Line of action 1
Programme 2: Training and capacity building of young people and youth organisations

Activity 6: Survey « The role of youth as actors of political development and reform in the Southern Mediterranean”

Date and place: January-December 2007

Context and organisation: In 2006, the North-South Centre initiated collaboration with EuroMeSCo for the elaboration of a “Survey on Political Youth Participation”. In 2007, this cooperation will be reinforced.

The Euro-Mediterranean Youth Action Programme which was initiated in 1999, as part of the EMP’s third basket, addresses the youth and has been successful in promoting youth exchanges and thus combating prejudices and stereotypes that prevail across the Euro-Mediterranean area and persistently determined mutual perceptions. Yet, as is the case with all other programmes in the third basket, the youth is not being seen as a true resource and therefore ignored as an actor that may positively influence socio-economic and political development in the Southern-Mediterranean. It is in this light that the North-South Centre, in collaboration with the Lebanese Centre for Policy Studies (LCPS), aims to conduct a survey on the issue of participation of the youth in the political process in EMP.

The survey will analyse the role of youth as actors of political development and reform in the Southern Mediterranean in the framework of Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, thereby trying to shed some light on the role of external actors, such as the EU and the Council of Europe, in their efforts to strengthen civil society and democratic development in the Euro-Mediterranean area.

Partners: EuroMeSCo and Lebanese Centre for Policy Studies – LCPS

Target groups: Young people, youth organisations, decision-makers and other youth related stake-holders in the Euro-med Region

Objectives: (i) To improve and increase the Centre’s and partners understanding about policy initiatives addressing youth participation, levels of political knowledge, interests and participation, experiences of youth participation; (ii) to encourage youth participation.

Expected results: (i) produce survey results and a comprehensive survey analyses; (ii) elaboration of a tool to serve as policy recommendation for EU and the CoE’s action in the Euro-Med youth cooperation.