Agreement of participation within
Union of Baltic Cities, Commission on Youth Issues
According to the Union of Baltic Cities (UBC) Strategy, EU White paper on Youth policy, Agenda 21, chapter 25 and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child it is of great importance to establish and develop new ways and new methods to implement a new youth policy in dialogue with young people.
The UBC Commission on Youth Issues was established at the General Assembly of the Union of the Baltic Cities in Turku, Finland in October 2005, following up the Network on Youth Issues, that has been a body within UBC since 2003. In the work of the Network on Youth issues there have been two youth conferences, in Kalmar 2003 and in Vilnius 2005 and within the Commission in Pärnu 2007, focusing on important issues for youth in the Baltic Sea Region. We would like to express our appreciation to the active cities in the previous Network on Youth Issues and we will be pleased if you choose to be an active member in the Commission from this point on. Since 2008 the City of Tallinn is the Chair of the Commission on Youth Issues and City of Kalmar is Vice-Chair.
The outcome of the Pärnu Youth Conference “Under the Surface” is “The Book of Possibilities”. This book together with the previous one – “Book of Demands” – are main documents for the Commission on Youth Issues, which we kindly present to you as an attachment to this letter.
The Commission on Youth Issues considers youth in the Baltic Sea Region as a very important resource to develop both the cities and the region. The participation of youth brings in new dimensions, perspectives and expertise in the municipal work.
Your city will benefit from the participation within the work of the Commission on Youth issues. It provides the member cities with new ideas, a platform to discuss youth policy and to meet youth and youth workers in the Baltic Sea Region. At least twice a year Commission holds opened meeting and once closed meeting for core group is held as well. At the same time there is a joint project “Different History – Common Future…” going on until the end of 2009 and new project in development – that might be an opportunity for your city to actively join in.
The next milestone for the Commission on Youth Issues is the Youth Conference in Kristiansand in 2009. The content of this conference will focus on supportive environment for youth participation in general.
The Commission of Youth Issues hopes that your city will provide the conference in Kristiansand with bright examples from your municipal work within the frame of youth policy and youth work and will be an active member of Commission on Youth Issues.
Financial Statement. The Commission on Youth Issues receives 9 000 EUR from the UBC. The Secretariat of the Commission, the Municipality of Kalmar, will require 3 000 EUR. The final 6 000 EUR will be used to organise workshops and meetings within the Commission. Project-based activities are welcome. All participating cities have to cover their own travel costs and lodging except if involved in projects.