in EU elections,” said one participant.

“Young Europeans are afraid of risk and lack entrepreneurial skills,” said another. “There is very little connection between European education institutions and the job market, so this is the number one challenge Europe needs to address to get young people into jobs and create growth.”

In general, respondents complained of a disconnect between European leaders and younger citizens.

“MEPs should spend more time with students of their own constituency and explain what makes a united Europe,” said one. “Human contact is far more important than virtual” contact.

One way to inspire political participation would be to establish “youth councils” at every level of administration — local, regional, national and European, one suggested.

With populists on the march across the Continent, one Caucus member said it’s time to fight fire with fire.

“EU leaders have not found a way of translating the benefits of the EU in a populist way,” the participant said. “They have not found a way of inspiring others to go out and fight for the European ideal.”
They are the champions

François Hollande was the least popular leader among Caucus members, with one suggesting the French president is paying the price among those on the Left for “standing on a platform in 2012 and pursuing very different policies in the subsequent years.”

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel fared better, and were praised by one respondent “for the clarity of their views for their countries and for the Union.”

Asked to name the best champion for young people in Europe, some ventured non-Europeans such as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Pope Francis. Another saw a model in Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: “For being an open leader for an open society that somehow always used to vote for conservative leaders — we need one in Europa.”

To see the full list of participants in POLITICO’s Youth Caucus, click here.

Authors:

Vince Chadwick and
Lawrence Wakefield

Sem comentários: