On 15th February in Paris, Italy and France signed a cooperation agreement on youth policies.
The agreement was signed by the Italian Minister for Youth, Fabiana Dadone, and the Secretary of State for Youth, Education, and Sport of the French Republic, Sarah El Haïry.
Through this agreement, Italy and France aim to involve young volunteers in joint mobility programs between the two countries within their respective civilian service programs.
The first phase of the project will involve one thousand young people, with particular attention to those at risk of marginalization or exclusion, as in the case of NEETs, young people who are “Not in Education, Employment, or Training”. The two countries will also implement a system of recognition and validation of the skills acquired by volunteers so that they are valid in both countries.
“In the field of youth policies, civilian service represents an important tool for training and cooperation purposes. Our agreement aims at promoting and increasing youth exchanges between Italy and France through our civilian service programs. Many Italian and French young men and women will have the opportunity to increase their skills thanks to a unique experience“, said Minister Dadone.
The creation of a joint Italian-French Civilian Service is the first concrete act following the Quirinal Treaty, signed in Rome on November 26, 2021, by the Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron. The Quirinal Treaty aims at increasing economic, political, cultural cooperation between Italy and France.
The agreement on civilian service “is a founding model of inclusion at the service of the community and an instrument to promote the common welfare, as well as the democratic values of active citizenship and solidarity, between Italy, France and the entire European Union” concluded Minister Dadone.
The agreement is in line with the proposal of the EU Commission that provides for the organization in all Member States of activities and initiatives for young people and declares 2022 as the European Year of Youth.
