European youth wants influence

Young people from all over Europe discussed active citizenship and participation in decision making at an EU youth conference in Sorø.

"We want to be heard, we want to participate in decision making and have influence". That was the message from the youth conference in Sorø, 18-21 March 2012 where more than 200 young people and Government officials from all over Europe discussed how young people can influence their own situation and use their creative abilities and talent to increase their "active citizenship".

One of the ways of doing this is to encourage young people to take active part in voluntary work and youth organisations. This was underlined by Minister for Children and Education, Christine Antorini, and the chairman of The Danish Youth Council, Signe Bo, in their speeches at the opening of the conference on 19 March 2012.

Minister for Children and Education, Christine Antorini.

Networking and discussions

The conference, arranged on the occasion of Denmark's EU-Presidency, took place in Sorø at Mærsk Mc-Kinney Science Centre in co-operation with Sorø Akademi. During the conference the participants took part in seven workshops. Here, their ability to "network" and discuss was very much in use. Among the workshop themes were:

• lowering the voting age to 16
• the future EU-programme "Erasmus for All" that deals with increased European co-operation in the field of education and youth
• support of youth organisations.

At the end of the conference the young people and the Government officials agreed on 14 joint recommendations. These recommendations form part of the Ministry of Children and Education's work with a set of Council Conclusions on how to foster young people's creativity and innovation. The conclusions are to be adopted on the coming Council of Ministers' meeting on 11 May 2012.