November 2011 | 5.

00

NEW EUROPE
THE

Issue # 963

A New Europe Special Edition

Youth EDITION

The future

wo

rkp lace

The

The

nology tech

The culture

With contributions from 30 leading political, business, and civil society figures

Featuring a special report on the EU-China Year of Youth

02
27 November 2011

NEW EUROPE

Whoso neglects learning in his youth, loses the past and is dead for the future Reason is a crutch for age, but youth is strong enough to walk alone Age considers; youth ventures As I approve of a youth that has something of the old man in him, so I am no less pleased with an old man that has something of the youth. He that follows this rule may be old in body, but can never be so in mind Youth is easily deceived because it is quick to hope Youth comes but once in a lifetime One of the signs of passing youth is the birth of a sense of fellowship with other human beings as we take our place among them Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old

We cannot afford to lose a generation of young people not being either employed, studying or in training

The duty of youth is to challenge corruption Youth has no age

Youth cannot know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young

Making your mark on the world is hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it. But it's not. It takes patience, it takes commitment, and it comes with plenty of failure along the way

Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die

Almost everything that is great has been done by youth

You are the most powerful cultural force in the world

NEW EUROPE
Editorial
Global Youth

03
27 November 2011

04
05

Young hopes, hard times

EU-China year of youth
A Passport to a Bright Prospect of China-EU Relations
Bountiful Harvest

Girls and young women are the real drivers of change Invest in Youth: It's Time to Act
Investing in adolescence and promoting the voices of the youth should be a priority

17

18 19 20

06
07

Support call for International Day for the Girl

Well begun is half done The Year of Youth - a Useful Start EU-China Year of Youth: Bridge, Platform and Journey

Politics

08
09
10
11

The Crisis We Can Solve Young, educated and working for free Youth Engagement in the European Parliament
A game of thrones or an ideological revolution? Countering extremism by empowering individuals in EU
Volunteering

21

22 23 24 25
26

Work
Preparing Students for the Professional Workplace Trust in Young People

12 13

The French education system in Europe

Generation Euro
Students Award World Bank

Youth Volunteering For a Better Europe Sochi 2014 reignites youth volunteering in Russia
Technology

27
28 29
30 31

NEWEUROPE

14
15

Generation Neither-Nor

Technology for Young Folks

Is Agency Work the Solution to The Lost Generation?

Occupy
Empowering our future leaders from an early age The Youth Power
Cinema

16

Occupy Everywhere!

Theyre young, theyre in love, and they make movies

04
27 November 2011

NEW EUROPE

his Youth Issue is published in one of the most remarkable times the European Union has seen since its inception, with the Eurozone in real trouble, austerity beckoning for the half billion EU citizens and serious concern on the future of the EU. One adjustment on a global scale is to the peaceful rise of China and its economic might. The end of the EU China Year of Youth is discussed by two young Chinese students, Chen Jing and Fu Rao, who found the year to be of real value in bringing young people together. This important step is also discussed by Wenwen Shen from the EU Asia Centre. As the world shifts and the balance moves towards Asia it is good to see the youth reach out to each other, we can only wish them well, for they are the ones that will feel the consequences, good and bad, of this new relationship between Europe and China. Youth, to misquote Dickens, can be summed up as, it was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Todays young people are the best educated, the healthiest generation with established rights. But not everywhere, not evenly. There are still massive inequalities in the world and it can be hard to see the gap narrowing. As they leave education the coming generation is also facing the worst of times. Austerity is being introduced in many countries, often harshly, and it is the youth who will feel it first. Mattias Lundberg, Senior Economist at the World Bank writes on unemployment and Edouard de Mahieu on preparing students for the workplace. With jobs getting harder to find, Ramona Manescu MEP speaks about volunteering and the President of the 2014 Sochi Games tells us about using the sporting event to introduce a culture of voluntary work to Russia. One way of getting on the career ladder is

through internships and Luca Scarpiello from the European Youth Forum sets out the concerns that such schemes are little more than cheap labour, at costs many can no longer afford. Dennis Pennel argues that well regulated agency work can help people get on a career path. Benjamin Hermer looks at education systems and how they can encourage young people. Silvia Martinez and Marta Extremera write on encouraging young entrepreneurs. Technology is a growth area, bringing in possibilities that were unimaginable a short time ago, so we have contributions from Jan Muehfeit, Chairman of Microsoft Europe, on their partnerships to encouraging young people. Huawei also tell us about their vision for the future. Luis Obregon shows how IT has opened up opportunities and Ines Riera says that we would all benefit with more input from young people. The World Bank introduce us to Generation Euro. Maria Copani from UNICEF explains the importance of youth in development and Karen Schroh shows how gender equality is essential to reducing poverty. Neil Datta asks parliamentarians to support an International Day for Girls. Brussels is a political city and the disengagement between young people and the EU is a growing concern. Eider Gardiazabal Rubial MEP writes on the efforts of the European Parliament to include youth. Konstantinos Petrou talks about a youth led new politics and Kaisa Penny says that we can solve high youth unemployment with investment. Finally, New Europes Online Editor discusses young film makers. We hope that this special edition helps in the debate over fully including young people in policymaking and recognizes that the better we can serve the young generation, the better prepared they will be to make a better job of Europe than the current generation.
BRUSSELS HEADQUARTERS Av. de Tervuren/Tervurenlaan 96, 1040 Brussels, Belgium Tel. +32 2 5390039 Fax +32 2 5390339 info@neurope.eu PUBLISHERS BRUSSELS NEWS AGENCY SPRL Avenue de Tervueren 96 1040 Etterbeek Belgium Tel. +32 2 5390039 info@neurope.eu EXTERNAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Signed Contributions express solely the views of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the newspaper. NE is printed on recycled paper.

NEWEUROPE

If youth be a defect, it is one that we outgrow only too soon.

James Russell Lowell

EDITOR Dennis Kefalakos dkefalakos@neurope.eu SENIOR EDITORIAL TEAM Kostis Geropoulos (Energy & Russian Affairs) kgeropoulos@neurope.eu Andy Carling (EU Affairs) acarling@neurope.eu Cillian Donnelly (EU Affairs) cdonnelly@neurope.eu Ariti Alamanou (Legal Affairs) aalamanou@neurope.eu Alexandra Coronakis (Columnist) acoronaki@neurope.eu Louise Kissa (Fashion) lkissa@neurope.eu ONLINE EDITOR James Drew jdrew@neurope.eu

DIRECTOR Alexandros Koronakis akoronakis@neurope.eu MARKETING & ADVERTISING Panos Katsampanis pkatsampanis@neurope.eu EXECUTIVE LAYOUT PRODUCER Suman Haque suman@neurope.eu SUBSCRIPTIONS & DISTRIBUTION subscriptions@neurope.eu Subscriptions are available worldwide INDEPENDENCE New Europe is a privately owned independent publication, and is not subsidised or financed in any way by any EU institution or other entity.

ISSN number: 1106-8299

2011 New Europe all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or otherwise, without the permission of New Europe.

NEW EUROPE

05
27 November 2011

ear 2011 bears a particular significance to China-EU relations as both have, for the first time, held the first thematic year eventthe Year of Youth. This event has opened up a fresh chapter in people-to-people exchange between China and Europe. Through a diverse range of popular supporting activities, the Year of Youth events have reached and impressed millions of young people both in China and Europe. The world is going through profound changes with major development opportunities and unprecedented challenges. As two major international players, China and Europe should seize the historical opportunity, strengthen exchanges and cooperation, jointly meet global challenges, and contribute to world peace, stability, and prosperity. Through joint efforts, China and Europe have in recent years established an all-directional, multi-tiered and extensive

Young peoples should be pioneers to strengthen mutual trust. Understanding and trust constitute the basis for China-EU relations
cooperation pattern. Under such a framework, constant efforts have been made to further uplift our fruitful bilateral cooperation to a new height. Young people are the most important fabric of our society. How they perform in life and how they meet their challenges and responsibilities will relate closely to the well-being of our two peoples and the future of our world. Our young peoples must make a correct decision and live up to it. Young peoples should be pioneers to strengthen mutual trust. Understanding and trust constitute the basis for ChinaEU relations. Young peoples in China and Europe must overcome differences in history, culture, and development levels to build such trust with each other. Only by viewing each other in a fair and developing perspective could we sustain the solid popular support for China-EU relations in the long run with friendship, trust, mutual respect, and an open and inclusive mind. Young people should be proponents of mutually beneficial cooperation. Practical cooperation rests at the core of ChinaEU ties. Both sides are now in important stage of development, and both attach great importance to green and low-carbon emissions, science and technology innovation capacity, and sustainable growth.

The ideas and approaches we share towards development and common prosperity offer us a massive space to grow practical cooperation, bringing about rare opportunities for our young people to make a difference. The youth should be facilitators of change. Reform and innovation are the driving force for the China-EU relationship. Constant renewal, expansion and innovation of our cooperation are essential to the sustained growth of our ties. Young people have brave, active and inquiring minds. As in every country, they represent our future. Our young people in China and Europe should make full use of their knowledge and skills to inject new vigor and strength into China-EU relations. While the exciting memories of the Year of Youth are still fresh, the opening of the 2012 EU-China Year of Intercultural Dialogue is drawing near. We have full confidence that young people in China and Europe will continue to work as team and make their friendship the fountain of youth for the bright China-EU relations.

06
27 November 2011

NEW EUROPE

The power of youths is the motor of an era, the voice of youths is the voice of the worlds future. Hand in hand, shoulder by shoulder youths from China and Europe will make a difference together
ovember 2011, the inland city of China that I am in is already in late autumn. In traditional Chinese culture, autumn is a season of harvest. I think that for 2011 EUChina Year of Youth, now is without a doubt a moment of bountiful harvest. 2011 EU-China Year of Youth is a humanistic exchange event of the largest scale since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Europe and China. I was very honored to participate in the two Flagship Events at the beginning and the end of the Event. The experience from the two events gave me different rewards and opportunities; the events are very memorable and precious to me. In January this year, as a member of the China Youth Representative Delegation, I visited Europe and participated in the opening ceremony of 2011 EUChina Year of Youth. This was the first Flagship Event of the exchange year. It was also my first time stepping foot on the continent of Europe. The images of Europe that I had pictured in my mind unfolded in my eyes in reality. In the first week of our visit in Europe, we visited institutions such as EU headquarters, European Parliament, the European court of justice, etc. and talked with the officials and scholars there in an informal discussion. This has given me a

more direct and profound understanding of the European Union and its important influence. Wondering about the streets and alleys in European cities, its rich cultural atmosphere and peaceful ambiance intoxicated me unconsciously. What moved me most was our kind and friendly European youths friends. At the welcoming dinner of The EU mission in China, after my friends and I performed the traditional fan dance and Pipa performance, the European youngsters from downstage gave us an enthusiastic applaud, I deeply realized that violin and erhu can perform a beautiful harmony as well, and the Gothic steeples and the red walls of the Forbidden Palace can also shine together. If the set-sail voyage at the beginning of the year rewarded me with a more sensual first experience of love, the last Flagship Event held in October in Beijing the EU-China Youth Leaders Summit was a real test of brainpower between the youths of China and Europe. During the three-day event 200 youths of different backgrounds from China and Europe carried out discussions on important issues relating to the development of EU-China and even the world such as the World multi-polarity and the role of regional organizations and the Youth entrepreneurship/ Business Leaders of the Future. We have drafted, discussed, modified and passed the EU-China Youth Leader Statement. The process of discussion is a process of seeking common

ground while reserving differences. It was sparkling with flares and full of wit and humor; it was brisk and pleasant but at the same time efficient and pragmatic. Although the 2011 EU-China Year of Youth is about to come to an end, in fact, its influence is still lasting. Through participating in the events of the year of exchange, the SICA (Student International Communication Association) that I work in established a relationship with ESTYE of Estonia and we collaborated together as partners in submitting the project plan of Youth in EU and China: Working Together to Common Challenges and were successful in applying for the Youth in Action event funding under the framework of the 2011 EUChina Year of Youth. At the end of this year, the delegation of the association in which I am a member will meet with the European delegation of this project in Beijing. We will carry out the preliminary planning and discussion regarding the one-year event that is about to be launched. I think that there must be many other concrete and fruitful results like this. In this sense, the 2011 EUChina Year of Youth is only a beginning of communication and collaboration between the youths of Europe and China. The power of youths is the motor of an era, the voice of youths is the voice of the worlds future. Hand in hand, shoulder by shoulder youths from China and Europe will make a difference together --we are on our way!

NEW EUROPE

07
27 November 2011

n January 2011, together with over a hundred of Chinese young people, I visited Brussels in Belgium, the Capital of Europe, to attend the opening ceremony of EU-China Year of Youth. In February, the European young delegates of almost the same number paid a return visit to Beijing. By communicating with each other, our friendship was consolidated and both of us got a better understanding of each others cultures. Here are some stories I want to share. Before my visit to Europe , I had learned Taijiquan, a kind of traditional Chinese shadow boxing. When I noticed that I should be welcomed to give a performance of it in the Mission of China to the EU, I decided to do it. I am determined to do this because for me it represents Chinas traditional culture of harmony, and that its also popular all around the world. To make the show perfect, I practiced it at the tea breaks of some meetings, which interests some European young people who happened to see it. They asked me to teach them some gestures of it, and I saw it as a good opportunity to communicate our cultural essence across to them. They learned really hard. When we take breaks during these Taiji lessons, they showed great curiosity about this traditional boxing. Some of them even described it as a kind

of dance. I believe, though misunderstandings of Taijiquan among these young people do exist, these Taijiquan lessons could at least evoke their interest in Chinese Kungfu, and make them know more about Chinese history and people. In the workshop of "Access of Young People to Culture and Creativity", I was surprised by the great extent to which some European young people know about China. One of them had been a volunteer in some rural area of China for years, and another had lived with a Chinese student for months. A Hungarian young man wanted to know something about the academic burden of students at Chinese primary schools and high schools. My answer is that, as China has a large population and the distribution of education resource is uneven in some places primary and secondary students have to study hard to pass some critical exams. Also I said that, since the government had promoted quality education for years, we paid more and more attention to upgrading the overall quality of primary and secondary students. European young people are also concerned about whether we know their history and culture or not. One German girl asked me whether history textbook in China recorded German history in World War II. She was glad to know that we had a fair record about that. By visiting the EU Parliament, the EU Court of justice, and the EU Institute, we knew

more of the political systems, legal systems and academic development of EU. Although it was not my first visit to Europe, it made me understand much more about EU than I did 4 years ago when I came to Europe for the first time. In February, European and Chinese young delegates together visited the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) of Shunyi District of Beijing, attended the EU-China Youth Forum for Culture. What impressed us most was the Chinese Opening Ceremony of EU-China Year of Youth. After the ceremony, Marzia Conte, the program manager of "Youth in Action" and European Commission Derectorate General for Education, told me that she felt it was an interesting event with fantastic theatrical performances and in a creative form. Andrea Ferjencikova, the Managing Director of Slovak Association for Science and Applicated Research, was most impressed by the scene in which Premier Wen pressed the button of a device to start the official website of EU-China Year of Youth. She said that the device looked like a bridge as well as a rainbow, connecting the young people of EU and China. By attending these activities, I made many new European friends, such as Arnaud Favry from France and Jan Trnka from Czech. Both of them are living in China now. We often talk with each other on Facebook. Although 2011 EU-China Year of Youth is about to end, our friendship is

just beginning. Well begun is half done, as I said at a conference during the opening week of 2011 EU-China Year of Youth, Brussels, I think EU-China Year of Youth started a brand-new phase in EU-China youth communication, and will build a solid foundation for a good relationship between two sides in the future.

I was surprised by the great extent to which some European young people know about China. One of them had been a volunteer in some rural area of China for years, and another had lived with a Chinese student for months

08
27 November 2011

NEW EUROPE

hen Hans Bloch from Leipzig and Hua Chungquin from Chenghu travelled to Beijing in February for the opening of the EU-China Year of Youth they could not imagine that fate would throw them together in the same working group, that they would fall in love, and are now planning to get married. This was a real happy ending for one couple in a year-long extravaganza of events promoting closer youth ties. When you read the official aim of the EU-China Year of Youth, it sounds like apple pie and motherhood. Both sides are committed to promoting and deepening partnership by strengthening cooperation and people-to-people contacts. Who would object to that? At the opening ceremony in Beijing in February opened by Premier Wen Jiabao, there was a palpable feeling of enthusiasm in the air as the young Chinese star Zhou Xun expressed her environmental concerns for our planet - reaching out to the hearts of her vast fan base. This was followed by young Europeans from all 27 member states sending their wishes for the success of the Youth programme, many in faltering, some in fluent Mandarin. The rest of the youth representatives came from very diverse backgrounds: language students; Europeans of Chinese origin; musicians; young footballers; colourful folk singers, dancers and elegant Chinese choreographed dancers, ideal for

China will have a growing and significant influence in the world, including Europe. It is therefore important for European youth to explore how China works and what makes it tick
putting on a cultural extravaganza. It might be somewhat artificial and yet understandable for such a policy initiative to begin with superficial exchanges. However, both sides need to envisage how to create the momentum to facilitate better cooperation between youth organisations with or without official stakeholders. At least two aspects are worth contemplating as to what we should expect from the multitude of events that have taken place during the past nine months. In other words, does such cooperation necessarily lead to mutual understanding and friendship between the young people of the EU and China? The answer is yes and no. First, in future, China will have a growing and significant influence in the world, including Europe. It is therefore important for European youth to explore how China works and what makes it tick. For Britta Heidemann, the goodwill ambassador to the Youth programme, a German Olympic fencing champion and fluent Mandarin speaker, the Chinese put meanings to everything. Why? Britta recalled her early experience in China when she brought German clocks as gifts to her Chinese friends, only to realise later that sending a clock as a gift as song zhong[ ] in Chinese has the same pronunciation as song zhong [ ] which means attending ones funeral. Another participant, a young Chinese Taiji expert, struggled to explain why Taiji is more than Taiji. To better understand China, such programmes should emphasise enhancing cultural and historical awareness. In China, despite its 5000-year history, a third of its high school compulsory course on history is systematically devoted to European history starting with the Reformation. In European schools, Mandarin Chinese is booming, particularly in the UK, but much less so in other European countries. Chinese history, both ancient and contemporary, deserves more than peripheral attention, not just studying it sporadically because of European colonial connections.

Second, so as to address common challenges, youth is undoubtedly crucial for both sides to come to terms with the changing dynamics of their future relationship. To that end, it was promising to see the young leaders of the future engaging in talks about their roles in ageing societies, the development of EU-China relations in a multipolar world, climate change and sustainable development, youth entrepreneurship, and business leadership. However, none of these touched upon the issues that perhaps require more mutual understanding than others, namely, democracy and human rights. Underneath these friendly events lie the fundamental differences in the value systems in which these participants were brought up. Surely there could have been some emphasis on the fundamental political differences between Europe and China? Why are issues such as Tibet portrayed so differently in the Chinese and European media? Curiously, the only political talk as part of the Youth programme will take place in Berlin later this month in the margins of the 150 years of the Japan-Germany friendship festival. If these enthusiastic youth participants are to become the leaders steering the future of EU-China relations, they should be encouraged to embrace and discuss their differences openly, rather than avoiding them. Otherwise, todays source of confusion will be tomorrows bone of contention and promoting mutual understanding will be forever on the policy agenda as empty rhetoric.

NEW EUROPE

09
27 November 2011

The media needs to play a full role in spreading the fruits of communication activities, through positive and attractiveways of communication, so more Chinese and European young people can have a more overall, rational and objective point of view

paid a visit to Brussels with 100 Chinese youth representatives this January, and attended the opening ceremony of the EUChina Year of Youth. During the ceremony. I witnessed the signing of a joint declaration by Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, and Wang Xiao, President of the All-China Youth Federation, which opened a series of rich and colorful activities for the EUChina Year of Youth. The EU-China Year of Youth is the first thematic year held since China and the EU established diplomatic relations. It opens up a new chapter in a peopleto-people exchange between China and Europe. During the year, China and the EU carried out hundreds of activities for youth exchange between the two, which included flagship and priority events, partnership events and a joint media campaign. More than 10,000 Chinese and European young people were involved directly in these events, and an additional 160,000 participated by means of social media. Those activities spanned a large number of Chinese and European youths and had a positive impact on

them. In my opinion, the EU-China Year of Youth is meaningful, valuable and fruitful. In this year, Chinese and European young people communicated with each other, showed variety and expanded consensus. The Year of Youth is a bridge of communication. There is an old Chinese saying that the relationship between two countries is based on the affection between the two countries' civilians. The Year of Youth is based on a people-topeople exchange, and hosted thematic forums on culture, employment, entrepreneurship, sustainable development, youth participation and volunteer service. Based on rationality, Chinese and European young people launched an equal and deep dialogue and discussion on topics which impact youth. They discussed the mutual challenges faced both by China and Europe, looking into the future of China-EU relationship development. In these fields, they made some positive and valuable exploration, and built a bridge for deep communication between young people from both sides. The youth forum is a platform of variety. In a series of experimental, participatory and interactive activities, Chinese and European young people fully dis-

played their youthfulness which is full of passion and energy. Their excellent leadership, salient spirit of collaboration, perfect ability to structure, and deep responsibility further strengthened our confidence in China-EU relations development in the future. The Year of Youth is a journey of expanding consensus. Both China and Europe are now in the pivotal period of development, which requires young people from both sides to have the will to coordinate their action on some vital problems, and to make a unique contribution to the overall situation of ChinaEU relations. In the EU-China Year of Youth, young people from both sides reached a broad consensus on further improvement of China-EU relations, deepening people-to-people exchange, common concern of some global issues, achieving some institutional results and opening the new level of bilateral exchange and cooperation. We are happy to see thenpeople-topeople exchange dialogue between China and Europe is coming to being. Under this framework, the All-China Youth Federation would like to work closely with our EU counterparts to jointly promote new development of China-EU youth exchange.

Firstly, we must continue to work on the long-term mechanism of China-EU youth exchange. Regularly hold ChinaEU youth policy dialogue, undertake certain projects like a youth leaders exchange and hold an international forum on China-EU youth organizations development. Secondly, we need to devote ourselves to establishing an open, interactive, cooperative platform which would encourage more young people and youth organizations from China and the EU to find their partnership, to start friendly cooperation and to advance such exchange at higher levels and in wider fields. Thirdly, the media needs to play a full role in spreading the fruits of communication activities, through positive and attractive ways of communication, so more Chinese and European young people can have a more overall, rational and objective point of view. 2011 witnessed the intelligence, wisdom and the value of life which was embodied in the exchange between Chinese and European youth. We have every reason to believe that the angle of view, courage and exploration of youth will help to write a more glorious chapter in China-EU relations.

10
27 November 2011

NEW EUROPE

xperience is an invaluable asset in today's business world. Right away, recruiters are asking newly graduated students what sort of work experience they have. Even for internships and exchange programs, they inquire about it. Today, a student must not only be able to acquire strong academic skills during his studies but he must also find a way and the time to gain experience through internships and other activities. An excellent way of getting this valuable experience is by working for a Junior Enterprise. But what exactly are they and how do they help youth acquire the skills necessary to be efficient in today's workplace? A Junior Enterprise is a fully operating firm but there's one small quirk: everyone working for it is still a student at the host university. Each JE offers different services but they all have the same common goal, which is to prepare their members for the professional workplace. They do this by allowing their members to put their skills to use in the field as well as teach them the soft skills needed to transition from college to a business environment. The first part of this extremely rich yet challenging experience takes place inside the JE themselves. Learning how a firm works in an economic class is one thing, taking part and voting in a General Assembly is an entirely different experience.

As a student, you are usually working alongside students from the same studies with similar ways of thinking. On the other hand, in a JE, members must learn how to work alongside others from different backgrounds, whether they are from law, economics, engineering or other fields of studies to reach their goals. Everyone will have a different perception on how to do things in the business world and teamworking skills are brought to a whole new level because of this. As members evolve over time in their JE, they also take on more responsibilities, pass on their knowledge to the newcomers while receiving those of their predecessors, in whatever domain they interest themselves in whether it be project management, accounting, marketing and so on. Strong organizational and communication skills develop as well. However, this 'career' only lasts for a few years, the time of their studies yet it is a very intense learning experience in how to work, organize and behave in a firm. The JADE Network as well as professional partners also come in to help by providing valuable training that students will not find in their curriculum and give them a head start in learning professional skills. Thanks to all of these elements, there is a strong culture of learning, sharing and teamwork within the movement as a whole where everyone is always trying to improve. Moreover, international meetings where JEs from around Europe gather together for training, team-building and net-

working are incredibly enlightening experiences that bring a strong international diversity to the movement where members have the chance to meet other youth from across the continent. However, there's more to Junior Enterprises than simply training. The second, most challenging part of the adventure is going out into the field with all these newly acquired skills and accomplishing something with them. Junior Enterprises face the same cut-throat competition for clients as any other firm would and it takes a special kind of bravery, motivation and determination to go out into the business world so early. Essential skills such as negotiation or networking are put to the test right away and members quickly learn and improve them by experience and trial and error. Thankfully, you never go out alone and there are many professionals you meet along the way that will help and support you. Sadly, Junior Enterprises are still a rather unknown project in the business world but they are always welcomed as they bring youth and dynamism to the work environment. Once a project is launched, members face the challenging mission of meeting a

set of objectives and deadlines and there's more in jeopardy than a simply college grade now. Learning how to work under pressure while facing the real consequences of your team's actions is another strong skill junior entrepreneurs will learn over time. Managing and assuming one's responsibilities correctly under strain strengthens an individual. The Junior Enterprise adventure is truly a trial by fire challenge. It's by jumping head first into the fray that is the business world that students learn the vital skills to work effectively in the workplace. Such skills are valued by potential recruiters as they take interest in a student that will be able to adapt right away to the professional workplace. They will not have to teach them the basic soft skills needed to work efficiently and their new employee will get down to business right away. This is an invaluable advantage for job seeking students when facing competition for a highly sought after job offer.. These skills will prove useful right away in many other situations that you can imagine. Participating in a Junior Enterprise takes a lot of time and energy, but the adventure and payoff are more than worth it.

NEW EUROPE

11
27 November 2011

Indeed, young people are almost never invited to contribute with their point of view in this matter and often have to organize strikes and protests to make sure their voice is heard. Young people, though, have something to say and should be given the opportunity to speak up about youth employment

he lack of employment and precarious working conditions affect the life of all individuals and youth is especially vulnerable in this regard. According to figures of the European Commission, in recent years there has been a leap both in unemployment for the whole population and in youth unemployment in EU-27. Nevertheless, the percentage of young people between 15 and 24 unemployed in the European Union reached 21.4% in September 2011 and more than doubled the unemployment rate. The highest rates were observed in Spain, where almost one out of two young people are unemployed. For this reason, in this age of recovery, many European governments struggle to create quality jobs and to promote young peoples entrance in the labor market. However, the main group affected by this situation is hardly involved in this debate. Indeed, young people are almost never invited to contribute with their point of view in this matter and often have to organize strikes and protests to make sure their voice is heard. Young people, though, have something to say and should be given the opportunity to speak up about youth employment and other issues. On a similar note, too often politicians and business men seem to be willing to change everything by themselves and to forget the power of youth to drive change in economy and society. Nevertheless, in these times in which politics and business are still based in traditional concepts dating from before the recession that invaded Europe in 2008, young people are the only ones not badly influenced by these conceptions and thus, the most likely to find innovative solutions to the new global problems we have to face.

As formal education is still based in old books that do not consider yet the recent situation, students all around Europe are starting to use the learning-by-doing methodology to develop themselves. This enables youth to foster their entrepreneurial mindset: they become more creative and proactive, they put ideas into practice, they spot opportunities more easily and they take calculated risks. Therefore, young people with this entrepreneurial spirit are much more prepared and flexible to face our current and future challenges in a successful and sustainable way.

creation of new companies and new jobs. Secondly, it is a key driver for creativity and longeconomic growth as it boosts innovation among new enterprises developing new technologies or services, as well as among already existing firms in which intrapreneurship is fostered. Thirdly, youth entrepreneurship is a cohesion tool for young people as it develops an individuals social interaction, his engagement in society and his professional inclusion. Finally, entrepreneurship offers a chance FOR young people to pursue their interests and dreams and, hence, to be happier and more likely to be socially included. Furthermore, youth feels much more comfortable in the current era of information technology and is much more likely to adapt to new technologies and to promote innovation in this field. Indeed, according to the Digital Diaries study from Internet Security Company AVG, there has been an important generational shift. More kids can play a computer game than ride a bike and while 19% of kids aged 2 to 5 know how to play with a smartphone application,

only 9% of kids these age know how to tie their shoelaces. Additionally, many of the most successful technological innovations come from young entrepreneurs such as Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Naveen Selvadurai (Foursquare) or Daniel Ek (Spotify).

Moreover, the learning by doing methodology promotes youth entrepreneurship and thus, makes a three-folded contribution to economic and social health. Firstly, it is beneficial for youth employment rates as it encourages the

Finally, while high-school teachers still talk about the globalization era in a surprised tone, their students can barely imagine themselves not eating a Big Mac and drinking, not buying products Made in China and having to travel around Europe with a passport and a visa, instead of taking just their ID. Youth speaks many more foreign languages, is more willing to travel around the world to go work abroad than its parents and understands the current world dynamics much better. All in all, just as worried parents have to learn to let their kids go and take responsibility for their own actions, older generations should let young people be more involved in the current global issues and trust better in their judgment and preparation.

12
27 November 2011

NEW EUROPE

The Junior Entrepreneurs movement is in favor of an easier way to move from one country to the other to benefit from a multi-national education
he French National Confederation of Junior Enterprises (CNJE) has decided to organize a one year discussion about the current educational system in France. Through the organization of three events which aimed at gathering politicians, specialists of the educational world and students, the Junior Entrepreneurs movement hopes to take a role and to raise the question of the place of Youth and education in Europe. Regarding the current financial and economic situation, the European students hope to see a positive involvement of the European Union in favor of a qualitative educational system. In order to propose, to act and to debate about the future of the European schools and universities, the Junior Enterprise movement plans to take a role by raising questions and encourage the involvement of students. This social initiative aims at giving a chance to any students in France and in Europe to have the opportunity to be more directly involved in its environment and to start becoming an actor in this globalized world. Because they are directly concerned with those issues, because their ideas can benefit from our continent and because students want to prepare the future in this context of uncertainty and instability, these student associations, called Junior Enterprises, which are implanted in a lot of French universities and private schools are motivated to get involved in this problematic. A Junior Entrepreneur is, by definition, a student who is working in a Junior Enterprise. This concept, born in France in 1967, defines these student-run businesses

which aim at proposing to students to put directly into practice their learnings through the realization of market studies, communication plans, marketing analysis, creation of Website, launch of Web applications, or other engineering services for SMEs, multinational companies, and public institutions. Thus acting like young consultants for companies. Following the motto learning-bydoing, these students bring the gap between academia and real business world. With more than 160 associations,

17,000 students and 8 million annual turnover, the French confederation aims at playing a role in the question of higher education in France. 2012 will be a presidential election year, thats why this question will probably take an important place in the political debates. How to dynamism the educational system of a country? How can we judge the educational system in France? What are its strengths? Its weaknesses?

What about the other systems, particularly in Europe? To try to answer to some of these questions, the CNJE is inviting personalities from the educational and political world. With ministries, directors of schools or universities, the question of the educational system in Europe will be analyzed by specialists but also by students and especially by Junior Entrepreneurs. Thanks to a national survey and the participation of Junior Entrepreneurs, the redaction of a White book should allow bringing the opinion of the new generation and todays actors directly to the leaders of our planet. The first round of discussion will start by analyzing the specificities of the French model compared to the rest of Europe and especially the question of this dual system, unique in the world: universities vs private engineering or business schools. The second round deals with the position of French students in Europe regarding different program such as ERASMUS program or the evolution seen since the signature of the Bologna Process. The third and last round finally raises the question of professional insertion of the new generation. How can we adapt the educational system regarding the professional world? What king of bridge can we build between these two worlds? The Junior Entrepreneurs movement is in favor of an easier way to move from one country to the other to benefit from a multi-national education. This is why the concept of Junior Enterprise exists in more than 15 countries in Europe. Under the European Organization, named JADE ( Junior Association for Development in Europe), these new generation of European students try to build bridges across borders and collaborate directly on projects for their clients. They all hope that their nations will continue to understand that an adapted educational system is a key element for the European Union in terms of growth, productivity and a message of tolerance and exchange. Through the globalization, the way to see the education today is far different from what it used to be. To rebuild our model, to adapt and to continue to work on it, to make direct and concrete proposals, Junior Entrepreneurs hope now that they can be heard in the future. Taking into account new generations expectations and vision can be a way to overcome todays difficulties and to prepare the future. Interesting in taking part to the discussions? international@cnje.org

NEW EUROPE

13
27 November 2011

he tenth anniversary of the introduction of euro banknotes and coins is approaching. Millions of teenagers in the euro area have forgotten or dont know what the national currencies, such as the franc, the mark, the lira were. The only money they are familiar with is the euro. They received their first pocket money in euro, they may have bought their first mobile phone or sports shoes with that money, and their savings are in euro. In short, the euro is in fact their currency. This thought gave rise to an initiative aimed at the first euro generation they use the euro, but do they know the central bank behind it? In their lifetimes they have only experienced a moderate rise in prices but do they know that the European Central Banks main goal is to keep prices stable? And do they understand the link

It made students think

(a teacher from Belgium)
between interest rates and the value of money? Thats why the ECB and 11 national central banks in the euro area launched a competition for secondary schools students on 1 October 2011 the Generation uro Students Award. The idea is not entirely new: several central banks around the world have launched similar initiatives for this group, such as the Bank of Englands Target 2.0 competition, the Reserve Bank of New Zealands Monetary Policy Challenge and the Banco de Espaas Aula virtual. The Generation uro Students Award, however, is somewhat different, as it is an international competition and involves

These are subjects that they knew nothing about at all, that arent usually in the curriculum, and so it was a chance to find out things that are important to everyone in everyday life
(a teacher from Italy)

various euro area countries. The competition seeks to balance out differences in national curricula and education systems, i.e. to be both uniform and flexible. It consists of three rounds. The first one is a quiz and the second one involves essay-writing by a team. The third, and final, round resembles other competitions: the teams have to give presentations to a jury of national central bank experts. The element of suspense comes with the educated guesses the teams have to make about the ECBs interest rate decisions next year. The team members learn by having to explain the predictions they make. They dont become monetary policy experts overnight; the different rounds leading to the presentations stretch over a full academic year. A lot depends on the teachers, who in turn are given guidance and background material by the national central banks. The Students Award is a long-term project which aims to enhance the economic literacy of teenagers and to give them a better understanding of the role of a central bank in the economy. It made students think. (a teacher from Belgium) These are subjects that they knew nothing about at all, that arent usually in the curriculum, and so it was a chance to find out things that are important to everyone

If were going to university we would want to use it to show that we gained a valuable learning experience
(a student from Germany)
in everyday life. (a teacher from Italy) If were going to university we would want to use it to show that we gained a valuable learning experience. (a student from Germany) The national central banks are organising the competition at national level, while the ECB, for its part, is organising the competition for international and European schools. The three rounds run until the end of the school year 2012, with a final European award event being held in June 2012 at the ECB in Frankfurt. Further information on the competition can be found at www.generationeuro.eu or requested by writing to generationeuro@ecb.europa.eu.

14
27 November 2011

NEW EUROPE

It is like a zero generation: zero jobs, zero prospects

owadays, Spain faces one of its worst recessions, making it very difficult for jobseekers to find work. No other country in Europe has so many young people out of work: almost 37 percent of people under 25 and a quarter of those under 30 (Der Spiegel 27.09.2011). It is amazing how young people are not motivated neither to study for a Degree nor work because they cannot get excited about it. It is like a zero generation: zero jobs, zero prospects Teenagers think seriously why they should go to the University if they are going to be unemployed So, thousands of them are currently without motivation: they dont want to study and it is hard to find a job. Why dont we try to find a motivation for them? In this paper, we are going to present an initiative that was born in France in the late 60s . This is not a solution, but at least is a way that helps the students to find a stimulus and why not to create his/her own business. First of all, we must define this kind of initiative called Junior Enterprises (hereafter JE). As JADE (European Confederation of Junior Enterprises) defines it, a JE is a local non-profit organization entirely managed by students who want to get practical experience

this could be a target for graduates to become not only experts in a specific theme, but also people who apply their knowledge to the real busienss world. This is an opportunity for students to develop self-confidence and experience in entrepreneurship at an early stage in their university studies, to add, as I mentioned before, practical experience to the theoretical skills and to provide private businesses with state-of-the-art knowledge from universities. Due the particularity of the Junior Enterprise work, the students distinguish themselves, by their soft skills, such as entrepreneurial spirit, team-working, creativity, presentation skills, public speaking, networking, intercultural understanding, work experience and project management. As everybody can see, it is a good proposal. The JE are growing all around Europe. In Spain we already have 30 of them about different specialties: Translation and Interpreting, IT, Communication, Pedagogy But if we compare it with other countries such as France, we can see that we are poor in this area, maybe because we have a conservative attitude towards entrepreneurship. But why? One of the main obstacles could be the education, because it is still the most important issue for promoting entrepreneurship. Such a thing is not included in the national curriculum of primary and secondary education and it is very hard to implement it in the universities. Now, in Spain has undertaken some policy measures at this level with the development in elementary education and in universities ( JE).

So, we could say that there is a political, social and intellectual change that favors the modifications in entrepreneurial norms and values. Luckily, the spread of information is rising and sensitizing society to entrepreneurship. While the government takes care of the entrepreneurship education, the university teachers have to motivate their students to find inspiration to finish university studies and find work or create a business for themselves. Also the figure of the teacher can generate an entrepreneurial culture in his/her classes. We think that the teacher should open his/her mind and not only teach theory, they should transmit values and attitudes. Why is an effective way to motivate students to reach a goal? Should the use of academic expectations be employed to involve students in goal-setting and in generating a kind of sense of personal excitement for new ideas? We think that if teachers set a goal, this could be a target to aim not only graduated people that are experts in a theme, but people who apply their knowledge to the real business world. In this case, the teacher may be called leader. Being a leader is a complex task. According to Goleman (2002) there are five steps in order to be a leader: 1. Who are you and who do you want to be. Who you are as a teacher, how you act, how you transmit the knowledge and how you want to transmit it? 2. Know your weaknesses and strengths. 3. Turn your weaknesses into strengths.

4. Create habits. 5. Be open to receive feedback from the people. At the same time, a teacher must create dreams in their students, desires that they really want to have in their lives. In other words, they must try to generate excitement and freedom in their decisions. As Linskie (1977) pointed out, motivation is generally described as a desire to achieve a goal that has value for the individual. So, this is a process which leads students into experiences in which they can learn, that energizes and activates them. Enthusiasm also keeps them focused on a specific task and helps to fulfill their needs for immediate achievement and a sense of moving toward larger goals. It is true that students are interested in the things that they haveplanned themselves and the work much harder on self-made goals than they ever would on expectations of someone else. It is very effective to motivate the students to grow, therefore, let's allow students to set goals and involve them in establishing an objecting: ENTREPRENEURSHIP. References:Der Spiegel online ttp://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1 518,638981,00.html 05.11.2011] Goleman, D.; Boyatzis R. and A. Mckee (2002). The emotional reality of teams. Journal of Organizational Excellence, 21(2), 55-65. JADE http://www.jadenet.org/html/ jadenet/index.php [07.11.2011] Linskie, R. (1977). The learning process: Theory and practice. D. Van Nostrand Co. New York

NEW EUROPE

15
27 November 2011

abour markets around the world are being transformed. Deep structural economic shifts have created a period of unprecedented complexity and rapid change, fuelled by globalisation, demographic change, technological evolution, sectoral and geographic shifts and new attitudes to work. As a result, people are left grappling with a series of labour market challenges; persistently high levels of unemployment, particularly among young people, is one of the most worrying. Amid fears of a lost generation of young people scarred by long-term joblessness and its associated social and economic alienation, the race is on to find a sustainable, long-term solution to reengaging our youth and building a healthier, inclusive, economically viable labour market. The reality is that there is no silver bullet. The factors contributing to this problem are complex and the situation is serious. Latest statistics for the EU show that while unemployment overall is easing, one in five young people is still out of work, representing 5.1 million young Europeans.. Figures from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) show that around half of all those unemployed around the world are aged under 24 - just under 80 million people. Nevertheless, statistics can mask the depth of the crisis and as long-term unemployment be-

comes the norm, many young people become discouraged, lose hope and may opt to drop out of the labour market altogether. These discouraged youth who are not actively seeking work are not counted in unemployment figures. In Europe the issue of youth unemployment is compounded by demographic shifts leading to a decline in the number of young people and an ageing workforce. Yet despite this millions of young people are still not engaged in the labour market as they should be. In many cases, where there is work available, young people do not havethe skills and experience required and organisations are unwilling to risk hiring someone who is not a perfect fit for the role. So what is the solution? A raft of measures have already been implemented across the EU27 including a series of Youth@Work events for job seekers this autumn, European Job Days in Brussels and the Youth on the Move initiative launched last year. Extending collaboration between governments, educational institutions and business is essential in getting young people into the job market as is the training elaborated in the New Skills for New Jobs programme which has run successfully for three years and aims to equip workers to take up the jobs available. A further measure should be to encourage appropriately regulated agency work as a stepping stone to long-term employment. Private employment services can help to provide a bridge for young people to labour market participa-

tion. They can offer young people their first exposure to the world of work, providing easy access to the labour market and enabling organisations to hire young people with a relatively low risk. A recent report Adapting to change from Eurociett, the European Confederation of Private Employment Agencies, reveals that some 35% of agency workers in Europe are under the age of 25. This gives young people a valuable opportunity to gain real work experience and increase their employability through on-the-job training. Eurocietts findings reveal that more than 500 million pa is invested by specific agency works bipartite training funds in 7 European countries. The range of job opportunities that agency work provides is another key advantage for young people. Appropriately regulated, agency work can protect them by providing decent work that they can fit around their studies and other interests, so that when their studies end they will be more likely to have the experience, skills and awareness needed for the world of work. In many countries, agency work is a common rite of passage for students who can comprise up to one third of the agency worker population. Moreover, agency work often leads directly to permanent work with one third of agency workers getting a permanent job 12 months after entering a private employment agency. Private employment services are not the only answer to the youth unemployment crisis, but they should be part of the solution. Regulators need to recognize

In Europe the issue of youth unemployment is compounded by demographic shifts leading to a decline in the number of young people and an ageing workforce

the important role the sector can play in the economy and in society. EU member states have until 5 December to transpose the 2008 Agency Work Directive into national law. As countries across Europe seek to reduce unemployment and boost labour market participation following the recession, the flexibility afforded by the directive offers an attractive incentive for both employers and employees in providing secure, quality jobs. The road ahead is long, and it will take collaboration between all labour market participants - governments, workers, industry and intermediaries such as private employment services - to adapt to these new conditions, create better labour markets and ultimately a productive, hopeful future for young people.

16
27 November 2011

NEW EUROPE

Australia

Berlin

Brussels

Occupy Everywhere!
f there has been one iconic image of youth this year, it is of Lt. John Pike, casually walking down a line of seated, peaceful protestors, squirting them with pepper spray, with the rest of the police looking on, doing nothing to stop him. We have seen the frightening responses by the regimes to the growing protests in Tahrir Square, in Tunisia, in Libya and in Syria, a violence that shocked and propelled the international community into action. But, while the West thought it was a mere spectator in the growing demands for a fairer world, the protests suddenly took off all over the globe, most notably in Wall St, with the cry of We are the 99%. Theres another large camp outside the European Central Bank, another outside St Pauls cathedral in London. The peaceful nature of the protest and their yearning for a fairer world has struck a chord, and baffled the political establishment who have been unsure how to react. But some have acted. In Wall St, the authorities cordoned off airspace, forbid the press and SWAT teams stormed through the occupy camp in the middle of night, leaving the impression that Mayor Bloomburg was closer to Assad and Gadaffi than the US constitution. In Brussels, a group of Indignados were invited to the European Parliament by MEPs, but the Parliament authorities called the riot police, who forbid them entry and forced them away. We can only ask how the European Parliament can demand far distant governments respect human rights when peaceful protestors are ejected from their doorstep. The growth of the Occupy Everywhere movement is a sign of what the youth can provide in our current climate. They offer energy, peacefulness and passion. They are, in the old tradition, speaking truth to power. How will power respond? The signs so far are not too good, but as the protesters say, you can destroy a camp but not an idea, you can imprison people but not an idea. For too long, the world has been run for the benefit of the 1%, but with the financial crisis and the great and good looking ill equipped to deal with the catastrophe, it is the youth who have stepped forward with the simple idea that we can, and must, build a better and fairer world.

Spain

Chile

New York

Yemen

Rome

London

Oakland

NEW EUROPE

17
27 November 2011

The EU should focus on eliminating gender inequality, if it wants to eradicate poverty

...that young people need to be at the heart of our development response, and that gender equality needs to be part of the EUs approach

n increase of only 1% in girls secondary education attendance adds 0.3% to a country's GDP. An extra year of school for girls will increase their lifetime income by 10-20%. Investing in girls has been proven to be the key to breaking the cycle of poverty, yet the European Union (EU) lags behind in promoting gender equality in a meaningful way as a driver for development. European Commissioner for Development and Cooperation, Andris Piebalgs, recently launched his Agenda for Change to increase the impact of EU Development policy. The Communication also acknowledges that development and human rights are inextricably linked, that young people need to be at the heart of our development response, and that gender equality needs to be part of the EUs approach. The Agenda for Change calls for inclusive growth and commits 20% to education and health. These are all very welcome commitments, but to implement these commitments in a meaningful way requires a fundamental change in how the EU approaches development policy. This change is not apparent in the Commissioners vision. Where will the European Commission (EC) spend their money? Thats where the rubber hits the road. The Communication shows that the

focus will continue to be on traditional areas of infrastructure, energy, and financial systems. These are very important areas for investment, but if young people and gender are to be at the heart of this new approach, there needs to be a commitment to looking at the impact of each policy area from a gender and child rights perspective. What does this mean in practice? When the EC decides to invest in energy, will they consult with women and young people to find out what their needs are? Will they consider the household level needs, such a cooking fuel and the electricity necessary for studying, or will they respond primarily to the needs of the private sector? When building a road will they consider the gender differences in terms of access to markets, will they include facilitating girls access to schools in their planning? If the EC is going to take seriously their commitments to gender, and to young people, they need to look not only at what they are doing, but also have new answers to the questions of why

they are doing it. The 2012 World Development Report Gender Equality and Development specifically notes that income growth by itself does not deliver greater gender equality on all fronts and that closing differences in access to economic opportunities and the ensuing earnings and productivity gaps between women and men should be a priority. If the EUs response is to be consistent with this analysis, then they will need to take an approach to development that is people-centred, and rights-based. The increased emphasis on the importance of social and human development issues such as education and health, and the commitment to meet the 20% target, is a step forward. Considerable research demonstrates the transformative power of secondary education, especially during the transitional life stage of adolescence: if adolescent girls stay in school and obtain real skills, research shows that they will earn more income in the future, marry later,

and have fewer and healthier children. In the longer term, secondary education protects girls against HIV and AIDS, sexual harassment and human trafficking. Again, investing in girls, investing in their education and their health, will give them the power to break the inter-generational cycle of poverty; they will flourish and go on to improve the lives of those around them. For each year a girl stays in school, her income will rise significantly. With opportunities to earn a living, she will pull herself out of poverty, and bring children along with her. She will invest what she earns in their health, education, and futures. The EU should not miss this opportunity to support girls in gaining their rightful place in society and be a force for change. Therefore, the EU needs to think about more than just numbers, and ensure they are providing quality programmes which strengthen systems and ensure fair access. The alleviation of poverty will likely follow an eradication of gender inequalities.

18
27 November 2011

NEW EUROPE

to be growing. YouTube was created in February 2005 and by May of this year, was capturing three billion views a day, and 48 hours of new video were being uploaded each minute. In December 2006, Facebook had more than 12 million active users. Almost five years later, it has more than 800 million active users an increase of more than 6,000 percent. Earlier this year, an Egyptian man named his newborn daughter Facebook. Extraordinary change has also been incurring in the global economy. In 2006, the investment firm Lehman Brothers reported a net income of $4 billion, on assets worth more than $500 billion. Several years later, the firm declared bankruptcy. Lehmans North American holdings were purchased by Barclays for $1.3 billion; its assets in Europe and the Middle East were purchased for $2 by Nomura Holdings of Japan. Lehmans assets in 2008 were worth less than one-half of one percent of their value just two years earlier. These are fundamental changes to the way the world and the global economy work, especially for young people. Messages, democratic ideals, information and misinformation can travel across borders and spread across populations far more quickly and efficiently than in the past. Think of the role of social media IN the events of the Arab Spring. Reports of joblessness and disaffection among young people are growing throughout the world, from China to Egypt to London to New York. There are growing populations of ninis (ni trabajar ni estudiar), hittistes (a portmanteau word from French and Arabic meaning those who lean against a wall), or NEETS (the English term for not in education, employment, or training). Does this mean that unemployed young people are prone to violence to achieve their goals and redress grievances? Frustration and anxiety yes, but in spite of the popular conjecture, there is no evidence that youth unemployment necessarily leads to violence. So why is it so important that young people have jobs? It matters hugely for welfare, for equity, for productivity and growth, and for personal and collective identity, and for social cohesion. These are some of the profound rea-

ver the space of a few short years, the world has become an undeniably different place for young people, and the pace of change appears

sons why governments, employers, development partners, and others must spur opportunities for the millions of young men and women around the world who have problems negotiating their transition to adulthood and joining their local communities. The costs of prolonged unemployment in young people are potentially enormous in terms of lifetime earnings. In the Middle East and North Africa, there are countless stories of unemployment leading to delayed marriage and staring families, delays in achieving the productive identity which marks the successful transition from youth to adulthood. How is the World Bank responding to this crisis? Bank financing for children and youth development work tripled in the ten years from 2000 to 2010. The value of that loan portfolio grew from $950 million in 2000 to over $4.8 billion in the same period. There are now youth employment and empowerment projects in every region even in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where the share of young people in the population is declining. The World Bank has joined forces with the Nike Foundation and other donors to set up the Adolescent Girls Initiative to pioneer employment projects for girls in post-conflict and fragile environments around the world. The Bank is also preparing large youth development programs in countries as diverse as Mexico, Sierra Leone, El Salvador, Papua New Guinea, and Nepal to enhance the opportunities available to young people and the employability of young people who enter the labor market. The Bank is also working in partnership with the International Labor Organisations (ILO) Youth Employment Network,

Young people today constitute the largest youth population in human history more than one billion people between the ages of 15 and 25 the vast majority of them in developing countries
with leading NGOs and Civil Society organizations, and with the broader donor community to improve our global knowledge on effective youth employment interventions that will succeed even after the crisis has subsided. We know that countries that invest in their young men and women end up with greater economic growth and social cohesion. Governments that encourage their students to stay in school see significant national returns on each additional year of schooling. This is especially true when countries invest in educating their adolescent girls to secondary school level and beyond. Governments are working more intensively with the international donor community, NGOs and corporate sponsors to champion new models of youth employment programs that focus on a more comprehensive market-driven approach with relevant job and life skills training, internships, and job placement opportunities. Governments are also forming partnerships with private companies to finance and expand effective job-training programs which can groom young people for the demands of a global economy that requires more highly skilled workers. For example, in the Dominican Republics Juventud y Empleo project, comprehensive job training has increased young peoples salaries by as much as 10 per cent. The returns on the investment in the young beneficiaries are expected to exceed the program costs within two years of their graduation. Such returns are observed in youth employment programs around the world. To be sure, the global recovery is taking longer than anticipated. It will take time for countries to restore confidence and encourage trade and investment, to create jobs, enhance productivity and spur renewed growth. But we cannot wait until the crisis ends to pay serious attention to the plight of todays young people. Young people today constitute the largest youth population in human history more than one billion people between the ages of 15 and 25 the vast majority of them in developing countries. Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the US-based Population Reference Bureau, is home to the worlds largest population of young people and is projected to stay this way for decades. If we do nothing to address these issues, the consequences will be severe. Even if there is no violence, too little investment in young people costs countries as much as 2 per cent of their GDP every year, even at the best of times. As a result, fewer young people will be able to contribute to the economic growth that will fuel a widespread and sustainable global recovery. Now is the time for governments and donors to act. Young people must be empowered to take charge of their own lives and discover their full potential. Whether they succeed has everything to do with whether we succeed as a world, and as a society. But they cannot do so alone.

NEW EUROPE

19
27 November 2011

Nowadays, the economic crisis may simply and further deteriorate states and international organisations capacity to respond to big challenges not only in third countries but also in the EU, as the global economic outlook remains highly uncertain

rom August 2010 to August 2011 the world celebrated the International Year of Youth (IYY ), an occasion for the UN and particularly UNICEF to strongly reaffirm the imperative of investing in adolescence as the most effective way to consolidate the historic global gains achieved for children in early and middle childhood since 1989. UNICEF also dedicated The State of Worlds Children 2011 - Adolescence an age of opportunity to young people. We should never forget that 80% of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) applies to young people and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women applies to all adolescent females. Likewise, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union dedicates Art.24 to the rights of the child, guaranteeing child protection by EU institutions and EU countries, while the Treaty of Lisbon introduced the clear objective for the EU to promote children's rights. UNICEF often works in partnership with the European Union promoting human and children's rights, including those of adolescents, and together achieving greater results for the most vulnerable ones. Currently, the world is home to 1.2 billion individuals aged 10-19 years, the majority of whom live in developing countries. Adolescents are the next generation of actors on the social and economic stage, and societies would benefit from harnessing their energy and skills in order to accelerate the fight against poverty, inequity and gender discrimination, by breaking related negative circles between generations. UNICEF works in 150 countries with and for adolescents, both in so-called third countries and industrialized countries. Around the globe UNICEF leads

and sponsors programmes with local and international NGOs as well as national governments, while in industrialized countries UNICEF directly engages youth in awareness raising and volunteering activities. Recent UNICEF reports and surveys show that all over the world youth face numerous challenges and dangers. Among those, early marriage and pregnancy, sexual exploitation and violence, child labour, as well as education and health including HIV/AIDS are still the most urgent. Today 700 million adolescents are out of school, which prevents not only their own future development, but directly influences the social and economic development of their countries. Often girls are the most overlooked. It is a known fact that the more education a girl receives, the more likely she is to postpone marriage and motherhood, and hence the more likely it is that her children will be healthier and better educated as well. That is why UNICEF continues to raise awareness in third countries on the right of every girl to a normal childhood, education and to make her own decisions. For example, in 23 schools of the Indian Purulia district, UNICEF created groups to educate students about their rights and improve leadership, communication and problem solving skills. By knowing their rights, girls often gather the strength to say no to early marriage and to proceed with their education. UNICEF has a long-standing commitment to ensure ethical and meaningful participation of children is a guiding principal in all its work. Participation enables adolescents to make a significant

contribution to their families, communities and society as a whole. It happened in Nigeria, where since 2003 youth volunteers at the Nigerian Youth Service Corps work together with UNICEF, combating HIV/AIDS by raising awareness and bringing valuable life-skills to their villages. These are two of numerous success stories UNICEF can tell; however, too many adolescents are still not reached and in need. Eastern Europe and Central Asia continue to see rapid increases in numbers of HIV infections among children young boys and girls, mostly caused by few educational and employment opportunities, as well as weakening family and social support structures. Nowadays, the economic crisis may simply and further deteriorate states and international organisations capacity to respond to big challenges not only in third countries but also in the EU, as the global economic outlook remains highly uncertain, with corresponding serious negative implications for social and economic progress. Public finances have tightened everywhere and social spending, together with investments in childrelated areas, has come under greater scrutiny. However, UNICEF is firmly convinced that investing in adolescents is a worthwhile pursuit and calls on the EU, national governments and local and international actors and authorities to fulfil their obligations to prepare adolescents for adulthood and active citizenship. It is not only right to meet the challenges that adolescents face and give them the opportunities to actively participate in their societies, but it makes eco-

nomic sense as well. Europe is indeed an old continent but with young challenges, such as social inclusion and integration of migrants. After the Arab Spring, it is expected that more young people from the other side of the Mediterranean will try to find jobs in Europe - in North Africa in the next 10 years, 65 per cent of the population will be 24 years old or even younger. Migration, poverty and social exclusion are often interrelated, and the well-being of many children and youth living in Europe, particularly those who come from low or middle income countries, remain critical in several domains, including health, education, economic security, housing, and work opportunities. 25 UNICEF National Committees based in the European Union are contributing more and more to advocacy for childrens rights and equity, particularly to the fight against poverty and social exclusion outside and within European borders. Young Europeans have the opportunity to become UNICEF volunteers in many countries and to play an active role in decision making in families, communities and societies for their own rights and the ones of their peers. Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director, says: We need to focus more attention now on reaching adolescents, especially adolescent girls, investing in education, health and other measures to engage them in the process of improving their own lives. Adolescence is an age of opportunity and a pivotal time for all of us to build on their development and set them on the path to fulfilling their potential while creating a more peaceful, tolerant and equitable world.

20
27 November 2011

NEW EUROPE

Since September a group of MEPs from across the political spectrum have been calling on all members of the European Parliament to continue their philanthropic tradition and support an upcoming Canadian resolution at the UN General Assembly to declare 22 September as the International Day of the Girl. All MEPs, regardless of their political allegiance or religious convictions, are strongly encouraged to sign a declaration confirming the European Parliaments support for the initiative

crease economic growth, agricultural development and reduce hunger and poverty. Edite Estrela, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Womens Rights and Gender Equality, summed up the MEPs hopes succinctly, saying that an International Day for the Girl will create a foundation for advocacy in the EU and beyond to ensure that girls get the investment and recognition they deserve as citizens and as powerful agents of change within their own families, communities and nations. Estrelas fellow initiators of the declaration included MEPs from the EPP, S&Ds and the Greens: Roberta Angelilli, Jean Lambert, Katerna Nevedalov, Vronique Mathieu and Catherine Stihler. At a hearing on Girls and Migration organized by MEP Mathieu at the week, Mamadian Diallo (19) testified about what made her leave her native Guinea-Conakry. Subjected to female genital mutilation at the age of 5, she pursued her schooling aspiring for a career in IT. When her father died last year, her uncle inherited Mamadians mother and promptly decided to take her out of school and marry her off to a man three times her age in exchange for money, a man who was abusive. She recounted with sadness her decision to leave a country and society that had no place for her saying I was forced to do things against my will my refusal was like being disowned by my family. She has recently been granted asylum in Belgium. The Day of the Girl will make girls like Mamadian feel respected, recognised and their contributions valued in the society.

o far 295 MEPs have signed the declaration, which must receive the signatures of over half of all MEPs by 15th December. Discrimination is a part of life for the majority of girls and young women around the world, and it is often accompanied by violence and exclusion. Girls are among the most disadvantaged people on the planet, and yet they are its most valuable asset. Across the world research has shown that they are less likely to be enrolled in school, have less access to medical care and are more likely to suffer from malnutrition. And as they reach adolescence, girls experience multiple forms of genderbased violence, including sexual harassment and abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, and forced underage pregnancy the single greatest threat to any womans health in the developing world. Furthermore they are barely involved in decisionmaking and are less protected by social and political systems than their male counterparts, and yet as the producers and nurturers of future generations they are also its most valuable asset. In September MEPs Edite Estrela, Vronique Mathieu and Catherine Stihler organised and hosted a European Week of Action for Girls, with support of the Eu-

ropean Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (EPF), Plan Europe and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). The goal of the week was to draw the European Parliaments attention to the injustices and indignities facing girls and young women across the world. And a central element of the week was to launch a declaration for the European Parliament to declare its support for an upcoming Canadian resolution at the UN General Assembly to declare 22 September as the International Day of the Girl.

It is hoped that an International Day of the Girl will be a powerful way to highlight the particular needs and rights of girls across the world, and to advocate for greater action and investment to enable girls to reach their full potential and to enjoy the same status and quality of life as their male counterparts. It has been proven that investing in girls is key to reducing global poverty, and this day will serve as a useful way to spread this message. For one of the best investments we can make is in educating girls to realize their full potential and contribute to in-

We therefore strongly urge MEPs to sign Written MEP declaration 39/2011 for the UN to inaugurate 22nd September as the International Day of the Girl, which they will find in front of the plenary chamber at upcoming sessions. Their signature will help the European Parliament to continue to be a powerful and progressive global force for human rights
For more information please contact Vincent Villeneuve: vincent@epfweb.org

NEW EUROPE

21
27 November 2011

he figures of youth unemployment in Europe are staggering. There is no need to repeat them again, because we hear them often enough - on the news, in the speeches of politicians, and from young people driven to protest for the first times in their lives. But the response to this 'crisis within a crisis' is too often one of despair - and not one of urgency. This is understandable, to some degree. Every single period of unemployment is a genuine tragedy for the individual. But for young people the effects are multiplied. The first step into the labour market is especially important in cultivating ambition and aspiration - not to mention the feeling of being valued in society. Insecurity and poor work at the start of a career is strongly linked to lower skills levels and income across life. And without previous experience, periods out of work are particularly damaging to young peoples' chances of finding employment. More young people are graduating with more skills and society is benefitting from this resource less and less. Perhaps the cruelest fact though is that as the time of unemployment grows, so too does the risk of long term social exclusion. Every day of this youth-crisis that passes sows the seeds of more personal

The European Youth Forum has calculated that the cost of youth unemployment at current levels is over 140 billion euros a year for the European states
and social hardship for years to come. The European Youth Forum has calculated that the cost of youth unemployment at current levels is over 140 billion euros a year for the European states. The cost for the society is not simply the cost of unemployment benefits and welfare support, but also the loss of revenue from taxation, from investment in education, the costs of re-training, and increased health and mental health services. Although youth unemployment is a problem in all of Europe, it is particularly acute in the member states hit hardest by the economic crisis. The countries that are at the receiving end of the bail-out packages, or at the risk of slipping in the same direction have nearly one in two young people out of work. And these same countries face more of the bitter medicine of contractionary austerity that prevents any social policy responses to the problem. But youth unemployment is not limited to the European 'South'. Levels in the North are shameful as well, not least because cuts in social and employment services are being borne out of ideology, rather than necessity. The economic crisis is often being used to finish the process of irresponsible marketisation which caused it in the first place. But dwelling on the problems is less important than finding solutions. And there are solutions available - both national and European. What we lack is the leadership to put them into place. We need investment in youth. We need the creation of a European Youth Pact that consists of two parts. First the creation of a European youth guarantee - a legal commitment to guarantee each young person a job, training, or place in education within four months of becoming unemployed. This guarantee already

exists in some European countries, with impressive results. Austria has it, and can be proud of its single digit youth unemployment figures, compared to those in elsewhere in Europe. Secondly, we need the creation of a European Youth Fund - which would finance youth employment across the continent. A fund receiving 1 billion euros a year from the EU budget would be able to offer flexible resourcing for projects across Europe and in the regions suffering most from youth unemployment. This may seem unrealistic whilst the Eurozone itself is under threat - but social crises are every bit as serious as financial crises. And whereas bailouts for states carry a great deal of risk, 1bn Euros to help tackle youth unemployment would pay itself back many times over across an entire generation of Europeans. Austerity in Europe has not worked, this much is evident. We have minimal or no growth, high unemployment and rising welfare costs as a result. Investment in the economy, and particularly jobs is the solution to all three of these problems. Europe has faced more than its share of crises and hardship, and it has always overcome them by getting Europeans working, by making society stronger, and by making the economy work for all citizens. Tackling youth unemployment is only a part of this solution, but there can be no solution without it.

22
27 November 2011

NEW EUROPE

Clearly precarious internships are not a sustainable solution for the autonomy and future of young people. They can serve as a temporary solution but accepting such offers only aggravates negative trends
ternships before being marketable seems to be leading towards a 'lost generation' of workers who will never be able to fully enter the wider job market. The competition for jobs has become much more intense in the past 10 years in Europe. Whereas previous generations could make a relatively straightforward step from education to working life, this has become a giant leap for young people today. Internships were relatively unknown in Europe until around 10 years ago. To a certain extent the concept of internships is imported from America and their rapid development in Europe, particularly in creative industries and in multi-national companies, has caught policy makers and labour rights organisations off guard. As a half way house between education and employment, internships have the potential to help young people deal with a rapidly changing, and arguably volatile, labour market by offering first hand experience of working environments in a context that is geared towards education and the development of skills. But we need to avoid that they become a form of exploitation or replacement of paid jobs. Nowadays, the transition from education to employment is long, marked with little stability, low income and tasks that rarely correspond to acquired knowledge and skills. The practice of internships is spreading in many countries, and is often used by industries with very healthy profit margins. Young people are queuing up and competing for 3-month unpaid internships, usually with no prospects of a permanent contract. And after one internship there will have to be another and then another. For many young people this is a sacrifice leading to nowhere, not serving as a stepping stone and not offering them a (dream) job. Amongst the nearly 4,000 interns across Europe who took part in the survey, only 25% said they received adequate remuneration, and 37% said they had completed three or more internships. One of these, who had completed a total of four internships, summed up the experience, 'Employers know they can get away without paying interns a thing because graduates "need" the experience, and as a result employers expect someone starting an entry level job to know everything on their first day.' Such a quote reveals the alarming fact that the entry-level positions so coveted by graduating students of the past may have all but disappeared. Internships are now a must-have to enter the labour market, but some fear that internships may be turning into a sub-labour market of their own, where cheap (even free) labour is not only accepted, but desired by those applying for it. Clearly precarious internships are not a sustainable solution for the autonomy and future of young people. They can serve as a temporary solution but accepting such offers only aggravates negative trends. As the European platform of youth organisations in Europe, the European Youth Forum considers quality internships as one of the key generational demands to improve the situation of youth employment in Europe. Our actions, including the call for a European Quality Internships Charter (www.qualityinternships.eu) show a good example of how young people can contribute to the EU discussion on how to fight precariousness and bring a concrete answer to the increase demands of thousands of young people in Europe. The Charter lays basic quality principles for internships and apprenticeships to become a valuable and quality experience across Europe. It sets a basic framework of rights and responsibilities for both the employers and employees, as well as a clear monitor system. In our opinion, first and foremost, internships should have clearly set learning objective and interns should be provided the appropriate insurance and be reimbursed for all costs, including travel costs, incurred during the internship. When not taking place outside of formal education, a different set of principles are required, particularly to ensure that the intern is treated fairly in the workplace and that the internship is not designed to replace a fully paid position. As European Youth Forum we try to lead by example, committing to quality standards and applying a clear and coherent code of conduct for our own internships. To avoid a 'lost generation' of interns for life, we need to start saying no to unpaid internships and ensure quality internships for young people. We need to tell them that they are not second or third class workers, but citizens with rights that can make the difference right here and right now!

he most educated generation is experiencing today the endemic diffusion of internships. It is work, but not a job. It is often underpaid or not paid at all. Internships have become the norm for European youth who wish to traverse the job barrier, and the high costs associated with completing an internship are generally accepted by European youth, and seen as a necessity to ensure future employment, especially in times of crisis where the employment opportunities for young people are getting less and less. This is why we decided to address one of the most hidden and widespread form of transition of young people from education to the labour market. A transition that could be useful if quality driven, but hide many traps and precariousness without clear criteria and rights for young people The first important goal for us is to bring the situation of the interns at the spotlight in Europe: In 2011, the European Youth Forum conducted a pan-European survey to gather data on the situation of young interns in Europe. According to the results, internships have increased more and more in an age of economic uncertainty, and have led to the continued use of interns as replacements for actual, paid workers. The continued practice of requiring applicants for actual, paying jobs to have completed several in-

NEW EUROPE

23
27 November 2011

Young generation is at a key political momentum. Young Europeans expect the institutions to address the challenges they face
owadays young Europeans enjoy better opportunities compared with young from others parts of the world. However they also face difficult challenges. They are one of the most vulnerable groups in society, especially in the current economic and financial crisis; they suffer from difficulties in education, unemployment, problems in finance, in housing or they are threatened by poverty and social exclusion. They are the generation of Europeans with the highest level in education ever yet, with lower future expectations. Life chances of many young people are blighted. Youth policy as such is decided by each EU country, but together they set common goals and share best practices. In addition, the EU provides funding and grants for a broad range of projects and programmes allowing its citizens to make the most of their personal development and the EUs economic potential by studying, training or doing voluntary work in other countries. Europe should create favourable conditions for youth to develop their skills, fulfil their potential, work, actively participate in society, and engage more in the building of the EU project. Europe's youth must also be empowered to benefit from opportunities such as civic and political participation, volunteering, creativity and entrepreneurship, sport and global engagement. Young people are not a burdensome responsibility but a critical resource to society which can be mobilised to achieve higher social goals; especially important in an ageing society as ours. Despite a strong interest for the project of Europe, nowadays young people show a significant mistrust towards political institutions and their leaders. This distance between young people and the EU has clearly been expressed in the last European elections record low turnout in 2009 and in the latest months with the different demonstrations in lots of countries. Young generation is at a key political momentum. Young Europeans expect the institutions to address the challenges they face. The European Union (EU) has deepened its commitment by passing from a single approach on Students mobility such as the Erasmus program- to a crosssector perspective with the White Paper on Youth (2001). This new comprehensive approach was enhanced by the European Youth Pact (2005). In 2008, the European Parliament adopted a Written Declaration (33/2008) on devoting more attention to youth empowerment in EU policies, highlighting the need for a mainstreaming approach to youth policies. The New EU Youth Strategy, presented by the Commission in 2009, was also expected to acknowledge the importance of such an approach when dealing with youth issues and also the necessity of a structural dialogue. And a great step forward last year, was the decision to dedicate one of the Europe 2020 Strategy flagship initiatives to youth, education and training. Continuing to design policies for young people is no longer enough: it is crucial to develop youth policies with young people. Looking towards the future of the European Union, a group of Members of the European Parliament ought seize the opportunity offered to us with the political renewal of the institutions in the beginning of this Legislature ( June 2009) and bring the issue of youth policies to the very heart of the European Parliament. We thought the establishment of an intergroup on youth issues would be a very important tool to implement such an approach. With our different meetings and actions we try to send a strong political signal on the commitment of the Members of the European Parliament to improve the quality of life of young people across Europe. Our main objectives are: 1) Encourage youth active citizenship: promote stronger participation, from local youth organizations to the European democratic processes; 2) Improve youth autonomy: a smooth transition from education to the labour market is crucial to avoid youth poverty, and should be achieved implementing the European Youth Pact; 3) And above all, propose new European initiatives and increasing funds for current programmes. Thanks to the work of a group of MEPs strongly engaged with youth issues, and above all, to rapporteur Sidonia Jdrzejewska's work, the European Parliament identified youth as one of its key proiroties for the 2011 budget. So, despite the current economic crisis,

we have achieved an increase of more than 200 million Euros in the last two years for the European Social Fund (ESF), the main instrument for investment in education and training under Cohesion Policy. Others budgetary instruments providing support to youth, education and mobility such as Lifelong Learning, Erasmus Mundus, Youth in Action or People (a specific programme for mobility researchers) have increased by 8.2%, with a total amount of 2.183 million planned for 2012 EU Budget. The economic crisis has made imperative the need to support young people.

In this context, youth should be perceived as an EU cross-cutting theme, developing synergies between different policy areas relating to youth, education and mobility, facilitating and encouraging social inclusion, empowerment, skills development and mobility of young people, regardless their educational background. Youth instruments have an unquestionable European added value contributing to the creation of a strong European civil society and the fostering of a European identity. From the European Parliament we are working in a greater youth engagement. Europe's future depends on its youth.

24
27 November 2011

NEW EUROPE

We have to form our political and ideological style, which will distinguish us from the previous generations and will be the trigger for a new start

shall either find a way or make one said Hannibal to his generals, when they told him that it was impossible to cross the Alps by elephants. In modern Europe, where the debt crisis dominates, especially in the Southern region, the way towards prosperity and stability is at stake. Moreover, the confidence in the traditional politician caste is questioned, especially in countries such as Greece or Italy. As a result, the solution is a new way, in order the European integration to be achieved. The European Union is currently undergoing a major crisis, which is not only financial but also political and ideological. The idea of European integration, which dominated last decade, has gone by the wayside taking into consideration that most states act according to their own internal policies and values. Furthermore, Europeans are divided between those who live at the northern region and those who live at the southern region of the European Union. The first ones believe that the southern states waste Unions money irresponsibly, while the second ones believe that the northern states cant realize their problems. Furthermore, there is a lack of new ideas and policies from the leaders of the European Union, who continue applying

outdated programs and failed policies. Greece is also struggling to recover from a deep economic, political and social crisis. This is the result of a political and ideological stagnation that took place during the last two decades. Huge scandals between politicians and businessmen or media owners have been revealed. The Greek people used to vote their representatives based on patronclient relationships without evaluating politicians abilities and political platforms. The Greek governments have always been indecisive concerning the promotion of social and economic reforms because they dont want to assume any political cost. Even in the same party there are politicians, who struggle for power whereas the ideological gap between the two most popular Greek parties has vanished. Eventually, two questions arise: Is the salvation of Europe possible? Is someone able to make a new way in order to lead us in our European promised land? I strongly believe that pioneers towards this new direction should be the European young people, whose role is the creation of movements, which will influence deeply both society and politics. Just like in France in May 1968, when the police invasion in Sorbonne provoked a series of student occupation protests, which concluded to the uprising of a

wide range of social groups, and ultimately generated an enormous social impact. The final outcome of this ideological revolution was the transition from the last decades conservatism to the liberal ideas -on which the western society was based in the second half of the 20th century-, and the evolution of the socialistic theory. Therefore, the so-called ideological innovation, which leads to the evolution of our society throughout the human history, is often a privilege of youth, whose involvement in politics is necessary and indisputable. As in Greek mythology Hercules had to choose between the Virtue -who offered him a severe but glorious life- and Pleasure -who offered him a pleasant and easy life-, so the European youth must choose between the road of an ideological revolution, which will lead them to an era of change, progress and prosperity and the road of participation in games of thrones, among the traditional political leaders, which led earlier generations to political and ideological stagnation. Therefore, when we talk about political action of the new generation, we should understand that we mainly mean the political debate, the development of innovative ideological movements and the continuous effort to improve the existing situation. The ultimate goal should be the ideo-

logical confrontation (even in the same party), through which we will be led to new governmental policies. The sterile political debate and participation in games of thrones, which mainly aim at preserving the balance and the correlation of political factions, is perhaps the most serious fault. In conclusion, young Europeans, who want to engage in politics, must first make a decision about the role that they want to play. They should struggle either for manors and coalitions of power or for the renewal of the political scene through the ideological conflict. From our side, we must understand that politics is not just a field, where social conflicts and rivalries are carried out in order to gain governmental power, but rather an area, where ideologies are clashed. We should go one step further. We must leave behind the outdated politicians as well as the ideas they represent. We have to form our political and ideological style, which will distinguish us from the previous generations and will be the trigger for a new start. The youth of Europe must act towards the European integration and cohesion. They should develop and apply the idea of the European solidarity. The decision is certainly hard and the implementation of the specific decision is even harder but eventually the outcome of such a painful process will reward us.

NEW EUROPE

25
27 November 2011

They work primarily alone, unaware that there are many like-minded individuals in other countries working on similar issues, sharing the same values and ideals for a free, open and tolerant society

ver the past ten years, significant efforts have been made globally to identify and understand the root causes of extremism. In Europe, national governments and the EU institutions have worked closely with counter-terrorism experts, law enforcement agencies, faithbased groups and Muslim community leaders with a view to understanding and preventing the phenomenon of homegrown extremism and radicalisation leading to terrorism. It has become increasingly evident that recruitment, particularly - but not exclusively - of young people, is often the result of longer-term, and sometimes undetected, radicalisation processes. The factors contributing to radicalisation are manifold, complex and often not completely understood. Extremist propaganda diffused through the media and particularly the internet, the preaching of radical individuals within communities and the use of religious-based arguments to foment violence are contributing factors. Additionally, discrimination and marginalisation combined with the lack of access to liberal religious and other rolemodel figures contribute significantly by creating a fertile ground for extremism to spread and have an impact. Within this context and as part of our work at the European Foundation for Democracy (EFD) in Brussels, we have come across a number of inspirational individuals - European citizens of Muslim and/or immigrant backgrounds - concerned by the polarisation of the broader

debate across Europe. They are frustrated by the attention and importance that both policy makers and the media continue to give almost exclusively to self-appointed spokespersons and radical elements who claim to represent Muslim communities or to speak in the name of Islam. They feel equally threatened by the spread of extremist narratives within

their own communities and witness firsthand the way in which radical individuals and group pressure contribute to the emergence of virtual parallel societies in which a different set of values, freedoms and laws apply. In these societies, we often see that the rights of individuals are sacrificed in the name of the rights of cultures. Some of these individuals work against

forced marriages, others on honour crimes and honour violence; some are journalists working on radicalisation issues and others are local government officials, film-makers, academics and researchers. But they are all Europeans who firmly believe in the principles enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights: respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights. All are united in their desire to change the current status quo, as they see firsthand that the results of various government policies on integration over the years continue to fall short. The disconnect between government and citizens, particularly those within immigrant communities, has grown ever greater thus creating a gap filled by extremists, who are connecting with and offering an alternative to disaffected youth in societies right across Europe. It is through working with these people that it has become increasingly evident that voices such as theirs are not being heard mainly because they lack the means and access to policy makers, media and funding sources. All of them are active in their respective capacities in their own countries but they work primarily alone, unaware that there are many like-minded individuals in other countries working on similar issues, sharing the same values and ideals for a free, open and tolerant society. They represent a significant opportunity as a resource for European and national authorities in their efforts to fight and prevent radicalisation within immigrant and Muslim communities. They are true to the democratic values on which Europe was founded and they need to be supported, nurtured and empowered to ensure that they can develop into the alternative role models they are and inspire their peers within their communities. They are passionate about playing a stronger and more effective role in countering extremist narratives and rhetoric that for too long have been perceived as the de facto views from their communities. They are a tremendously motivating group of people and deserve to succeed. It will take a few years for their efforts to bear fruit though I am in no doubt that this will occur in the not-too-distant future. With the support of institutions such as the European Commission, these individuals could make a hugely valuable contribution by mobilising individuals within their communities to help them take control of their lives and those of their families and friends. The successes of empowerment networks such as this surely benefit all Europeans.

26
27 November 2011

NEW EUROPE

n the current European Union economic climate, volunteering can constitute a viable alternative for our societies, since it can offer everyone the opportunity to bring forward their contribution and gain experience, skills as well as a sense of solidarity and social commitment. Within this framework, youth is one of the categories that stand to gain much from voluntary activities, which can help support their development in terms of education, sport, social inclusion and access to the labour market. We are now nearing the end of European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship 2011, a year during which we have seen many events and actions being organised on this topic. However, looking at the current situation in the European Union, we can see that there are a significant number of differences between Member States in terms of volunteering and there is still much to be done to encourage young people to actively participate and become more engaged, at all levels: national and European. At a time when youth is one of the categories most affected by unemployment, national governments need to understand

that volunteering can constitute a means to facilitate the transition of young people towards employment, since it offers them the chance to acquire skills, competences, while also gaining more confidence and becoming more empowered. In addition to this, the information and learning obtained through carrying out voluntary activities can help to create a bridge towards the education of youth through non-formal and informal learning. Thus, we can see why volunteering, especially amongst young people, could be a supporting factor for reducing unemployment and, similarly, for increasing the rate of people with a high level of skills, as is mentioned in the objectives of the EU 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and the "Youth on the Move" flagship initiative. Nonetheless, across the EU, policies on volunteering and the level of support for this field vary from one country to another. From recent studies carried out for the European Commission, it is clear that there are diverging frameworks and traditional ways of incorporating volunteering within the national policies, as well as different age groups that are more likely to be involved in these activities in each Member State. For example, in countries such as Finland, Sweden, Austria or Romania, most volunteers belong to the 30

to 50 years age group, while in others from Eastern Europe and Spain young people make up the largest part of the volunteers. This does not, however, mean that we should enforce a single approach to voluntary activities throughout the European Union but rather, that we should look towards encouraging countries to have a clear, coherent and structured strategy in this field. The adoption of such a framework in each country would enable the coordination of volunteering for young people across several policies, regardless of whether or not we are talking about environmental volunteering, about volunteering and sports or employee volunteering. In addition to this, each Member State should make sure that it has a set of legal provisions or rules on volunteers and voluntary activities. This does not exist at the moment in every EU country and is an essential factor. Some of these matters have already been discussed at EU level, in the European Commission and the European Parliament. The recent Commission Communication on "EU Policies and Volunteering: Recognising and Promoting Cross-Border Voluntary Activities in the EU" has highlighted some areas for improvement in this field, in order to identify what can be done to facilitate

volunteering, both nationally but also across EU borders. Indeed, allowing for a greater mobility for voluntary action by supporting activities that go beyond the national level, making it possible for EU citizens to carry out voluntary work in another EU state, is a big step in the right direction. We want our young people to be able to engage with the multicultural aspects that are the essence of the EU, to become active citizens of the European society, while at the same time enhancing their employability prospects and developing their professional skills. This is an important requirement if we want to lower the unemployment levels of youth in Europe and reach the EU 2020 targets. But, for this to happen, we need to keep a better track on voluntary activities in Members States, in order to identify best practices but also to be able to see how volunteering can complement actions within European and national policies on youth, education, sport, health and employment. Given the European economic and social future prospects, I believe that it is extremely important for the EU and national legislators to encourage young people to become volunteers, to support voluntary organisations and their efforts, as well as to recognise voluntary work done by them.

NEW EUROPE

27
27 November 2011

n 2014, Russia will host its first ever Olympic Winter Games in the city of Sochi. There is no doubt that we will see extraordinary athletes writing sporting history at Sochi 2014. The Games will be an inspiration for young people in Russia and around the world, encouraging them to take up winter sports in the spirit of the Olympics. The real legacy of Sochi 2014, however, lies in bringing about a deep change within Russian culture. Through our Sochi 2014 volunteers movement, thousands of young and enthusiastic Russians are reintroducing volunteering into Russian society, something that has been absent for far too long. Volunteers come together from all parts of the community, to build projects and celebrate being an active citizen. In the past, for Russians volunteering was a way of demonstrating their sense of responsibility towards society - by helping those in need and building community structures. Philanthropy flourished on many levels; but during the Soviet times the attitude towards individual volunteering changed dramatically. Today only between 5% to 9% of Russians are involved in volunteering, compared to an average of approximately 30% in other European countries. Slowly, the attitude towards volunteering is changing again in my country, and this change is driven to a large extent by enthusiastic young people.

Through our Sochi 2014 volunteers movement, thousands of young and enthusiastic Russians are reintroducing volunteering into Russian society, something that has been absent for far too long
The volunteering vision of Sochi 2014 was a determining factor in the International Olympic Committees decision to award the Olympic Winter Games to our city. I am certain that Sochi 2014 will live up to its promises. 25,000 volunteers from across Russia will be the face of our Winter Games to the world. They all want to help make the Games a success and share their pride in their country by embracing the international community who will visit our city in February 2014. Our ultimate goal is to inspire millions to join the revived volunteer movement across Russia, making a meaningful contribution to society that will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come. Youth volunteers for the Olympic Winter Games will come from all corners of Russia. From Arkhangelsk to Pyatigorsk, Saint Petersburg to Vladivostok and of course in Sochi, we have set up centres, which will help prepare our volunteers for this great event. Training will be provided on subject areas such as tourism, languages, environmental project management and human resources. We are putting particular emphasis on languages, to ensure volunteers have the most professional linguistic training possible and are well placed to create a special experience for all our overseas guests. The best form of training is of course in the field and that is why the Sochi 2014 volunteers are reaching out to the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck and partnering with the London 2012 volunteers. Over 100 people will form the Russian Volunteer Team for London 2012 to help with the organization of the Olympic and Paralympic games. To solidify our commitment to the volunteering legacy in Russia, we have set an example for many other European countries, by enshrining volunteer status in law. In practice this means that volunteers in Russia have a legal right to medical insurance and to be reimbursed for

costs related to their activities. We also worked hard to introduce a dedicated visa process for overseas volunteers travelling to Russia. Significantly, these special rights for volunteers also received backing from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who describes them as removing obstacles to noble-minded acts. I am especially pleased to see that our achievement mirrors what volunteers from across Europe are also calling for. During the second Convention on Youth Volunteering, which took place in Brussels in early September 2011, a draft charter on volunteering was adopted, which reflects many aspects of the rights granted to volunteers in Russia under their new legal status. The European Year of Volunteering 2011 has encouraged Sochi 2014 to be even more ambitious in our campaign to make volunteering and active citizenship part of Russian society again. European Union initiatives that promote cross border voluntary activities and especially the encouragement of sport volunteering are showing us that our ambition is shared across Europe. I truly believe that the Sochi 2014 volunteers will continue to have a positive impact post-2014, not just in Russia, but worldwide, and that the spirit of mutual cooperation through sports and volunteering can be developed between Russia and Europe. I warmly invite all readers to follow the Sochi 2014 Games and experience the genuine hospitality and enthusiasm of our volunteers first-hand.

28
27 November 2011

NEW EUROPE

op group Peter, Bjorn and John summed it up in their anthem to youth culture Young Folks. They sing we don't care about the young folks, talkin' 'bout the young style, and we don't care about the old folks, talkin' 'bout the old style too. As digital natives who have grown up with the internet, young people can sometimes be irreverent about technologys origins. The youth today really know their devices and how to get the most out of them, which is important for us of course. But notions like digital convergence or the R&D lifecycle are not in their vocabulary, says Leo Sun, President of Huaweis Brussels Office and European Affairs Dept. Huawei is a growing information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider serving 45 of the worlds top 50 telecom operators. They watch, listen and interact with their phones, players, tablets and PCs without considering that smart technologies can also connect them with public services like health and transport, as well as improve their quality of life, he adds. This is not necessarily a bad thing. But it is something that ICT companies like Huawei need to be aware of as they develop new technologies and services that call for a commitment from the prosumers of the future the youth markets. Prosumers dont just consume technology and content, but actively contribute to its creation, explains Sun. This means Huawei and other tech-oriented companies need to engage with younger generations in entirely new ways, giving them more opportunities to appreciate the research and investment that goes into

Young people have an intimate and special relationship with technology. It is so much a part of their lives, yet often taken for granted. Ray OReilly updates the operators manual on the current generation of Young Folks
every cool new gadget or internet service, and the thought that goes into making them more sustainable and socially responsible. Huawei has already recognised this new way of thinking. We consciously integrated youth policy into our broader corporate social responsibility (CSR) mandate because it paves the way for advances in technology which take onboard the concerns and needs of future decision-makers around the world, says Sun. career opportunities for women fits in with Huaweis goal of promoting mutual understanding and communication between all stakeholders: understanding of what the company is doing to protect the environment, bridge the digital divide, widen the reach of broadband and internet services, and provide better working relationships with suppliers and staff.

This month the company announced that its HANA project, an ICT talent-scouting academy, would become a feature of its worldwide CSR activities and thus strengthen Huawei's cooperation with local education organisations and related government institutions. Internships are another example of how Huawei provides new opportunities for young people. This year, Huawei hosted groups of young people from both the UK and France to take part in a cultural exchange in China. The students received courses in Chinese language and business culture, as well as visits and training at several Huawei sites. Recognising the needs of young people and

What companies like Huawei want young people to know is that their beloved gadgets are more than social lifelines for organising parties and outings. As the technology matures, the young people who grew up with it will start to understand better that their smart phones and networks are more powerful than the sum of their parts, the micro-chips, software and apps that make them work, stresses Sun. Innovation in ICT is a key enabler of many other industries and sectors, including government, helping them adapt to changes such as those that will transform healthcare services and pensions by the time todays youth eventually reach retirement age. Or the way that governments and industry are working together to

deliver national broadband networks (NBN) across the regions, giving equal digital opportunities to everyone, and opening the way for better e-education for children even in remote areas. Here, Huaweis broadband extended education solution means teachers can tap into a wealth of resources which help to bring down the costs of education in remote regions of Europe, or elsewhere. We work with authorities and industry leaders to promote the adoption of broadband-friendly practices and policies so the whole world can take advantage of the benefits, notes Bill Lan of Huaweis NBN Solutions. According to the World Bank, broadband contributes more to GDP growth than any other telecom service (fixed, mobile, internet), and every 10% increase in penetration generates a 1.3% return in economic growth. Meanwhile, young people everywhere are taking advantage of better access to mobile services, including video, via powerful new smart phones. Even here, the telecoms companies have to be in tune with the youth market. Huaweis new convergent wireless local area network (WLAN) solution offers seamless coverage in hot and blind spots using WiFi technology which boosts network capacity. This is especially good for indoor blind spots in places like airports and perhaps college dorms, too! Its good to know that someone really does care about the young folk and the old folk.

NEW EUROPE

29
27 November 2011

oday more than 70 percent of European households have access to the Internet. And that number is growing. Tremendous advances in technology are responsible for unprecedented changes over the last two decades in the way we live. We are all better off because of it. Perhaps no age group has embraced these changes better than our young people. For starters, they have the advantage of already being born into a world filled with cell phones, computers and access to data and news around the world. Technology is integrated into virtually every aspect of their lives, and they are driven by instant communication. As a result the upcoming generation is able to use technology more effectively than its predecessors. With this in mind, there is no doubt our young people hold the key to our future. They have the means to use information technology tools to help drive the European economy and put Europe at the forefront of technological innovation. But enabling our young people to realize their full potential requires an investment in their education. Our children need every resource at their disposal to prepare them for the real world. We parents, teachers, governments and employers need to make sure

With this in mind, there is no doubt our young people hold the key to our future. They have the means to use information technology tools to help drive the European economy and put Europe at the forefront of technological innovation
that we open as many doors as possible for them. At this point, however, too many students leave school early and not enough seek higher education. This could have a profound effect on Europes labor market. It is important now more than ever that we put a serious focus on education. The amount of funding and resources dedicated to education varies from Member State to Member State, but it averages between 4 and 6 percent of their GDP. We know that Denmark has the highest public spending for education, followed by Cyprus, Sweden and Malta. But while public spending is one important part of the equation, it is by no means the only. The path for a successful future also involves reform. We dont have to look that far for some great examples of how this can be done effectively and in a democratic fashion. One such outstanding case study is Finland. The Finnish government was able to secure a broad political consensus and convince even the opposition for the need to execute sweeping education reform, in the midst of tough economic times. The outcomes were overwhelming: great results in the Programme for International Students Assessment (PISA); the creation of a sophisticated coaching and mentoring systems to students who fall behind; advanced psychological testing of those who want to become teachers; and an average of 7 days a year for each of the Finnish teachers to spend on their own education on new teaching methods. All of this was accomplished while students in Finland spend 25 percent less time at school than PISAs average. These results also significantly strengthened the reputation of a teachers

job, and the fact that school principals have actually become managers and can fully focus on quality of the curriculums delivery. It is clearly a way to go for many other European governments, too. Private sector investments and technology are also powerful tools. Just last month, Microsoft and the European Confederation of Junior Enterprises ( JADE) began a partnership that will provide real world experience to students across Europe. Members of JADE are students seeking practical, real-world experience during their studies by developing their own professional projects. Microsoft is helping JADE students realize this through the Education Alliance Agreement. We will provide members with training and career development programs, and also the technology for members to build and run their own web store enterprise projects similar to a real-world marketing or sales campaign in their host colleges and local communities. And we plan to provide certification to these students to recognize the business expertise developed and demonstrated in the course of their campaign. Together we all share a single goal to improve outcomes for individual students so they have the foundation they need to thrive when they enter the workforce, and ultimately be the drivers of tomorrows economy.

30
27 November 2011

NEW EUROPE

Young people are the faces of the new economy, ruled by open sources, crowdfunding and independent initiatives, which with the power of internet have an immensurable impact
oung people between the age of 18 and 24 represent new languages and behaviors, are in the top of the influence pyramid and have a direct influence on the consumer habits as they are aspirational for the ones that are younger than them and inspirational for the ones older than them. On a global perspective, the generation known as Millennials, Globalists or Generation Y is the largest

in absolute numbers with approximately 2.3 billion people and their purchasing power doubles the ones of their parents when they were young. However, the power of the youth generation in not only justified by this information. The empowerment of the young people started after the Second World War, with those who were born in the 40s and 50s. This generation called Baby Boomers was insecure and impatient and pushed to make big changes in the world. They were the first generation to receive the keys from the house and the freedom to come and go by car. They conquered the right to be young, with their youth lifestyle, illustrated among other things, by their innovative way of clothing. This attitude and profile nicknamed them as the Liberated Youth and still influence our culture nowadays with concepts such as peace and love, flower power or sexual liberation. After them emerged the Generation X, with people born in the 60s and 70s. This generation enjoyed the rights conquered by the Baby Boomers, living a guilt free search for pleasure. Just as the previous Generation, they made big changes in society. Not only did they receive the keys of their houses, but they were also the masters of their rooms. Moreover, they characterized themselves for being extremely influenced by the

boom of marketing and publicity, loving stereotypes and being very competitive. Finally, todays generation, the Millennials, is the Global Youth. They dont have just the key of their houses and bedrooms, but they have taken the whole world thanks to the advance of the Internet. Their identity transcends the place they are as they receive influences from many different cultures and habits thanks to global consumption. Furthermore, the personal content can have stratospheric dimension and what happens one day in one place can turn the whole world and reach millions of people in a few days. However, this huge amount of information has some direct consequences in the Global Youth: they have chronic anxiety and have to make sure they have the right filters to select the information they receive and to organize the contacts they make every day. Besides, the risk of getting lost in the crowd makes many young people communicate through comments in Facebook and videos in Youtube in a way that older people consider hyperbolic as they probably have problems to understand the Internet language. Nowadays, it is not a problem to know many different things at the same time and to start working on something and end up doing something else. In opposition to previous generations, Millenials

can be at the same time DJs, skateboarders, lawyers, rockers and nerds. Indeed, it is the most plural generation of the history. Additionally, the extended social networks increase the number of short term style relationships and in business, it is very visible how hierarchical systems and traditional careers are losing strength in favor of models that reunite work with pleasure. Nevertheless, the Global Youth is not focused on a hedonistic lifestyle search as they are pragmatic and realistic. Their big idols are not idealized figures but instead, common people who manage to realize their small dreams. Young people are the faces of the new economy, ruled by open sources, crowdfunding and independent initiatives, which with the power of internet have an immensurable impact. This collective conscience is the way of living of the future, leading to a reality of opportunities. But nothing is easy and every new thing intimidates. Moreover, something that we didnt know in the past now is considered to be a natural behavior: so, you can understand and take part, or comfortably sit and follow the law. Being young come together with questions and ambitions but to understand the world and its evolution is necessary to understand youth, as they are the catalysts of the big changes.

NEW EUROPE

31
27 November 2011

A film is a ribbon of dreams. The camera is much more than a recording apparatus; it is a medium via which messages reach us from another world that is not ours and that brings us to the heart of a great secret. Here magic begins.
Orson Welles
hus spake the late, great Orson Welles, a man who knew more than most (at least, in his younger days) about why cinema was and is the most vibrant expression of creativity on the planet. The best directors tend to be those, be they a Spielberg, Kubrick, Von Trier or Truffaut, who do not lose the sense of awe that childhood and being young inspire, and who are able to translate this into shared experience for all people, for all times.

And there is no doubt that the young, and young at heart, are still responding to the art form a recent study, conducted by Time in the US, found that 30 days after studying a book, children remember only 30% of what they could recall the next morning. However, three months after seeing a film, they remembered 90% of what they were able to describe the morning after. In the US, the number of young people who visit the cinema every week is around 28 million, and of these, 11million are under 14. At a European level (Eurostat 2006) more than 82% of 16- to 24-year-olds went to see at least one film in the study reference year, a share that was twice high as for those aged 30 and over. In 17 European countries, more than 50% of young Europeans aged 1624 went to the cinema between one and six times in the year preceding the survey. Moreover, in Belgium, Ireland, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Austria and Iceland more than 35 % of people in this age bracket went to the cinema more than six times per year. To a lesser extent, cinema was also popular among young people aged 2529 in all countries under review, more than 40% of people aged 2529 went to the cinema at least once in the year preceding the survey. In Ireland, Spain and Luxembourg, respectively 29%, 33% and 35% of the population aged 25 29 went to see seven or more films in the year preceding the survey. It has been found that onscreen sex is

most disturbing to cinema addicts aged 16, cinemas excite children three times more than adults, and girls who have been led astray in life believe that cinema was a contributory factor to their tough times. On both sides of the Atlantic, hiring young directors, who are far more likely to be in touch with their peers tastes, senses and sensibilities, is becoming ever more the norm many of todays top filmmakers began shooting features when they were young. Taking a random sample of directors who broke through in the 1990s and 2000s many of them were about 30 when their first features came out: Keenen Ivory Wyans (Im Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)), Michael Bay (Bad Boys (1995)), David Fincher (Alien 3 (1992)), and Spike Jones (Being John Malkovich (1999)). A little older on their debuts were Alex Proyas at 31 (The Crow (1994)), Cameron Crowe at 32 (Say Anything (1989)), James Mangold at 32 (Heavy (1995)), Karyn Kusuma at 32 (Girlfight (2000)), McG at 32 (Charlies Angels (2000)), David Koepp at 33 (The Trigger Effect (1996)), Allison Anders at 33 (Border Radio (1987)), and Mark Neveldine at 33 (Crank (2006)). And these, in fact, are the older examples there are numerous current directors who completed their first feature in their twenties. Quentin Tarantino, Reginald Hudlin, Roger Avary, and Joe Carnahan

began aged 29, Sofia Coppola and Brett Ratner at 28, and Peter Jackson and F. Gary Gray were a mere 26. Fancy some (perhaps) even more famous names to round out the list? OK. Dementia 13 (1963): Francis Ford Coppola, 24. (Youre a Big Boy Now was released when Coppola was 27.) Whos That Knocking at My Door? (1967): Martin Scorsese, 25. Dark Star (1974): John Carpenter, 26. THX 1138 (1971): George Lucas, 27. Night of the Living Dead (1968): George Romero, 28. The Sugarland Express (1974): Steven Spielberg, 28. If you count the TV feature Duel, subtract three years. Targets (1968): Peter Bogdanovich, 29. Dillinger (1973): John Milius, 29. Blue Collar (1978): Paul Schrader, 32. Good Times (with Sonny and Cher) (1967): William Friedkin, 32. Easy Rider (1969): Dennis Hopper, 33. Its simple, really Hollywood and European film studios were essentially run by the old men, who had brought the system to the brink of collapse. The twentysomethings tore down the barricades and made a place for young filmmakers and guess what? Theyre still here today and, for the good of our collective ribbon of dreams, long may that continue. James Drew has written f ilm-related articles for The Independent and Variety, and runs Brussels-based f ilm-review website www.picturenose.com.

Photo: Photoalto

NA-59-04-273-EN-P