23. Considers it essential to enhance the role of civil society by enabling it to articulate citizens’ interests, particularly with regard to young people, as was shown last year during the ‘plenums’; recalls that civil society can complement the development of a socially cohesive and democratic society by delivering vital social services; notes that civil society representatives should play an important role in facilitating the accession process; urges the Commission to continue making European funds accessible to civil society organisations; notes that the institutional mechanisms for cooperation with civil society remain weak and hamper the development of a more participatory, inclusive and responsive democracy throughout the country ...[+++]; calls, therefore, for transparent and inclusive public consultation mechanisms involving all public stakeholders, for the establishment of a framework for public discussion of important legislative decisions and for the adoption of a national strategy for civil society; is concerned about the reported cases of intimidation during last year’s social unrest;

24. Considers it essential to enhance the role of civil society by enabling it to articulate citizens’ interests, particularly with regard to young people, as was shown last year during the ‘plenums’; recalls that civil society can complement the development of a socially cohesive and democratic society by delivering vital social services; notes that civil society representatives should play an important role in facilitating the accession process; urges the Commission to continue making European funds accessible to civil society organisations; notes that the institutional mechanisms for cooperation with civil society remain weak and hamper the development of a more participatory, inclusive and responsive democracy throughout the country ...[+++]; calls, therefore, for transparent and inclusive public consultation mechanisms involving all public stakeholders, for the establishment of a framework for public discussion of important legislative decisions and for the adoption of a national strategy for civil society; is concerned about the reported cases of intimidation during last year’s social unrest;

The key role that youth work can play in reaching out to all young people of different backgrounds, including marginalised youth and those not in employment, education or training.

63. Welcomes the Commission’s announcement that it is to present a youth employment package; calls on the Member States to promote and develop, in close cooperation with the social partners, a Youth Guarantee, with the aim of offering every young person in the EU a job, an apprenticeship, additional training or combined work and training after a maximum period of four months’ unemployment; considers that Union funding, especially the ESF, should play a key role in co-financing Youth Guarantee Schemes; calls on the Commission to provide Member States and regions with technical assistance to implement such schemes a ...[+++]nd make good use of the ESF in order to develop Youth Guarantee Schemes; emphasizes that the national sectoral partners in close cooperation with local and regional authorities should play a key role in the implementation of Youth Guarantee Schemes;

61. Welcomes the Commission’s announcement that it is to present a youth employment package; calls on the Member States to promote and develop, in close cooperation with the social partners, a Youth Guarantee, with the aim of offering every young person in the EU a job, an apprenticeship, additional training or combined work and training after a maximum period of four months’ unemployment; considers that Union funding, especially the ESF, should play a key role in co-financing Youth Guarantee Schemes; calls on the Commission to provide Member States and regions with technical assistance to implement such schemes a ...[+++]nd make good use of the ESF in order to develop Youth Guarantee Schemes; emphasizes that the national sectoral partners in close cooperation with local and regional authorities should play a key role in the implementation of Youth Guarantee Schemes;

These are both key in the European elections, and we as public representatives have a vital role to play in informing young people about Europe and what it is doing for them, and encouraging them to make their voice heard.