Lisbon Summit to discuss youth policy in Africa-Europe co-operation
How to increase young people’s participation in the Euro–African co-operation and to reinforce youth work in the two continents will be the focus of a three-day summit which will start in Lisbon on 5 December.
Facilitated by the North South Centre of the Council of Europe, and supported by the European Commission and the Portuguese government, the Africa-Europe Youth Summit is being organised under the Portuguese President’s patronage and is a joint initiative of a large number of youth organisations including the European Youth Forum, the Portuguese National Youth Council, the Pan African Youth Union and the African Youth Network.
Over 250 youth representatives from Europe and Africa and representatives of governments, regional and international organisations will discuss issues such as poverty eradication, gender equality, Millennium Development goals, good governance and democracy, peace and conflict, climate change and sustainable development, rade and socio-economical development, migration, mobility and co-development, employment and social cohesion as well as strategies and tools for Euro-African youth participation and co-operation.
An extensive consultation process that led to the Lisbon Summit involved some 600 young people from Africa and Europe.
The event is expected to conclude with the adoption of the Africa-Europe Youth Summit final declaration, which will be then submitted by youth delegates to the 2nd EU-Africa Heads of State Summit to be held in Lisbon on 8-9 December 2007, under the Portuguese EU Presidency.
The Summit will be officially opened by Aníbal Cavaco Silva, President of the Republic of Portugal. It will be closed by José Socrates, President of the Council of the European Union.
Journalists are invited to attend the opening and closing of the conference at 9.30 on 5 December and at 12.00 on 7 December respectively, as well as the roundtable, entitled “Beyond the Youth Summit: strategy and instruments for Africa-Europe youth cooperation” at 9.00 on 7 December. A press conference is planned for 7 December at 13.00.
The event will be held at the Centro Ismaili (Avenue Lusiada), Aga Khan Development Network in Lisbon.
