Plenary meeting of the Youth Regional Network in the Azores "was a success," says Pilar Damião
The Regional Director for Youth stated in Ponta Delgada that the plenary meeting of the Youth Regional Network (YRN) "was a success." The event brought to the Azores youngsters from 25 countries and more than 50 regions in Europe.
"This event promoted a very rich and lively debated on the topics of great relevance to young Europeans, such as education, tourism, entrepreneurship, employment and social affairs. The proposals included in the final document evidences a mature intercultural and political reflection," Pilar Damião said, stressing the proposals presented at this meeting will be submitted to the European Commission.
"We believe in a deliberative democracy, in which the direct contribution of young people is fundamental," added the Regional Director, who spoke Friday at a plenary session on the theme "Youth Empowerment."
In her speech, Pilar Damião highlighted that the projects developed by the Government of the Azores, through the Regional Directorate for Youth, namely the programme "Youth in Focus: from dream to action. This initiative not only calls for the participation of youngsters, but also encourages their responsibility in policy-making.
"Youth policies pursued in the Azores are dynamic insofar as they are permanently construction and revision, according to the needs and challenges of young people," said the government official.
The Spring Plenary Meeting held by the Youth Regional Network of the Assembly of European Regions is taking place at the University of the Azores in Ponta Delgada until Sunday.
The meeting follows the invitation made by the Regional Government, through the Regional Directorate for Youth to YRN. It will bring together nearly sixty participants, aged between 15 and 30, from 25 European countries and more than 50 European regions, including young people from the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
Created by the Assembly of European Regions in November 2008, YRN is a platform of youth parliaments at a regional level, councils and youth organisations from the enlarged Europe.
This platform aims to establish networks, influence youth policies, involve young people in the decision-making process at a regional and European level, exchange good practices and experiences, through European projects and the application of the principle of subsidiarity, as well as to promote sustainable governance.