Evropa mladýma očima

Priorities of the Czech Presidency in the Youth Field

In the youth field the Czech Republic has defined 3 main priorities for its presidency:

1) Evaluation of the Framework of Cooperation in the Youth Field

This topic will be discussed within the Youth Event and DG-meeting on youth.

On the realization of this agenda will the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports closely cooperate with the National Institute of Children and Youth and with the Czech Council of Children and Youth.

2) European Youth Pact

The topic is closely related to the national priority: “competetivness”.

Key Messages for the Council in February.

This topic will be discussed within the Youth Event and DG-meeting on youth. On the realization of this agenda will the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports closely cooperate with the National Institute of Children and Youth and with the Czech Council of Children and Youth.

3) Voluntary activities

The topic is also closely linked to the national priority: “competetivness”.

This topic will be discussed within the Conference on Youth.

On the realization of this priority will the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports closely cooperate with the Nation Institute of Children and Youth and with the Czech Council of Children and Youth.

Events in the Youth Field during the Czech Presidency

Conference on Youth (March 12th to 13th)

Theme: voluntary activities of young people, mobility and non-formal training The Conference will run on together with the traditional common meeting of National Youth Agencies.

Youth Event & DG-meeting (June 2nd to 5th)

Theme: evaluation of the cooperation in the youth field, European Youth Pact

Topics for the Council of Ministers

• February 2009 – adoption of the Key Messages to the European Youth Pact
• May 2009 – Future cooperation in the youth field (discussion)

Campaign to support the Czech Presidency

In order to mark and support the Czech Presidency the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS) has initiated a campaign as part of which various events related to the EU, European integration and creativity will be supported (the year 2009 will be declared the European Year of Creativity and Innovation). In this campaign the MoEYS will guarantee and co-ordinate traditional as well as special events organised by non-profit organisations, schools and school facilities for non-formal education. The campaign will have non-formal features and coherent visual characteristics. Organisers of events within the campaign will be authorised to use the logo (“Europe Through the Eyes of Youth”) and the motto (“We Are In Together”). Moreover, they will be able to apply for financial support from resources earmarked as part of a special programme. Other sources of funding for the events will include the “Youth in Action” programme and the resources of the Czech Council of Children and Youth, the Association of Workers of Children and Youth Centres and individual organisers.

Three seminars (round tables) will be held as part of the campaign at which the priorities of the CZ Pres in the youth area will be discussed. The seminars should provide a platform for a more profound and broader discussion about the topics included in the priorities. The outcomes will serve as a background material for the conference on youth in March and for the Youth Event and DG-meeting in June.

The events within the campaign will take place in the 2nd half of 2008 and, most importantly, during the Czech Presidency in the 1st half of 2009. A total of 130,000 EUR has been earmarked for 2008 and some 220,000 EUR for 2009.

A special website was developed to support the campaign. It contains information about CZ Pres, the campaign and events held as part of it. The website had been launched already on the beginning of October 2008.