22/02/2012 Between 18 - 21 March in Soro, Denmark the Fifth European Youth Conference take place. It was organized by the Danish Presidency of the EU and was connected with the main priority in its youth policy - creativity and innovation, motivation for active participation of young people. During the event, there were discussed the results of the structured dialogue that had taken place in the Member States on priorities for youth policy for two years, the new Erasmus program for all parties and considerations of the countries about the structure of the next programming period in the field of youth work.
As the young policy constitutes a priority for the European Institutions and Member States, these problems are reflected on the events of such kind, which are organized under each Presidency and are held twice a year. In the working groups were drawn proposals to the European Commission in order to strengthen and deepen the dialogue between young people and the institutions as well as the actual implementation of European policies at national, regional and local level. The conference was attended by over 200 participants, divided into seven working groups on priorities - 1. Youth participation – elections. Increasing democratic participation. 2. Youth participation - voting age. Reducing the voting age? 3. Motivation for Participation - Motivation for participation in organizations. 4. The new program in the field of education and youth - New Programme of the EU for Youth. 5. Mechanisms for support and participation. Effective funding for effective participation. 6. Media and participation. 7. Innovation and participation - from participation to innovation.
The next conference of this type will be held in September 2012 in Nicosia, Cyprus and its priority will be the social inclusion focusing on young people from migratory groups.
The event was opened by Androulla Vassiliou – EU Commissioner for education, culture, multilingualism and youth, Christine Antorini – Danish minister for education and youth, Peter Matiasic – Chairman of the European Youth Forum.
Three youth representatives from Bulgaria participated in the event, including Joanna Dochevska from MGERB Sofia.
