Youth guarantee does not mean you can sit and wait
Youth Entrepreneurship, education, business management, youth employment package and European perspective for the Balkans and Ukraine. All these topics were covered at the 8th Economic Forum of Young Leaders, which took place from between 3rd and 6th of September in Nowy Sącz, Poland.
Almost 350 young leaders from 39 European countries took part in the Forum. Among special guests the summit hosted: Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Vilkul, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Janusz Piechociński, Former President of Latvia, Georgian State Minister on Europe and European Integration of Georgia Alex Petrashvili, Former President of Serbia Boris Tadic, Jarosław Gowin and EU Commissioner on Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Laszlo Andor.
EU Commissioner Laszlo Andor assured that the project of “youth guarantee” is the answer to the problem of unemployment among the youth. However, the implementation of this policy does not mean that the young people can sit aimlessly and wait for the employment. Mr. Andor encouraged young leaders to incessant education, self-development, mobility and self-entrepreneurship.
The theme of youth enterpreneurship was discussed also during young leaders panel at the Economic Forum in Krynica. The panel entitled: „Youth Entrepreneurship – challenges of the contemporaries” covered issues that are at the heart of young people in Europe.
One of the ideas which would counter the unemployment among the youth is the proliferation of self-employed business. The panelists debated on what might spur such entrepreneurship. One of the key issues was the question whether an entrepreneur has inborn abilities to run the business or whether such skills are acquirable during the education process. Doubtless to say that natural gifts, motivation and passion are of extreme importance however, upbringing and entrepreneurial education are crucial as well. The conducive circumstances for youth entrepreneurship are: friendly legal system, and helpful environment, which would facilitate all the formalities for potential entrepreneurs. All these features are missing in numerous EU countries, thus even though many people claim that they would like to run their own business, few of them eventually succeed.
During the debate issues such as individual choices and education were also raised. CEO of Entrepreneurial Poland – Dariusz Żuk encouraged the audience to become self-employed and create a “start-up” compatible with one’s needs and dreams. Director of the National Agency “Youth in Action Programme” stressed that today’s job market demands practical skills and that contemporary education must catch up with the market needs and provide these skills for the students, which currently is being done by non-forma education. He was supported by Mathew Davis, Cardiff Constituency Labour Party Leader, whose own example illustrates that non-forma education is an exceptional tool filling the educational void. Non-formal education is also an example of the education compatible with one’s own passions.
The 8th Economic Forum of Young Leaders lasted 3 days and it was live broadcasted to the internet.
Polish Deputy PM Janusz Piechociński claimed that if this generation is not able to spawn enough entrepreneurs, the young people will be endangered by the unemployment. “It
does not matter if in the future you will be living in London, Madrid, Kiev or Budapest, 50% of you will be doomed to become unemployed”.
Piechociński also stressed that Poland is the most entrepreneurial nation in Europe. “We are the nation of exceptional individuals but at the same time we struggle to build a rich society on these individuals.
Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksandr Vilkul claimed that Ukraine did more over the last three years to foster the relations with the EU than in the previous 20 years. He also stressed that Ukraine aspires to Free Trade Zone with the EU. “We are sure that the association between Ukraine and EU is beneficial for both parties. It is a choice of progress and the catalyst for reforms, which we are currently conducting, these reforms vary from juridical ones to changes in the education system.
Boris Tadic, president of Serbia from 2004 to 2012 stressed that European integration of the Balkan countries depends not only on determination of those countries, their political will and readiness for change but the readiness of the EU to accomplish its mission to bring peace and welfare is of equal importance.
„I understand that the EU must solve its own problems. But I am deeply convinced that Europe will achieve its full potential only when the Western Balkan countries are admitted to the EU. I feel personal satisfaction that this process is currently under way. It was the priority of my presidency and I am extremely glad that the current president Tomislav Nikolic has expressed his stance on the issue. Serbia has very close relations and connections with Russia but because of our culture and civilization we belong to the EU. For decades we have been oriented towards the West and that will not change”.
The Forum, which has been regularly organized since 2006, is one of the major international events for the youth. Today, the Form is a network of over 2330 young people, among whom are: heads of NGOs, social, economic and students’ organizations, youth wings of political parties as well as scientists, journalists and entrepreneurs.
The Forum’s mission is to create ideas for the future of Europe. The Forum’s organizer is European Meeting Centre Nowy Staw Foundation, Foundation for the Development of the Education System and the Eastern Studies Institute. European Youth4Media network is main media partner of the event.
Jan Leye
