The European Youth Week 2008 took place across Europe from November 2 to 9. It included events organised all over the continent and offer background information, reports from the activities, and stories about the people taking part in this adventure.
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The initiative to create this European Youth Week has been taken by the Directorate General for Education and Culture (DG EAC) of the European Commission.
"It's essential that young people and policy-makers from across Europe have arenas where they can meet and discuss policy issues. This Week offers them such a possibility. It also raises awareness of the EU Open page in new window Youth in Action Programme, so that more youth can take advantage of all the opportunities that it offers", explains Sergej Koperdak, Head of the Youth Policy Unit at the European Commission.
Aims
There were three main aims to the 2008 Youth Week. As 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of European programmes for youth, the Week will take a look back to consider what has already been achieved. The participants will also discuss the future challenges for young Europeans, suggesting what future steps should be taken in the field of EU youth policy. As a third aim, the European Youth Week wants to contribute to this European year's theme of "Intercultural Dialogue".
Activities
Debates, concerts and competitions are only a few examples of what did take place all over Europe. Young people in countries participating in the Youth in Action programme (the 27 EU countries, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Turkey) had the opportunity to participate in this unique project.
In Brussels, more than 200 young people from all over Europe came together to debate youth issues and their ideas for Europe and to make suggestions to the European Commission and the European Parliament.