European Youth Event 2016

With the current generation of young Europeans facing the same issues of unemployment and social exclusion across the whole continent, the newly established Cooperatives Europe Youth Network looks to the cooperative model to seek solutions for the challenges of today’s youth.  

On 20 and 21 May, Cooperatives Europe and its Network of Young Cooperators held two workshops in the framework of the European Youth Event 2016 (EYE2016), organised by the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

The workshops clearly demonstrated the relevance of the cooperative model in addressing the interests of the youth. The first, titled “Sharing is caring”, promoted sharing economy but also stimulated a debate on the reality of what it is, what it should be and on improving the social benefits of sharing economy, as well as exploring the potential of the cooperative approach.

“Business beyond profit” workshop focused on finding solutions to local challenges of youth unemployment, brain drain, bridging the gap between youth and seniors, as well as lack of economic and social security through the cooperative model. 

The involvement of Young Cooperators in the 7000-participant event and the success of their workshops shows the importance of youth in creating a more cooperative future in Europe.