European Scouting together with a number of MEPs, has established an informal collegial network within the European Parliament of those with an interest in the issues of greatest concern to young people in Europe. “The first World Scouting Report reveals that hundreds of thousands of young people across Europe are engaged in activities that benefit their communities and enhance their skills through non-formal education,” EU Commissioner, Ján Figeľ said.
The European Union in the Lisbon Strategy committed to making Europe the leading knowledge based economy by 2010 – will that be achieved? In 2005 four member states initiated the European Youth Pact, an attempt to re-invigorate the Lisbon Strategy through: increased employment, integration and social advancement; education, training and mobility; and the reconciliation of working and family life. Scouting is at the forefront of this skills enhancement, and so the launch of the first World Scouting Report was a key opportunity to question how Europe can support and enhance the employability of young people – to fuel the engine of European social and economic vitality.
“Young people in Europe are the engine of social and economic vitality, the Youth Pact correctly recognises that they do not need to be protected or shielded, but they need to be empowered and their strengths recognised.” said Lidija Pozaić Frketić, Chairperson of the WOSM-European Region. She went on, “Scouting not only empowers young people, it nurtures involvement, responsibility, decision-making, leadership; skills that benefit employment and citizenship.”
Also present at the event were other key Members of the European Parliament including Marian Harkin (Ireland), Liam Aylward(Ireland), Guy Bono (France), Ville Itälä (Finland), Věra Flasarová (Czech Republic), who were pleased to express their support for the Scout Movement and praise the development of the World Scouting Report.