Youth and democracy: concrete measures to get young people involved in politics
[19/10/2012]
Are young people no longer interested in politics? That was the question raised in the “Youth and democracy” debate on 17 October 2012 during the 23rd Congress Session. The report prepared by rapporteur Els Ampe (Belgium, ILDG) shows that, over the past three years, two young people out of 10 up to the age of 30 have not cast a vote in a political election at local, national or European level. This ''disenchantment'' causes young people to engage in other forms of participation as citizens, either via social networks or at demonstrations. Among the suggested action, the Congress encourages the setting up of youth councils and parliaments which are both representative and legitimate, as well as of joint management structures which include young people and local and regional elected representatives. In this spirit, Council of Europe member States are invited to include a minimum number of young people in their national delegations to the Congress. Lowering the statutory voting age to 16 is one of the proposals in the recommendation adopted on the same day. The texts adopted emphasise the importance of supporting young people’s education, training and integration into the world of work, and points to the need to ensure implementation of the Revised European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life, the reference text in this sphere.
<font color='#55563B' size='2'>Jeunesse et démocratie : des mesures concrètes pour engager les jeunes en politique</font>
Jeunesse et démocratie : des mesures concrètes pour engager les jeunes en politique
[19/10/2012]
Les jeunes ne sont-ils plus intéressés par la politique? C’est la question soulevée lors du débat « Jeunesse et démocratie », le 17 octobre 2012, dans le cadre de la 23ème Session du Congrès. Le rapport préparé par le Rapporteur Els Ampe (Belgique, ILDG) montre que, au cours des 3 dernières années, 2 jeunes sur 10 n'ont pas voté avant l'âge de 30 ans dans une élection politique au niveau local, national ou européen. Face à ce ''désenchantement'', la participation citoyenne des jeunes prend d’autres formes qu’il s’agisse des réseaux sociaux ou des manifestations. Parmi les actions proposées, le Congrès encourage la création de conseils et de parlements de jeunes qui soient représentatifs et légitimes, ainsi que de structures de co-gestion incluant jeunes et élus territoriaux. Dans cet esprit, les Etats membres du Conseil de l’Europe sont invités à inclure un nombre minimum de jeunes dans leurs délégations nationales au sein du Congrès. Abaisser l’âge légal du droit de vote à 16 ans : c’est l’une des propositions de la recommandation adoptée le même jour. Les textes adoptés soulignent l’importance de soutenir l’éducation, la formation et l’insertion professionnelle des jeunes, et rappelle la nécessité de garantir la mise en œuvre la Charte européenne révisée de la participation des jeunes à la vie locale et régionale, texte de référence en la matière.
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English 
Are young people no longer interested in politics? That was the question raised in the “Youth and democracy” debate on 17 October 2012 during the 23rd Congress Session. The report prepared by rapporteur Els Ampe (Belgium, ILDG) shows that, over the past three years, two young people out of 10 up to the age of 30 have not cast a vote in a political election at local, national or European level. This ''disenchantment'' causes young people to engage in other forms of participation as citizens, either via social networks or at demonstrations. Among the suggested action, the Congress encourages the setting up of youth councils and parliaments which are both representative and legitimate, as well as of joint management structures which include young people and local and regional elected representatives. In this spirit, Council of Europe member States are invited to include a minimum number of young people in their national delegations to the Congress. Lowering the statutory voting age to 16 is one of the proposals in the recommendation adopted on the same day. The texts adopted emphasise the importance of supporting young people’s education, training and integration into the world of work, and points to the need to ensure implementation of the Revised European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life, the reference text in this sphere.