1. Social Inclusion Executive Item 4
13 February 2001
EU White Paper on Youth Policy - Decisions and Actions Required
Decisions
1. The Executive is invited to:
(a) Note the development of a forthcoming EU White Paper on Youth Policy
(b) Consider how the forthcoming the White Paper will affect local government, particularly in
view of the existing work that local government is contributing to the development of
young people in local communities
(c) Comment on the attached initial local government response to the EU White Paper on
Youth Policy
2. The Executive is asked to agree that the local government view is submitted to the UK bilateral
meeting with the European Commission
Actions Required
3. Members to comment on and amend, as necessary, the initial local government response
4. Officers to present the response at the bilateral meeting with officials from the European
Commission
Action by: Tania Townsend / Mark Stevenson / Ailsa Blair
Contact Officers: Tania Townsend 020 7664 3121 tania.townsend@lgib.gov.uk
Mark Stevenson 020 7664 3339 mark.stevenson@lga.gov.uk
Ailsa Blair 020 7664 3238 ailsa.blair@lga.gov.uk

2. Social Inclusion Executive Item 4
13 February 2001
EU White Paper on Youth Policy
Summary
1. The European Commission intends to produce a White Paper on Youth Policy in Autumn 2001,
which will contribute to the development of a co-operation policy in the Youth field in the EU.
This consultation presents a rare opportunity for local government to influence the
Commission's proposals before the White Paper is written. The Commission will also consult
when the White Paper has been produced.
2. As part of the consultation process, a bilateral meeting between the UK and the European
Commission has been arranged on 15 -–16 February 2001, which local government has been
invited to attend. The objective of this meeting is to provide ideas and action lines, give the
Commission a better understanding of the expectations and constraints within Member States,
and provide information on youth or youth-related policies, structures and examples of good
practices. Local government will have a seat at the table. An initial response has been
prepared, which will be presented at the bilateral meeting, and is attached.
Background
2. In the past, youth policy in the EU has taken the form of a sequence of programmes and
initiatives formulated and promoted by different departments of the Commission. There is a
general feeling, at the European level, though that these do not go far enough to tackle the
issues affecting young people. There is also a concern that the absence of a coherent EU youth
policy signals a disinterest to young people about their importance to society. To this end,
various actors have stressed the need for the development of a strategic EU Youth policy. Out
of all of the institutions, the European Parliament has been at the helm of promoting the need
for European youth policy and produced a report on a youth policy for Europe in 1999. The EU
plan to produce a White Paper on Youth Policy during the second half of 2001 under the
Belgian presidency.
3. Local government has a multi-dimensional role as an enabler, provider, facilitator, partner and
'people's champion'. Local government has an important role to play in the development and
promotion of the policies relating to young people especially due to the network of services it
provides and supports. Local government also plays a central role in developing young people
as future citizens. This includes promoting a sense of responsibility for their community and
an interest in its development. The importance of young people for local government is also
crucial in terms of achieving the objectives of Best Value, the Local Government Act 2000 and
even the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The 'improvement agenda' and redefining
councillors as community leaders will be fundamental for local government, and young people
are a key area to focus on. The White Paper will not only benefit the EU as a whole but will
also contribute to complementary initiatives at national level.

3. 4. It is important to remember that youth policy is not confined to a specific "age group" as such
but is an extensive policy, supported by a political framework, to develop and support young
people through a decisive period, which determines and influences their lives and consists of
the main choices, decisions, qualifications and competences to actively participate in society.
Youth policy forms a significant dimension of both economic and social regeneration.
Moreover, it has been acknowledged within institutions at various levels that young people
should not be seen as a problem but as a future resource and respected as an important part
of the community. This should be reflected in European, national and local policies that affect
young people.
5. The White Paper will establish priorities and avenues for action for youth policy in Europe for
the next ten years. The White Paper will not aim to produce binding initiatives for Member
States to fulfil or execute. It will provide guidance on what young people are particularly
concerned about, what young people see as important and successful actions in one country
that can be used as good practice for other countries. It is envisaged that the White Paper will
provide a framework for using the money spent on young people to produce more effective
results within the EU and the Member States. The detailed content of the White Paper is still
to be decided.
6. The formal response from local government will cover the following main principles which we
would like to see in the White Paper:
• Recognition that local delivery works best and takes into account the issues of governance,
subsidiarity and proximity to the citizen, etc.
• Emphasis on concerted effort to tackle social exclusion by all
• Bringing together the different levels of government, civil society, social partners and
young people in Member States who will work together to shape and progress youth
policy
• Addressing the needs of disaffected/disadvantaged young people and specific issues such
as discrimination, initiatives to socially include young people, adverse conditions which
affect the development of young people and so on
• Support for modernised services for young people which are accountable and reflect the
needs, aspirations and diversity of young people
• Active involvement of young people in democracy at all levels
• Significant importance given to the principles of civil society, which requires support at the
local level
7. For the bilateral meeting specific points are made in the initial response attached, which
highlights:
• Participation of young people in the local community
• Cross-cutting character of youth policy
• Education
• Employment
• Well-being and culture
• European integration
8. Other consultation views to date including the results from the national youth consultation in
the UK are available on request from the Local Government International Bureau.
Social Inclusion Executive 13 February 2001 Item /unoconv/20170108203106_345eda8db423433a46f989f529d2e1789621af8f/9fb99bdc-7a8d-40f8-a56e-c3755f794a9a-
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4. Contact Officers: Tania Townsend 020 7664 3121 tania.townsend@lgib.gov.uk
Mark Stevenson 020 7664 3239 mark.stevenson@lga.gov.uk
Ailsa Blair 020 7664 3238 ailsa.blair@lga.gov.uk
Social Inclusion Executive 13 February 2001 Item /unoconv/20170108203106_345eda8db423433a46f989f529d2e1789621af8f/9fb99bdc-7a8d-40f8-a56e-c3755f794a9a-
170108203106.doc 08/01/17