Regional Perspective on Youth and Development in the UNECE Mr. Sven Alkalaj United Nations Under-Secretary-General Executive Secretary Economic Commission for Europe United Nations, New York July 10, 2012

The future of the regions youth: unemployment is the most immediate problem The regions youth unemployment rate is approximately 20%, and almost 50% in Greece and Spain. – Youth unemployment is 2 to 2.5 times higher than overall unemployment throughout the business cycle. – Highest in the world except for the Middle East and North Africa. 1/2 Regional youth unemployment

The future of the regions youth: unemployment is the most immediate problem Higher for men in the European advanced economies and higher for women in the transition economies. The cause is a combination of both cyclical and structural factors, and the solution must address both. 2/2 Regional youth unemployment

Enhancing the future of the regions youth: reducing unemployment – Additional regionally coordinated fiscal stimulus is the only tool for significantly lowering unemployment over the next year or two. – Structural unemployment can be lowered over the medium term with improved education and training programs and active labor market policies. – The European Unions New Skills for New Jobs Initiative is a best practice. 1/2 Policy actions needed to reduce unemployment

Enhancing the future of the regions youth: reducing unemployment However, austerity programs are resulting in large cuts to programs developing human capital and will lower future growth. Transition economies school systems and training programs have yet to fully adapt to the needs of a market economy. Scandinavian flexicurity programs appear reasonably successful in providing income support for workers while still keeping labor markets flexible. Many previously tried policies to enhance youth employment (lower minimum wages, short-term contracts, etc.) usually did not work. 2/2 Policy actions needed to reduce unemployment

BulgariaHungaryRomania Per cent MajorityRoma The region needs to better integrate the youth from disadvantaged groups into the educational system and labor markets Proportion of young men (25-34) with at least upper secondary education, in mid-2000s

Educating the youth for the future – More students completing the secondary and tertiary levels throughout the region. – Programs are needed to counteract gender stereotyping regarding educational and occupational choices. – Family planning and child care facilities to reduce the economic costs of motherhood. 1/2 The region desires to create innovative, dynamic and green economies, which requires

Educating the youth for the future Universal access to primary school for both boys and girls; additional primary school teachers are needed in some of the transition economies. Linking industry with universities and research centers and creating an enabling environment for young researchers. Educational systems should provide a broad curriculum that fully addresses mankinds environmental, social and economic challenges. 2/2 The region desires to create innovative, dynamic and green economies, which requires

Additional challenges facing the regions youth Health – Malnutrition:10% of the children in the transition economies are moderately or severely stunted. – HIV-Aids: significant progress but still a major problem in eastern Europe. – Traffic deaths: very high in east Europe. Ageing – Europe has the lowest birth rates and the oldest populations of any world region: young people will have to pay the bill. 1/2

Additional challenges facing the regions youth Peace and Security Europe has a history of conflicts; south-east Europe in the 1990s. European integration efforts were not established solely for economic purposes, but also for advancing peace and cooperation. 2/2

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