To protect its democratic systems and public debates and in view of the 2019 European elections as well as a number of national and local elections that will be held in Member States by 2020, the EU is presenting today an Action Plan to step up efforts to counter disinformation in Europe and beyond.
Thirty-three schools from across Europe will come to Brussels next March to debate their views, hopes and expectations about the forthcoming European elections. They will come up with three proposals encapsulating their generation’s topmost priorities for European Parliament to tackle. The European Economic and Social committee (EESC) will make sure they reach the law-makers.
16- to 18-year old students from secondary schools all over Europe will come to Brussels on 21 and 22 March to share their views and ideas about the 2019 European elections and work together on “#YEYSturns10: Vote for the future! They will debate opportunities and potential risks, and offer their solutions to the current challenges.
The 2019 European elections are expected to be particularly challenging in a context of piled up Euroscepticism and the EESC wishes to raise young people’s awareness in a bid to boost election turnout.
The students will debate on specific questions:
During the YEYS plenary, the youth will vote on three proposals for European Parliament to take on board in its campaign for the European elections.
The 33 schools were selected to participate in this initiative by means of an electronic name picker in Brussels on 29 November. One school from each of the 28 EU Member States and five candidate countries (Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey) will be involved. A record 1038 applications were received for this 10th anniversary.
Called “Your Europe, Your Say!” (YEYS), the event is organised by the European Economic and Social Committee, the voice of civil society at European level, and is the Committee’s flagship event for young people.
Through this initiative, the EESC aims to ensure that the views, experiences and ideas of the younger generation are taken on board in EU policy making.
Further details about YEYS2019 are available on the event’s official page. Watch the YEYS 2018 video here.
This additional support of €50 million was formally agreed today by Neven Mimica, the European Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, and Kamissa Camara, Mali’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in Nouakchott (Mauritania), on the fringes of the Partner-Donor Coordination Conference organised by the G5 Sahel.
Commissioner Mimica said: ‘These extra €50 million reaffirm the EU’s continuing commitment to peace and development in Mali and to its people. The purpose of these additional funds is to support the progress that the Malian authorities have undertaken to deliver to the people of Mali, in implementing structural reforms.’
The extra amount will increase the resources allocated to the budget support programmes under way in Mali aimed at implementing reforms in strategic sectors in the short term. These reforms will make it possible to strengthen security in Mali, fight against corruption, improve access to elementary education, in particular for girls, improve access to a fair justice system, increase the provision of professional training, and reduce food and nutrition insecurity.
Several contracts have been signed under the European Development Fund: (i) an additional €40 million to support state reform and consolidation, (ii) an additional €30 million for the contract for sectoral reform of food security, nutrition and agricultural development, (iii) a justice support programme worth €7 million, and (iv) a programme for access to drinking water and sanitation worth €11.5 million.
Background
The European Union is Mali’s main partner in the field of development cooperation. This additional support of €50 million brings the budget allocated to Mali under the European Development Fund to a total of €665 million for 2014-2020. With regard to development, the EU is committed to supporting Mali in the following four priority sectors: (i) Peace-building and state reform, (ii) Rural development and food security, (iii) Education, and (iv) Infrastructure.
Through the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, the EU also supports Mali in managing the root causes of irregular migration. Under this Fund, over €195 million has been allocated to measures to support the improvement of security, border management, access to basic services and job creation, particularly for young people and women. The EU is also working hard to encourage private investments in Mali aimed at generating growth and employment under the EU’s External Investment Plan.
A number of operations blending loans and grants, for a total of €114.8 million, are financing the construction of road and energy infrastructure. Guarantee mechanisms will also make it possible to encourage investments aimed at supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (ALCB GP), sustainable cities (RECIDE) and the development of renewable energy (DESCO).
For more information
To protect its democratic systems and public debates and in view of the 2019 European elections as well as a number of national and local elections that will be held in Member States by 2020, the EU is presenting today an Action Plan to step up efforts to counter disinformation in Europe and beyond.
To protect its democratic systems and public debates and in view of the 2019 European elections as well as a number of national and local elections that will be held in Member States by 2020, the EU is presenting today an Action Plan to step up efforts to counter disinformation in Europe and beyond.