EU priorities according to young Europeans

A Eurobarometer published last March surveyed the approach of young people toward the EU. More specifically, 10.786 young people were contacted by phone and were asked about what EU priorities should be and about their own civic and political participation.

The main EU priorities

The interviewed young people were asked to indicate the main EU priorities in their own opinion, with the possibility to choose more than one option. What are the main ones?

Protecting the environment and fighting climate change

The most urgent priority, according to European youth is the environment. Indeed, 67% of the respondents  have indicated it as the main priority.

What is the EU doing? Recently we have published an article about this topic. Read it here!

Improving education and training

It is the main priorities according to 56% of the respondents.

The EU framework for education aims at:

• making lifelong learning and mobility a reality
• improving the quality and efficiency of education and training
• promoting equity, social cohesion and active citizenship
• enhancing creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship

Fighting poverty and economic and social inequalities

56% of the respondents indicated this as the main priority.

As it is possible to read on the website of the European commission,” With more than 120 million people in the EU in 2008 at risk of poverty or social exclusion, EU leaders have pledged to bring at least 20 million people out of poverty and social exclusion by 2020”.

Furthermore, in 2017, the European Pillar of Social Rights was approved. It includes 20 principles and rights to face inequalities.

Boosting employment and tackling unemployment

According to 49% of the respondents, this should be the main EU priority.

Youth unemployment is a huge issue in the EU, also because it creates big inequalities among the different regions.

The European Union is setting several measures to tackle this problem, and for the same reason is also reinforcing Erasmus+ programme.

Improving health and well-being

44% chose this option.

Health and Well-being is also one of the priorities of the European Youth Strategy 2019-27. The EU wants to focus, in particular, on mental and sexual health,  treating injury, eating disorders, addictions.

Promoting human rights, democracy and common values

44% of the respondents chose this one as a priority.

As it is possible to read on europa.eu, the European Union on the one side protects the human rights for EU citizens, on the other tries to promote human rights worldwide.

In particular, EU policy includes:

• promoting the rights of women, children, minorities and displaced persons
• opposing the death penalty, torture, human trafficking and discrimination
• defending civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights
• defending human rights through active partnership with partner countries, international and regional organisations, and groups and associations at all levels of society
• inclusion of human rights clauses in all agreements on trade or cooperation with non-EU countries