Social Affairs Ministers welcome the PES European Youth Plan

Social Affairs Ministers welcome the PES European Youth Plan

Participating in the meeting MEP Pervenche Berès introduced the campaign for a European Youth Plan which the Party of European Socialists officially launches today.

The PES Youth Plan is based on four ambitious proposals to address the very core of the challenges young people face today in Europe:

–       For employment, a permanent youth guarantee, with an increased budget of 20 billion euros.
–       For education, Erasmus+ has to become Erasmus for all so that all young Europeans, include people in high schools, technical schools can benefit.
–       For culture, European Culture Cheques, which each young European can spend of the cultural even of their choosing.
–       For children, the guarantee of a healthy meal at school, access to quality childcare, and access to quality healthcare.     

Minister Nicolas Schmit, Chair of the Ministerial Network was clear: “The European Youth Plan is a strong political initiative to improve young people‘s prospects in Europe. We want to build on the success story of the Youth Guarantee and extend it to more young people, ensuring they receive a genuine steppingstone to employment. Investing in youth, in quality education, in quality jobs is an investment into our future.”

Also present at the meeting:

  • Nicolas Schmit: Chairperson, Minister for Labour, Employment, Social and Solidarity Economy – Luxembourg
  • Alois Stöger: Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, and Concumer Protection – Austria
  • Giuliano Poletti: Minister of Labour and Social Policies – Italy
  • Clotilde Valter: State Secretary for Professional training – France
  • Romain Schneider: Minister of Social Security – Luxembourg
  • José António Vieira da Silva: Minister of labour, Solidarity, and Social Security – Portugal
  • Ylva Johansson: Minister for Employment – Sweden
  • Maria João Rodrigues: MEP, S&D Vice-President
  • Pervenche Berès: MEP, Chair of the PES Social Europe Network