The Meeting of Directors-General for Youth, chaired by Zorko Škvor, the Slovenian Director-General for Youth, started today, 20 April 2008. The meeting is being attended by Directors-General of European Union Member States and of Western Balkan countries and representatives of the European Commission.
The Directors-General today heard young people present the conclusions of the Youth Event drawing attention to the poor situation of young people with fewer opportunities and to the role of the young in intercultural dialogue. In their discussion, the Directors-General and the young people jointly established that it is especially important for the development of youth policy that development guidelines take account of proposals from young people as well as those coming from the political sphere. “Young people are key to our future and their voice must not only be heard but also taken properly into consideration. The conclusions of the Youth Event will provide a basis for tomorrow’s discussion on shaping future youth policy,” said Zorko Škvor, the chairman of the meeting of the Directors-General for Youth.
Tomorrow, 21 April 2008, the Directors-General will discuss the future of youth policy and work methods for the next ten years. Individual countries will present cases of good practice in support of young people with fewer opportunities. The conclusions of the meeting of the Directors-General will be presented to the EU Ministers at the Education, Youth and Culture Council in May.
