Support for proposed European Voluntary Service and Youth for Europe programme
At a conference on the future of European youth, organized by the Italian Presidency of the EU in Cortona, Italy, on 7 and 8 June 1996, delegates expressed their support for the Commission's proposal for a pilot programme introducing a European Voluntary Service. Europe needs to adopt a global approach to the different factors which affect the life of young people, including education, training, social security, employment, health and the environment, according to the delegates. Although not a solution to the problems facing young people in Europe, the European Voluntary Service would be a new and educational experience in a European context, said Mrs. Edith Cresson, European Commissioner responsible for youth policy. She announced that she intends to propose the establishment of a multiannual programme by the end of 1996, which would allow 100,000 young people per year to participate by the year 2000. The participants also underlined the major role to be played by the Youth for Europe programme in the development of a global approach to questions at European level regarding youth policy.