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Revitalizing Democracy: Growth and jobs.

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Strengthen young women’s support toward entrepreneurship

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The Assembly of European Regions is always very proud to share information about the success stories in its member regions. Today, we would like to highlight a project from Guadeloupe (FR) called Youth Women Win.

Why ?

Worldwide, including Europe, young women are the first affected by unemployment, with an average rate of 52%. Youth Women Win aims to give to the vulnerable young women the means to create their employment and to access to real economic independence.

Youth Women Win goals are:

  1. STRENGTH the support for vulnerable young women towards entrepreneurship,
  2. PROMOTE the inclusion of the gender dimension in the entrepreneurial culture,
  3. EXCHANGE good practices for entrepreneurship, transfer of innovative methodological tools and networking.

“Youth Women Win” is an innovative project that bring together partners of island from the ACP-EU region – Guadeloupe , France, Madagascar –  and mainland regions such as Belgium.

Outputs

“Youth Women Win” offers to the professionals who coach young women towards entrepreneurship, support and tools taking into account the gender dimension:

  • A Guide to Good Practices on awareness raising and coaching
  • A briefcase of tools on the support of young women entrepreneurship
  • A web information and exchange platform provides professionals and young women a range of tools and methodological guidance to develop young women’s leadership.

Partners

  • Arrimage Good’iles, Guadeloupe – coordinator
  • C for C NGO, Madagascar
  • Groupe one – Belgium

Events

The final Conference will be held in Brussels during the month of December 2016.

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Contact

Arrimage Good’iles
Courriel

Presentation

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Final conference school dropout: Just another brick in the wall?

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Young people are the future

Yet judging by the figures the perspectives are rather gloomy: according to Eurostats, one sixth of all young people were neither in employment nor in education or training in the EU-28 in 2014.

In this context early school leaving is a major issue and a threat to social and economic cohesion. AER members regions have been working on this topic via the working group on school dropouts. In this context the JET-CD project held its final conference on 21-22 June in Hampshire. 27 participants from the partner organisations and from different organisations from the region attended the event.

Early school leaving: long term impacts

Early school leaving (ESL) is predictive of a range of economic and social outcomes. Early leavers experience considerable disadvantages in relation to adult-life chances: higher rates of unemployment, poorer health status…

Exclusion from education is also a strong determinant of ending up NEET and may lead to further social exclusion. The term NEET (not in education, employment or training), is commonly used to capture disengagement and social exclusion, as well as levels of unemployment among young people.

Exclusion is expensive

According to Eurofound, the consequences of long-term disengagement of young people from the labour market are dramatic at the economic, societal and individual level (Eurofound, 2012a). The European agency estimated the economic cost that Europe is paying for having a large cohort of young people in a NEET situation at €162 billion in 2013.

The ability to combat school dropout is therefore directly linked to long term economic development potential. Sustainable development goes hand in hand with youth participation and inclusion.

Share, learn, do

AER member regions Catalunya (ES), Västernorrland (SE), Hampshire (GB), Tulcea (RO) and Østfold (NO) analysed the whole chain of early school leaving: prevention, intervention and compensation. This was done in the framework of an Erasmus+ project called Joint Efforts  to Combat School Dropout, or JET-CD.

The consortium pinpointed the different good practices in each region and shared challenges. Despite very different contexts, commonalities were identified both in terms of causes and in terms of processes. The project particularly highlighted the need for cross-sectoral collaboration.

Prevention

The final conference was an opportunity to present good practices implemented in the different regions. For instance in Catalunya, the Adapted Curriculum Programme allows to prevent the dropout of young people. It is implemented in partnership with El Llindar, a second chance school, which provides prevocational training courses and personal guiding.

In Tulcea, AMN Insight is an online evaluation platform, which provides specialists support to prevent dropouts as well as educational and vocational guidance to students on the basis of psycho-pedagogical testing.

Intervention & Compensation

Within the category “intervention” the project sought to collect good practices aimed at detecting and re-motivating early school-leavers for education. The region of Västernorrland and Hampshire presented their experience and good practices which involve actions led by diverse stakeholders such as social services, youth counselling and the employment agency. Health receives major attention in Västernorrland in particular. In Hampshire cross-sectoral collaboration, tenders specifying the importance of social value and jobs for young people, and a focus on data rich analysis prove extremely successful: the level of NEET was reduced by 1000 individuals in 3 years. The category “compensation” included good practices aimed at re-entering early school leavers in the education system. The region of Østfold stressed the need to have a early intervention, an individual plan and close follow-up. It is essential to focus on the needs of students and not on what they have failed at!

Photos of the Final Conference are published on the AER Facebook Page

Conference documents:

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Output documents:

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Links

JET-CD project page and outputs

Erasmus+ website

Eurofound (2015), Social inclusion of young people, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.

erasmus

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First 2016 high level meeting with the European Commission

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In the framework of the structured dialogue’s first meeting of the year, AER Secretary General Mathieu Mori met on Friday 22 January the Secretaries General of the European Commission Alexander Italianer, of the Committee of the Regions Jiří Buriánek and a few selected other networks of cities and regions.

This meeting prefigures the annual meeting of President Hande Özsan Bozatli with the Presidents of these organisations on a date to be confirmed.

A key point of discussion was the future of cohesion policy post 2020 and the mid-term review of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) scheduled for the end of 2016. If the European Commission stated that cohesion policy would remain a key tool to fight development gaps between regions, nothing on the scope of the MFF mid-term review nor on the amount of flexibility to be introduced in its functioning was detailed.

AER will therefore continue to follow and influence closely these developments.

AER also stated its wish to be involved in the discussions on the revision of the Juncker Investment priorities at the end of 2017 and its link with cohesion policy.

On thematic issues, the commission took good note on the cooperation proposal from AER to implement the migration action plan to be announced in April 2016.

This first exchange of the year with the European Commission will be followed up by AER in order to make sure our organisation is involved in the decision-making process of all major policies of interest to its members.

If you have in your regions technical expertise about the MFF or the Juncker investment priorities and wish to work with the secretariat and the AER members on these topics, please contact Johanna Pacevicius.

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Dutch EU Presidency focuses on four of AER’s main policies

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An agenda in line with AER’s

The Netherlands Presidency of the European Union (from January to June 2016) aims to promote prosperity, freedom and security in the EU during the next half year, by focusing on Migration, Innovation, Economy and Energy Policies. The Assembly of European Regions can provide a wealth of knowledge and experience from the regions about these themes, these being at the core of its engagement. This is especially relevant given AER’s 2016 focus on Revitalizing Democracy, with a number of topics and events in line with the priorities of the Netherlands Presidency.

Dutch regions

AER boasts a special relation with the Netherlands, through the participation in AER of three very dynamic Dutch Regions: Flevoland, Gelderland and Noord-Brabant. These provinces already cooperate with regions from across wider Europe inside AER  on the four core priorities of the Netherlands Presidency of the European Union, and will have a pivotal role in the next six months.

Priorities of the Netherlands EU Presidency

Migration & International Security. The Netherlands Presidency of the EU is committed to a common border control, asylum and migration Policy. AER’s longstanding experience in interregional cooperation is instrumental in the implementation of hands-on solution: we cannot afford to not take advantage of each others’ experience. Feedback from peers in other regions allows for agile policy making & implementation of sustainable solutions.

Innovation and Job Creation. During the next half year, the Netherlands will prioritise new jobs and innovation in the economy of the EU. This sounds as an acknowledgement of AER’s continuous commitment for entrepreneurship, youth employment and the silver economy. By carrying out peer reviews on smart jobs creation, youth employment, innovation policies, by supporting regions to boost entrepreneurship and more specifically youth entrepreneurship, by encouraging youth participation, AER has put relentless efforts in innovation and job creation. The AER Regional Innovation Award typically shows the incredible innovation potential of regions. The AER Summer Academy is another example of a highly succesful initiative for innovation and job creation.

Finance and Eurozone. The Netherlands Presidency wants to continue the ongoing reforms to ensure modern economies with healthy public finances. AER reiterates its position that decentralisation is correlated with economic growth. Healthy and sustainable public finances will only be achieved with a user-based and territorial approach.

Forward-Looking Climate & Energy Policy. The AER enthusiastically welcomes the decision of the Netherlands  to commit to a coherent approach on climate, the environment and sustainability. AER member regions have been strongly promoting sustainable energy policies for many years and can share their experience and findings on topics such as the implementation of regional strategies for renewable energies and energy efficiency or the developement of the funding market for RES.

Forthcoming AER meetings

Many of the above mentioned issues will be discussed in the coming Committees’ Plenary and Bureau meeting. In addition, the AER and the Dutch member regions will soon organise a Breakfast Briefing in Brussels on the current Presidency of the Council (more information soon).

More information

Visit the website of the Netherlands Presidency of the European Union

Contact the AER Secretariat for more information

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Save the date for the 2016 edition of the AER Summer Academy

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The 20th AER Summer Academy will take place in the county of Østfold (NO) from 16-20th August 2016. The host region and the members of the Summer Academy Organising Committee (SAOC) are happy to propose the theme of Youth Entrepreneurship.

What a better place to discuss this topic than a multi-awarded region for its youth activities. AER itself awarded Østfold its MYFER award in 2014.

Youth entrepreneurship had already been a topic of the AER Summer Academy in 2008 in Jämtland, 8 years later it is time to look at what has been achieved and how we can further progress.

In close cooperation with the AER Youth Regional Network and the Junior Achievement Young Entreprise, the SAOC members intend to offer you a great programme mixing workshops, study visits and fun !

The first draft programme and practical information will soon be available.

Learn more about the AER Summer Academy.

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AER New Year’s Resolution: 2016 – a year for democracy

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“Democracy, human rights and civic participation are entwined. One is not possible without the others.” AER President, Dr Hande Özsan Bozatli, explains the reasoning behind the 2016 theme, Revitalizing democracy.

2015 has been a challenging year for Europe. Rising unemployment in many countries, divisions on the attitude towards a historic influx of refugees, economic growth weaker than on other continents, terrorist attacks in various countries and a growing feeling among citizens that the European Union, national governments and politics in general are not always measuring up to the challenges.

The AER Fall Bureau’s political discussion on “Facing the refugee crisis”, concluded that the European crisis challenges the social cohesion of our societies and puts into question our values and democracies as such.

Important role for the regions

“This is where AER and its member regions have an important role to play. We know what it means to bring a diversity of cultures, political traditions and thinking together”, Dr Bozatli continues.

“Multilevel governance and a strengthened position for the regions are key elements in finding solutions. In fact, AER, as an organisation, is a symbol in itself of true diversity and a forum for political exchange and debate. It is what brings value to our discussions and exchanges.”

Participation and multilevel governance are key to Democracy

AER has always focused on multilevel governance and participation as the basis for analysing the problems citizens are facing and also for finding the best long-term solutions. Solutions based on principles of solidarity, partnership and shared responsibility, as was underlined during the Fall Bureau’s discussion.

The Executive Board proposes that all activities taking place in 2016 within AER should demonstrate how they contribute to reinforcing democracy. The outcome of our activities must be visible and beneficial, to the citizens and all regional stakeholders who rely on AER’s contributions for the development of regional policy in Europe.

Concrete activities

There are several examples on how this will be achieved by the AER Committees. All policies that give the right tools to citizens to innovate, become entrepreneur, promote their culture, access good living conditions including health are and will continue to be at the heart of AER’s work.

Promoting regions with the launch of the AER report on the state of regionalism in Europe; the preparation of the post-2020 period on cohesion policy and structural funds and looking at what others are doing through inter-regional cooperation including cooperation with non European regions through the transatlantic leadership initiative with the USA in 2016.

Countering radicalisation through citizen’s participation, better information on how regions deal with refugees, support to youth involvement, could also be added to the list.

Results are needed

And words are of course not enough, finalizes Dr Bozatli:

“We have to show results. Our role is to provide tools for leadership to the politicians in our member regions. Their citizens will appreciate good local and regional politics and management. This is the basis for their confidence in democracy and in political answers to their problems.”

“We need to value and nurture our diversity. I am more than ever convinced that working together can also mean making use of the power of sub-national diplomacy, to be open to different perspectives and to take into account the complexity of the situation.”

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People with Disabilities: AER works to institute regional employment policies

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Valencia, Comunitat Valenciana (E), 17 June 2011

The Assembly of European Regions’ (AER) working group on ‘Equal Opportunities for people with disabilities’ met in Valencia (E) to debate the question of integrating people with disabilities into professional life.

Advances in the rights of people with disabilities

Today, more than 80 million people with disabilities across the European Union – approximately 15% of the total population – face a number of obstacles in their daily lives, including discrimination in the work place. “We are fortunate because our generation has seen the most important breakthroughs for people with disabilities,” said Joaquin Martinez, Regional Vice-Minister for Personal Autonomy and Dependence, referring to both the UN Convention on the rights of People with Disabilities, recently ratified by the EU, and the EU Disabilities Strategy 2010-2020.

“The actions planned in the framework of the new European strategy focus primarily on assuring that people with disabilities can freely access of goods and services. Additionally, the strategy seeks to improve the participation of people with disabilities and their families’ so that they may exercise all of their rights as citizens of the EU, guarantee access to EU subsidies and encourage governments to strive to eliminate obstacles to their full inclusion,” added the MEP member of the Disability Intergroup of the EP, Rosa Estaràs.

The European regions implement the UN Convention

Regions acknowledge the importance of access to employment as a key guarantee of autonomy and fundamental rights for people with disabilities and a fulfilment of the objectives of the UN Convention and the EU Strategy. To ensure that disability is not an obstacle to employment, the Region Poitou-Charentes (F) for example has instituted an active policy of recruitment, awareness-raising, and adaptation of job positions to help people stay employed. Actions under this policy range from training the region’s staff on disability issues to awarding entrepreneurship funds to people with disabilities wishing to start up their own businesses.

“AER is a great way to open up our minds, stimulate exchange and innovation among the regions and help us implement the rights and obligations that the UN Convention has created for people with disabilities.” concluded Christina Wahrolin, County Councillor from Värmland (S).

For more information: [email protected]

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GE’s European Center of Research and Development open its doors to European Regions

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Key regional decision makers met to discuss the role of industrial innovations in both sustainable growth strategies and the fight against climate change

Garching/Munich (D), 8 April 2010

AER and GE Energy today commenced a two-day event, “Innovation in Energy and Research Policy” at their European Research and Development Center, “GE Global Research Europe” in Garching near Munich, Germany.

The event will attract regional decision makers from all over Europe as well as key members of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) including AER President Michèle Sabban and General Secretary, Klaus Klipp. The aim of the event is to discuss the role of industry expertise in aiding the European Union’s fight on climate change and to present the important role of enterprises such as GE Energy in the delivery of innovative energy solutions that are needed to do so.

During the two days, delegates will participate in a tour of the research center to observe current GE Energy research projects in relation to solar systems, solar simulation, biogas and carbon fibre manufacturing for energy infrastructure. There will also be discussions between Carlos Härtel, CEO GE Global Research Europe and representatives from the Bavaria region about GE’s applied research strategy, cooperation with the region of Bavaria and links with Bavaria’s innovation strategy.

GE Energy & AER collaboration: Talk global, act local

At this event, key policy decision makers will be invited to witness firsthand the unique and effective relationship between AER and GE Energy in working together to support the European Union’s environmental strategy by implementing actual European solutions on regional and local levels.

“Climate change strategies may be decided at EU level, but it is at the regional level that real action is taken” commented Michèle Sabban, President of AER. “While lengthy international negotiations take place, the regions are gearing up to get to work and act on many key energy related issues, as energy is a multifaceted domain. These include spatial planning, subsidising local energy investments, innovation and education policies, public procurement, transport, awareness-raising and implementing renewables strategies using local resources.”

Ricardo Cordoba, President of GE Energy for Western Europe and Northern Africa commented: “We are proud to open the doors of GE’s European Research and Development Center to discuss recent research developments which demonstrate our commitment to the advancement of 21st century solutions. We feel our expertise plays a vital role in helping accomplish regional concrete objectives. Our relationship has opened a gateway between regional decision makers and GE Energy’s expertise, providing a forum for the exchange of knowledge, experience and benchmarks. The time to act is now and we feel this relationship is a huge step forward towards supporting our governments and tackling climate change head-on.”

AER saw this high level event as an opportunity to gather its working group on climate change and energy. Members of the working group presented the current issues tackled by AER to 25 political representatives from all Europe. They also adopted a roadmap for the future work of the AER in the areas of climate change and energy, especially in view of the COP16 in Mexico in December  2010.

AER is the largest network of regions in wider Europe, with more than 270 regions from 33 countries. AER and GE Energy began their partnership in May 2009 and have since then collaborated on several joint initiatives to raise awareness of the need for cooperation between governments, international institutions, civil society and industry. In November 2009, AER held its general assembly which included delegates from GE Energy, the Climate Group and representative from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). There, 270 regions signed the “Belfort Appeal” which called for more subsidiarity in energy policies.

The following month saw the participation of GE Energy and AER at the Copenhagen World Climate Change Summit. There, they gave their support to the R20 declaration, inspired by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and which echoed the Belfort Appeal’s urgent call for the recognition of the role of regions and federal states in the fight against climate change.

About GE Energy and the Assembly of European Regions

In may 2009, the Assembly of European Regions, the largest independent network of regions in wider Europe and GE Energy, European and global actor launched the “European Regions Energy Day”, a joint initiative that aims to analyze the role of regions in climate protection and energy policy and showcase regional solutions. This event will be the first to bring together regional decision makers and energy experts from all over Europe. It will take place every year in Brussels, from the end of April 2010 onwards.

Indeed, the European regions play a key role in the choice of suitable energy solutions. That is why, Michèle Sabban, President of the  AER and Ricardo Cordoba, President of GE Energy for Western Europe and Northern Africa have  come together to fight the challenges faced by climate change at the European Regional level. This partnership creates a link between recognised energy experts and regional decision makers. The main purpose is to support the EU environmental and energy strategies and to allow the creation of an expertise centre in the energy field for all the European regions.

For more information: [email protected]

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