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A
conference on how to help young people with fewer opportunities
organized by the European Commission was held on March, 3rd and 4th,
focusing on the participation of young people with fewer
opportunities. The conference aimed to highlight innovative ways to
encourage the participation of marginalized young people in
society and to identify key factors for success in projects working
in this area.
More
than 150 participants came from all over Europe! Including
representatives of 23 Umbrella
NGOs,
National and Local NGOs from all Member States, youth workers as
well as policy makers.
Ján
Figel', European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and
Youth, said: ''When young people fall through the cracks and find
themselves socially excluded, society as a whole faces huge social
and economic costs as a result. Europe loses out if the young are
not able to make their full contribution. Such a contribution only
comes about through effective participation in the society in which
they live.
Throughout
Europe, increasing numbers of marginalized young people are becoming
disenfranchised and distant from society, with crime and anti-social
problems as the result.
The
conclusions of the European Commission conference will complement
the exchange of good practices between Member States at the Council
of Ministers, and should be re presented at the Council meeting on
Education, Youth and Culture on the 21st and 22nd of May 2008. - Ján
Figel'
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