EU celebrating International Youth Day

The European Commission welcomes today’s International Youth Day (#YouthDay), and particularly its theme this year: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production. The European Commission is at the forefront of working towards a more sustainable world. Through its development cooperation efforts, the Commission is committed to supporting youth around the world. Its particular focus lies for example on strengthening education, vocational training and youth employment in our partner countries. Commissioner Neven Mimica, responsible for International Cooperation and Development said: “For the European Union it is a clear priority to strengthen youth all around the world. We want to make sure that young people are at the heart of global development efforts – because it is about their future life and their planet.” Commissioner Tibor Navracsics, responsible for Education, Youth, Culture and Sports, added: ”Today, we celebrate Europe’s future. It is important that we empower young people, because it is the young generation, students and young professionals that will shape how Europe looks tomorrow – as a region, an economy and as a community of shared values and identities.” And the Commission is making a real impact in the field of education. Through Erasmus+ and the European Voluntary Service, it helps 200,000 young people to make a positive change in the world every year.