Youth policy topics>Social cohesion and equal opportunities>Social inclusion policy framework

Social inclusion

High unemployment rates, particularly for the young, inequality of opportunities in education and training, social exclusion from quality services (housing, health, culture and justice), discrimination, poverty and risk of marginalization are declared unacceptable by various political institutions as for example the Council of Europe and the European Commission; nevertheless they are still relevant in European societies. According to young people, one of the main objectives of governments and European institutions must be to fight unemployment and social exclusion and to make the European social model real.

Support is especially needed for disadvantaged young people and those with fewer opportunities. Without inclusion and access young people cannot experience youth as a transition period between child and adulthood and as a phase of social experimentation, developing creativity, personality, own opinions, responsibility etc.  And they are at risk to be permanently socially excluded.

The promotion of human rights and social cohesion, as defined in the European Convention on Human Rights and in the European Social Charter is a core element of the mission of the Council of Europe. The main issues with regards to social cohesion are social protection, employment, education and vocational training, workers rights, health, housing, equal opportunities, non-discrimination and immigration.

With regard to the integration of excluded young people, the Council of Europe has recently emphasized under the Agenda 2020 the needs for "ensuring access to education, training and the working life, particularly through the promotion and recognition of non-formal education/learning support the transition from education to the labour market, for example by strengthening possibilities to reconcile private and working life; support autonomy, well-being, access to appropriate living conditions; ensure equal access to cultural, sporting and creative activities; encouraging intergenerational dialogue and solidarity".

Therefore Social Inclusion will remain one of the three core objectives of the Council of Europe's  Youth Policy in the coming decade.

The Lisbon strategy of the European Union called for a renewed and modernized European social model covering the following issues: investing in people, building an active and dynamic welfare state and strengthening actions against unemployment, social exclusion and poverty.

The objectives of combating poverty and exclusion are as well relevant to young people:

• Participation in employment and access for all to resources, rights, goods, services
• Prevention of risks of exclusion, amongst exclusion from education
• Support the most vulnerable members of society
• Mobilization of all relevant players and bodies and fostering participation.

In the White Paper on Youth social integration is identified as one of the five key priorities in horizontal policy fields where youth aspects should be taken more into account. The European Youth Pact confirms the relevance of employment, integration and social advancement and agrees that relevant actions in these areas are to be drawn up in particular in the European Employment Strategy and the Social Inclusion Strategy. Particularly the Social Inclusion Strategy will incorporate a youth dimension and will take into account the Council Resolution on the social integration of young people.

In the framework of the revised Lisbon Strategy, the Commission has proposed a holistic strategy designated active inclusion. It combines income support at a level sufficient for people to have a dignified life with a link to the labour market through job opportunities or vocational training and through better access to enabling social services. Moreover, the promotion of social inclusion includes several relevant domains, such as mobility and the access to the information society.

The guidelines drawn by Commission under the EU Strategy on Youth reaffirm that "addressing youth at risk of poverty and social exclusion involves a wide range of policy fields and requires integrated action." The main objectives are: "address issues related to teenagers and young adults, in particular those with fewer opportunities, in social protection and inclusion policies; optimise the use of EU Funds and experimental programmes to support social integration of young people; realise the full potential of youth work and youth community centres as means of inclusion; develop intercultural awareness and competences for all young people; encourage youth involvement in inclusion policy and cooperation between policy makers; recognise challenges overcome by disadvantaged youth, including through special awards; address homelessness, housing and financial exclusion; promote access to quality services – e.g. transport, e-inclusion, health, social services; promote specific support for young families."

Moreover, the year of 2010 – "European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion" is an important EU initiative to highlight challenges and the need to address this complex set of issues.

Text drafted by Filipa Menezes for the partnership between the European Commission and the Council of Europe in the field of Youth

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