NEWS
Prime Minister following her meeting with the representatives of youth organisations: "Young people are not part of the problem but part of the solution."
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Alenka Bratušek, today met with the representatives of youth and student organisations. In addition to the representatives of the Slovenian Student Union, the National Youth Council of Slovenia, the MaMa Youth Network Institute and the Youth Plus Trade Union, the meeting was also attended by the Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Anja Kopač Mrak.
In her press statement, the Prime Minister thanked the participants in the meeting for their cooperation and stressed that it was important for her to meet with the representatives of young people before the European Council meeting tomorrow where youth employment would be one of the main topics. She reiterated that young people were a priority of this Government and that youth unemployment was a problem in Slovenia and Europe in general. "At tomorrow's meeting, I will endeavour to change the European Council's conclusions which at this moment do not entitle Slovenia to receive youth employment assistance," emphasised the Prime Minister.
Ms Bratušek went on to explain that at today's meeting an agreement was reached with the representatives of youth and student organisations to enhance their involvement in the preparation of programs and development documents. "Young people will be given priority in Slovenia's Development Strategy and operational programmes." She also called upon regional development councils to actively engage young people in the preparation of regional development programmes although the composition of the councils remains unchanged.
By way of conclusion, the Prime Minister referred to Ms Tea Jarc, the President of the National Youth Council of Slovenia, who said that young people were not the problem of this society but part of the solution, and added that this would be the guiding principle of the Government too.