‘Listen To What We Have To Say, Ask Us What We Need And Then Act!' Declares The Rome Youth Summit

Lowering voting ages to 16; the removal of visa obstacles; the election of a Constitutional Assembly that will establish a democractic Convention, and an EU-wide referendum for the European Constitution, were among the demands made by participants at the Rome Youth Summit, held on 24-25 March 2007. The young people gathered at the Summit also called on EU institutions to increase the levels of youth participation in the democratic life of the Union and to engage in a true dialogue with youth organisations while ensuring their sustainability.

The Rome Youth Summit, organised by the EU institutions together with the European Youth Forum, brought together more than two hundred young people, who had been involved in large consultations and national debates held prior to the summit in all 27 EU Member States. Gathering to mark the anniversary of the signature of the Treaty of Rome, in the very same building where the Treaty was signed by the six founding Member States 50 years ago, the participants adopted a Rome Youth Declaration, voicing their main messages regarding the future of the European Union.

Young people called on EU institutions to include youth organisations and young people from diverse backgrounds in all youth-related decision-making processes. A concrete means to increase youth participation is to lower voting ages to 16, as has already happened in Austria . Moreover, the barriers that prevent young people from experiencing the full potential of Europe, and in particular, visa obstacles, need to be removed so as to strengthen civil society in Europe.

The delegates also urged the EU to increase its transparency in order to improve inclusion and trust in EU decision-making bodies. In particular, European institutions need to be reformed to ensure the European Commission is transformed into a true European executive body and the European Parliament into a true legislative one. Such reform requires a legitimate Constitution that can only be achieved through transparent and participatory procedures, such as the election of a Constitutional Assembly that will establish a democratic Convention and an EU-wide referendum.

Young people compiled their recommendations for the 50 years ahead in a Rome Youth Declaration , which tackles the future of the Constitutional Treaty, Sustainable Development, Youth and Education in the EU, the EU's role in the globalised world, the Social Economic Model of the EU, and the building of Democracy and Civil Society in the EU.

The European Youth Forum regretted the lack of a direct link between the Berlin Summit of Heads of State and Government and the Rome Youth Summit - symbolic of the lack of transparency with which decisions are taken at the European Council level. Yet, Commission President José Manuel Barroso voiced his message through Vice-President Margot Wallström, present in Rome: "From Berlin to Rome , from the leaders of today to the leaders of tomorrow, a message of confidence in the future of Europe . We trust you to fully realize the dream of our founding fathers."

Nevertheless, the European Youth Forum welcomed the concrete engagement from the European Commission (EC) and the European Parliament (EP) at the event. The EP Vice President, Alejo Vidal-Quadras also conveyed a message from the EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering , in which he assured delegates that the Rome Youth Declaration would be a working document for the European Parliament – and debated at the Culture Committee, among others - following which, a formal reaction would be communicated. From the side of the European Commission, Wallström committed to engage with Commissioner Ján Figel' – both of whom were present at the event - to ensure genuine structured dialogue with youth organisations was initiated, rather than simply sporadic, ad-hoc events.

"We share and celebrate the EU's set of values, but to realise a healthy democratic life for our continent over the next 50 years, young peoples' needs have to be addressed" said Bettina Schwarzmayr, President of the European Youth Forum. "The millions of people in poverty in Europe, the lack of democracy in Belarus, the homophobia in Poland, the precarious working conditions of young people, the energy distribution or the lack of integration of minorities, are among the crucial issues for which we all need to work together and in which the role of civil society, and in particular youth organisations, is essential."

Download here the Rome Youth Declaration

Source: European Youth Forum