The “UfM Youth Strategy 2030: Euro-Mediterranean Youth towards a Common Goal“, is a combination of a clear vision, concrete actions, realistic ambitions and good practices. This Strategy brings together 42 UfM Member States with different horizons to agree on common actions for youth in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
A first of its kind, the Strategy comes as a targeted response to the call of the 2nd UfM Regional Forum of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, who agreed to launch a positive agenda for youth in the Mediterranean.
It is also a concrete response to urgent Mediterranean Youth needs and obstacles that prevent them from gaining full access to their inherent potential as agents of positive change towards securing a human and sustainable development, hence enhancing their empowerment.
1/3 of EU’s population are under 30.
48% of the people in the Southern Mediterranean region are under 30.
15% of young women and men (between 15- 34)
within the EU were neither part of the labour force nor receiving education or training
In North Africa and Middle East,
25% of young women and men are unemployed.
Objectives
The overall objective is then to Build trust, Empower and Give opportunities. The vision of the UfM for the Mediterranean Youth is clear and concise: Striving to make them full actors of the socio-economic life and make the region a resilient space of prosperity and development where no one is left behind. In a region that has some of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world, exceeding 40% in some countries, concrete actions must be undertaken.
This Strategy is based on the fundamental value of trust that considers that Youth empowerment can never be achieved unless youths are seen and treated for what they are.
Process
The UfM considers that Youth should not only be subjects to policies and strategies, but rather be active architects in their implementation through a concrete involvement in their processes and frameworks. Youth should be given space and prominence in policy-making across Euro-Mediterranean countries. Therefore, the UfM Youth Strategy worked closely with Youth-led organizations and networks, in addition to its Member States, that contribute to the development of skills and leadership, as well as civil society from the whole region, and will continue to do so during its whole implementation phases.
Content
The UfM Youth Strategy 2030 is fully in line with UN Youth 2030 and the EU Youth Strategy. It identifies human development, and sustainable development as two distinct, yet interconnected dimensions for the inclusion of Youth and their full participation in the region. Each one of these two dimensions, tackles various topics which are climate action and energy, environment, urban and rural development, economic development, education and training and social inclusion.
Focusing on priorities that fall under the UfM Mandate, the Strategy provides a vision that supports the power to act and mobilize of youth, through proposing “Solutions for youth, by youth”, which invest in skills, education, quality jobs…
The Strategy identifies six priority areas. Some of the key actions linked to them are listed below:
The first dimension of the Strategy is Sustainable Development. Mediterranean Youth became agents of change, mobilizing to advance the Sustainable Development Goals to improve their lives and the resilience of the region. Hence, the Strategy helps:
The Strategy explores the challenges and potential of youth development and seeks to discuss investment in youth social development through education and job creation. In an attempt to influence national policies for youth development, key messages and action points aimed at shaping further policy debate and creating a platform for dialogue, are proposed.
