1. “(Non)Action Has Consequences: Reasons and Ways for Young People to Participate in the Decision-Making Process at Home and EU” Velingrad, Bulgaria March 2012 “(Non)Action Has Consequences: Reasons and Ways for Young People to Participate in the Decision-Making Process at Home and EU” Velingrad, Bulgaria March 2012 This project has been funded with support from the Youth in Action Program of the European Commission, managed in Bulgaria by the National Centre “European Youth Programmes and Initiatives”. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission, the Youth in Action Program and the National Centre “European Youth Programmes and Initiatives” cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. THE EU DECISION MAKING PROCESS SVETLA KOSTADINOVA (IME)

2. Policy taker or Policy maker After accession Bulgaria and Romania are involved actively in the decision making process in the EU. Each of the member states, depending on their strength and preparedness, can influence the EU decisions. A well organized and smoothly working coordination mechanism is key. However, both countries have not been active to promote their views. 2

3. How are EU Decisions made? 3 The European Commission The European Parliament (represents the voters) Decision is made (Regulations, Directives, Green and White Papers etc.) Council of the Ministers (represents Member states)

4. The Coordination on EU Affairs in Bulgaria EU Affairs Coordination Directorate in the Council of Ministers is responsible for EU positions 4

5. The Coordination on EU Affairs in Romania Department for European Affairs is the specialized body of the central public administration responsible for the EU position of Romania 5

6. EU 2012 annual work program The Commission Work Program (CWP) 2012 translates the President's political guidelines and the State of the Union address 2011 into action.political guidelinesState of the Union address Overarching objectives for the Work Program 2012 are: –Building a Europe of stability and responsibility –Building a Union of growth and solidarity –Giving the EU an effective voice in the wider world. The CWP 2012 gives a multiannual overview which frames the Commission's work and helps stakeholders and other EU institutions plan their work with the Commission. The Commission sends monthly reports to the other institutions on progress with the Work Program and an overview of the Commission initiatives remaining until the end of each year. 6

7. 2012 roadmap on unemployment “The Commission will soon set out how the EU can contribute to addressing the scourge of youth unemployment, including action to promote the mobility of young job-seekers and assist them in identifying cross-border openings. Apprenticeships can also be a key entry point to the jobs market. This can be of particular value in terms of better exploiting the sectors most likely to create tomorrow's jobs.” 7

8. Specific measures for employment of EC in 2012 8 Towards a jobs-rich recovery Flagship initiatives adopted as part of Europe 2020 (and in particular "An agenda for new skills and jobs" and "Youth on the Move") and linking in with the orientations of the 2012 Annual Growth Survey. Rethinking skills in Europe 2020 Policy recommendations for MS – basic skills, entrepreneurship, digital e- literacy, media literacy and multilingualism. It will promote employability and competitiveness. Specific Flexicurity package Key role of flexicurity policies in the current economic climate. It will set out concrete proposals to strengthen the different components of flexicurity to address the economic challenges that Europe is facing, with a view to reducing labor market segmentation and supporting labor market transitions. Reforming the European Employment Services - EURES The proposal will aim to: 1) improve access to employment opportunities and facilitate job creation by establishing EURES ; 2) expand EURES to support the new "Your First EURES Job" scheme. Green Paper on Restructuring and Economic Adjustment The Green Paper will identify successful practices and policies in the field of restructuring and adaptation to change in order to promote employment, growth and competitiveness. The goal is to look afresh at this policy debate in the light of the lessons learned from the economic downturn.

9. EU Initiatives Youth on the Move Agenda for New Skills and Jobs Platform against Poverty European Social Fund Globalization Adjustment Fund Erasmus for all European Employment service (Eures) EU initiatives to support Member States' efforts to tackle the jobs crisis 9

10. EU Youth Strategy (2010-18) The strategy proposes initiatives in eight fields of action: education and training employment and entrepreneurship health and well-being participation voluntary activities social inclusion youth and the world creativity and culture 10

11. The strategy is implemented in the following way: Cooperation with Member States – a common agenda, mutual learning, dissemination of results and progress reporting are key elements to promote learning from good practice and exchange of information on their priorities and actions Structured dialogue – involving young people in continuous joint reflection on priorities, implementation and follow-up Evidence-base for youth policy – policy must be based on concrete evidence, experience and knowledge of the situation of young people Youth work – promoting opportunities for young people to develop autonomy and key competences such as a sense of initiative and entrepreneurship and to actively participate in all fields of public life (social, political, educational, sports, service) The Youth in Action Program – contributes to the goals of the EU Youth Strategy by providing opportunities for young people to be mobile, to learn and to participate across the EU. 11 EU Youth Strategy (2010-18)

12. Cooperation of the EC with Member States on the Strategy The Commission and the Member States are working together under the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) to enhance EU youth cooperation. The current priorities and tools are agreed until 2018 under the EU Youth Strategy. The Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYCS) Council brings together Ministers two times a year. It usually adopts its decisions by a qualified majority and in co-decision with the European Parliament. The work of the Council is prepared by the Permanent Representatives Committee (COREPER), made up of the permanent representatives of the Member States. Their work is in turn prepared by the Youth Working Party consisting of delegates from the Member States from the youth field, representatives of the European Commission and chaired by the EU Presidency country. 12

13. Evidence based youth EU policy A dashboard of indicators 40 key indicators for the EU Youth Strategy Fully complementary to targets of the Europe 2020 strategy Updated annually 13

14. Youth indicators (education and training) 14

15. Youth indicators ( employment and entrepreneurship ) 15

16. Youth indicators (health and well-being) 16

17. Youth indicators (social inclusion) 17

18. 18 Youth indicators (social inclusion) - 2

19. Youth indicators (culture and creativity) 19

20. Youth indicators (youth participation) 20

21. Youth indicators (voluntary activities) 21

22. Youth indicators (World involvement) 22

23. Some notes on EU policies Mostly non-legislative Depend on EU member states decisions Too broad to make a change Too wide to focus the efforts Over ambitious 23

24. Young people perceptions 53% of young job seekers are worried about the absence of jobs in their city/region. 42% of respondents point a lack of good job opportunities in young people’s field of study and 42% referred to the fact that jobs were poorly paid. The fact that no jobs were available in young people city/region is one of the main challenges for finding a job by 63% in Hungary, 65% in Finland, 67% in Croatia and Ireland. 65% of respondents in Romania and Bulgaria said that one of the main concerns of young job seekers is that the available jobs were poorly paid. Respondents in Denmark and Sweden were the least likely to express this view (14%). Respondents in Iceland (84%), Sweden (76%), Bulgaria (74%), Romania (73%) and Finland (71%), were the most likely to want to work abroad. 43% would and 42% would not like to set up their own business in the future. Countries with a high proportion of young adults eager to start up a company were Romania, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Bulgaria (61%-74%). For 7% of young adults setting up a business was too risky and another 13% thought it would be too complicated. “Not having adequate entrepreneurship skills” (7%) and “access to finance” (8%) were each mentioned by less than a tenth of respondents. 24

25. How young people can be actively involved in policy formation? 25

26. On EU level On-line consultation http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/ What do you need: Informed opinion Patience 26

27. European Citizens’ Initiative Regulation EU 211/2011 Launched on 1 April, 2012 The European citizen’s initiative enables one million EU citizens from at least 7 EU countries to call on the EC to propose legislation on matters where the EU has competence to legislate. All EU citizens old enough to vote have the possibility to be organizers of initiatives. To do so, the need to form a citizens’ committee composed of at least 7 EU citizens living in at least 7 different EU countries The citizens’ committee is responsible for managing the initiative throughout the procedure 27

28. 28

29. On national level Vote Be part of a non-governmental organization Participate in public consultations Be part of a students’ organization Be a journalist Be a volunteer Be part of a street movement 29