News

On Wednesday 2 April 2014, in the run up to the European elections in May, European Trade Union Federations’ (ETUF) youth organisations conducted a large flash mob in central Brussels to reinforce their demand that EU institutions and employers put youth at the top of their agenda.

Under the slogan “Enough of their crisis – back to our future”, the federations reiterate their demands: the next mandate of the European Parliament and Commission must take immediate and effective action to guarantee young people’s future in the European labour market.

With the creation of the so-called Youth Guarantee, the EU has reserved € 6 billion for the coming seven years to stimulate youth employment. However, the ETUFs state in a joint declaration that this is too little and too late.

Moreover, the estimated cost of establishing such a tool – without any enforcement measures – for implementation at national level is € 21 billion per year, so the EU’s promise remains far from adequate to tackle youth employment challenges.

In response, on behalf of the 30 million workers they represent, the ETUFs bring focal points for inclusion in future EU youth policies to the attention of all candidates for the European elections, including actions at workplace- and EU-level.

The lack of decisive actions taken by the European institutions so far and the extensive and long lasting consequences of youth unemployment in Europe necessitate a long-term campaign to claim back the future of young people.

The federations’ actions and demands are complementary to the European Trade Union Confederation’s plan for investment, sustainable growth and quality jobs.

Campaign web page: www.back2ourfuture.org

Link to the campaign video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7u5tHsYh18

Link of the first flash mob of the campaign on the 7th of March 2014 in Athens: http://youtu.be/CvxryGGwBuI

You can find the joint Press Release in the Related Files tab.