In a keynote speech during the 4th Cyprus Forum on Friday, Christiana Xenofontos, the Cypriot Vice President of the European Youth Forum, highlighted the role of young people in today’s rapidly changing society and called for more youth participation in the European political landscape.
Drawing attention to Eurobarometer statistics showing that while 55% of young voters intend to cast their ballots, 67% of older generations do so, Xenofontos addressed the oft-repeated misconception about the youth: “Truth is that young people are not inactive citizens. They are more active but in other forms of activism, in other forms of participation.”
Highlighting the efforts of young activists and their significant contribution to social causes, Xenofontos mentioned, “Fridays For Future inspired the European Green Deal.” She further noted the involvement of 61% of young individuals in various youth clubs across the EU.
However, the disparity in representation is evident. Xenofontos pointed out the under-representation of the youth demographic in the European Parliament. “While one in five Europeans is between the ages of 18 and 35, just one in fifteen MEPs are in the same age group,” she stated. In a memorable analogy, she remarked, “There are as many MEPs under the age of 30 as there are MEPs named Martin.”
Addressing the core of the issue, Xenofontos argued that young people’s concerns often go unheard by political entities, leading to disillusionment with the voting process. She highlighted the need to see more young candidates on political party lists and articulated, “Young people need to be able to see their demographic represented in political power structures if they are to believe that political administrations can make positive changes on their behalf.”
In a move to bridge this divide, the European Youth Forum has unveiled a ‘Youth Manifesto,’ she said. This manifesto encapsulates a comprehensive list of twenty demands targeting policy areas that could reshape Europe’s future for its youth. One of the manifesto’s headline demands is the EU Youth Test, which Xenofontos described as a mechanism to ensure that “every EU law would be reviewed for its impact on young people.”
Furthermore, the Cypriot Vice President of the European Youth Forum shed light on the practical challenges young people face when trying to vote. She shared that “68% of young people who didn’t vote in 2019 stated they didn’t do so because of practical reasons, not ideological ones.” Such statistics underscore the necessity for improved accessibility and resources tailored to younger voters.
Xenofontos also urged a reevaluation of democratic participation restrictions, shedding light on countries where, at the age of 16, youths can work, drive, or even get married, yet lack the right to vote. “They pay tax – and have no say over how this is spent. They are criminally liable, yet have no say over the criminal justice system that governs this liability,” she remarked.
She urged for change and inclusivity, noting that young people bear the brunt of today’s pressing issues. “From climate change to environmental degradation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and social and racial justice — all these areas have serious consequences for young people, now and in the future,” she stated.
Xenofontos ended her speech on a hopeful note, encouraged by the advancements in Belgium and Germany where many youths will soon be voting for the first time. She concluded, “In order to truly engage the next generation of young people… we need to finally give them this right to vote.”
Read more:
