MEP Victor Negrescu, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education, has succeeded in collecting the necessary signatures for his initiative  through which he is calling upon the European Commission to present to the European Parliament the concrete measures that it proposes as an outcome of the European Year of Youth and the solutions it proposes to the initiatives advanced by young people related to the youth test, unpaid internships or political participation. He thanked his fellow MEPs from most of the European political families who supported his initiative, which paves the way for a debate in the plenary of the European Parliament involving the European executive.

This initiative is just a first step of the YouthUP campaign which is designed to strengthen the voice of young people in the European decision-making process.

It will be followed by conferences, meetings with youth organizations and young people and an integrated legislative work designed to build a cross-sectoral approach to youth by integrating young people across EU policies.

”I strongly believe it is important to make sure that this European Year of Youth has ensured a legacy with tangible results for young people across Europe. During these complicated times, it is important for the European Union, the European Parliament, and other European institutions to show once more that they can represent citizens’ interests with honesty and ambition”, stressed the Romanian MEP.

His initiative addresses the expectations and hopes of the younger generation, and ”EU leaders must understand that we need to do more to ensure both a positive outlook for the European Union in the future and a European election without surprises in terms of political representation”.

”I am confident that young people across Europe will be up for the task. We must use the momentum generated by the European Year of Youth to give young people a stronger voice and to show that Europe truly cares about them”, expressed his optimism, Victor Negrescu.

The year 2022 was dedicated to youth aiming to include young people and their priorities in shaping future policies.