14/07/2023
At the Forum, organised by the European Commission, the FIIAPP shares the Spanish experience through the programmes in which it has mobilised the talent of different public administrations to involve young people in social and climate policies
Opening of the UE-LAC Forum
This preparatory meeting for the next EU-CELAC Summit (17-18 July), a key milestone in the Spanish Presidency of the European Union, kicks off in Brussels. Objective: to incorporate into the summit’s conclusions the vision of the youngest people – from state and civil society organisations – regarding a social, green and digital transition that is just. This is the third summit between the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (the first took place in 2012 and the second in 2015).
The debate on new opportunities to build a sustainable and inclusive future through public policies is one of the priorities that the FIIAPP addresses in the European programmes and projects it leads. FIIAPP is participating in the “EU-Latin America and Caribbean Forum: Partners for Change” with an agenda that includes working in cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean and whose priority is to actively listen to young people.
According to the International Youth Organisation for Ibero-America, 35% of the world’s population is young, and FIIAPP supports the crucial role of young people in transforming the world through public policies, in line with the work of governments and in alliance with civil society.
The forum will feature the event “Women, youth and territory: three key vectors for a green and just transition” organised by EUROCLIMA and the EUROsociAL+, which will address the three axes of social cohesion: employment, care and territorial development. The session will address the transition towards a decarbonised society and the social justice criteria necessary for this in terms of benefits and opportunities for different socioeconomic groups, territories and generations.
The director of FIIAPP, Anna Terrón, points out the importance of the social pillar of the triple transition. “Inequalities must be tackled to achieve sustainable development and cohesioned societies” Terrón pointed out the relevance this isse will play during the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. “Youth is a driving force for social transformation at a time when there are fundamental challenges. An intergenerational pact between decision-makers and young people is essential”, Terrón added.
In addition, from EUROCLIMA, the FIIAPP has organised the session “Climate competences in energy transition: near futures for young people with a 2050 horizon”, a space in which the programme highlights the crucial role of youth in the fight against climate change and the promotion of a fair and inclusive energy transition. In this sense, the Climate Competences proposal aims to be a reference framework for the development of actions on energy transition capacity building in key areas such as those identified in the European Global Gateway Strategy, which promotes sustainable and reliable connections that are useful for people and the planet.
The Forum hosts the first activities developed by the bridging action of the EUROsociAL programme, which will continue to contribute to reducing inequalities, improving levels of social cohesion and strengthening institutions in 19 Latin American countries. The last phase of the programme concluded in April 2023 and future support from the European Union is planned within the framework of the Team Europe Initiative (TEI) “Inclusive and Egalitarian Societies”, led by Spain, for the beginning of 2024. This Bridging Action will bridge the gap between one phase and the other.
The programme will disseminate the work carried out, provide information on the objectives of the next phase, organise a discussion and disseminate several videos that reflect the progress made in social cohesion in the Latin American and Caribbean region.
The “Sustainable Cities: Inequalities and Urban Policies” conference will reflect on the challenges facing large cities in the medium and long term from the point of view of social cohesion in the framework of the triple transition. These include reducing social inequalities, addressing the climate and environmental crisis, and promoting economic development for the entire population.
The expected outcome of this Forum is the preparation of recommendations ahead of the EU-CELAC Summit and closer cooperation between non-state actors and youth organisations from both regions.
The EU-CELAC Summit is expected to approve the EU-LAC Global Gateway Investment Agenda, a political commitment for joint work between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Global Gateway is the EU’s global investment offer to partner countries to boost smart, clean and secure connections in the digital, energy and transport sectors, and to strengthen health, education and research systems.
