Regional Director for Youth wants to strengthen role of Azorean youngsters as European citizens
The Regional Director for Youth defended the importance of reinforcing the interest and role of Azorean youngsters in public life by "raising their awareness and encouraging them to reflect on their rights, duties and responsibilities in a fair, free and inclusive Europe."
Pilar Damião de Medeiros spoke on sidelines of the youth meeting "Being European in the Azores," held in Ponta Delgada last Saturday. The government official stressed the "utmost importance" of raising the awareness of youngsters for the relevance of civic participation by "providing them with the opportunity of having a close contact with regional and European decision-makers in order to create a sense of sharing knowledge, ideas, experiences and methodologies.”
For the Regional Director for Youth, it is "essential to encourage the creation of partnership projects with other youngsters with aim of influencing youth policies at a local, regional, national or European level."
This Regional Government's initiative, which took place at S. Miguel Youth Hostel, was attended by 19 youngsters selected from the 19 municipalities across the Region. The event was also attended by several personalities, including MEPs Maria do Céu Patrão Neves and Luís Paulo Alves.
Participants discussed themes such as European citizenship, public youth policies, entrepreneurship and volunteering, youth mobility in the European Union or the participation of youngsters in regional policy.
The development of innovative and efficient ways to involve youngsters, the creation of a space for debate and information on relevant EU themes towards a structured dialogue and the definition of public policies are the main goals of the meeting "Being European in the Azores."