In his intervention as newly re-elected CESI Youth Representative, Matthäus Fandrejewski advocated decisive actions now in order to avoid later a lost generation post-Covid: ‘We always say that youth is the future, but the future is already now. Following the pandemic, too many youngsters lost their jobs or left education. They are currently lost. Immediate measures need to be taken now. It is great we will have a European Year dedicated to Youth in 2022 but we need youth to be high on the agenda every year. That is why we need a strong interest representation of young people and workers and that is why CESI Youth is important!’

Robert Szokolai (MKKZ Youth), newly elected Vice-Representative, deplored the situation of the young in certain EU countries where they are not always allowed to express themselves freely, to love who they want or to control their reproductive rights. The backlash suffered by democracy in certain EU countries, coupled with poverty and high unemployment, affect too many young people, he stressed, adding that CESI Youth should advocate decidedly in favour of promoting European values during the next years.

Panagiotis Chatzimichail, European Youth Forum representative and guest at the Congress, reiterated the CESI Youth Congress motto ‘It’s time to act now!’ by referring to necessary commitments to be put forward for the European Year of Youth (2022) and the urgency to make them reality: “The Year of Youth is a major EU initiative planned for the next year. However, what the institutions will concretely do is still relatively unclear. Some initiatives are already ongoing or upcoming which show some perspective, he said: ALMA will be a new programme and social initiatives under the the European Commission’s recent action plan on the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights will include to important proposals for a Platform workers directive and a review of the EU Quality framework for traineeships.’

CESI Youth Board members adopted Congress motions with unanimity, committing the Board to work with CESI Youth on enhanced school-to-work transitions, better employment standards and an improved access of young people to basic services such as health, housing and social security. According to the adopted motions, special attention will also be given trade union work addressing abusive working conditions, to the need for more inclusive labour market policies and quality non-precarious work contracts to enable young people to attain decent jobs and have a dignified and independent life. More involvement of social partners and youth organisations in policy making will also be on the agenda of the CESI Youth during the next years until the next Congress. The motions adopted will be soon made available in the resources section on CESI’s website.

In line with CESI Youth advocacy, European Parliament representatives validated, as guest speakers, the need for more investments in youth. MEP Kim van Sparrentak, shadow rapporteur of a forthcoming resolution of the European Parliament on ‘Empowering European Youth: Post-pandemic employment and social recovery’, reported that negotiations on the file are progressing well and that the current version of the text stipulates positive advancements for youth in the area of quality employment and internship/apprenticeship schemes, access to housing and mental health assistance, when needed.

In sum, the CESI Youth Congress brought forward many fresh and new perspectives for youth advocacy and trade union work in Europe, which will be pursued with the support of a diverse team of youth leaders in the CESI Youth Board from Spain, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Italy, Latvia, Hungary and Serbia.