Where bureaucracy met beer

Ah the EU, that big floaty mass of bureaucracy.

Ah the EU, that big floaty mass of bureaucracy that glides discreetly over Europe. To be honest, EU affairs have never been top of my commonly discussed topics. In fact, they come about three rungs behind whether Jaffa Cakes are a cake or a biscuit (clearly a cake, the hint is in the name). Lately however, my awareness of the EU has grown, as its effect on Irish society has become more apparent. I was in Brussels rolling around in red tape for two days the other week and this is what I learned... (aside from how offensively bad my French is).

On arrival, after getting up at 5am (I’m not messing), I negotiated the metro-line to Place Madou. I had never heard of Place Madou. I can now confidently tell you that it is a tall building, in Belgium. In a room in that building I was briefed on various aspects of the EU Youth Commission’s strategy for 2020, and mostly on the European Youth Week, which I would be covering as a journalist (they gave me a laminated badge to say so).

I was joined by journalists from literally all over Europe, who ALL had fantastic English, and thankfully, not that much of an idea of what their nominated roles entailed. We were then joined by a variety of speakers who were there to lay down the EU plans for its young people and also to show its successes. I learnt about various committees that had been enlisted with the task of ensuring the future of the EU through its young people. I also saw the amount of evidence needed to gather these committees.

We were then told about the 2020 Youth Strategy. This strategy aims to ensure the future of Europe’s young people through education, training and “active citizenship”. The lads here are mad for the jargon, and spout sensible stuff wrapped in words that frankly are just mash-ups of two nice, official-sounding words. One such example is the “Structured Dialogue” which is taking place during Youth Week in Brussels.

“Structured Dialogue” is how the EU plans on involving young people in its policy making. This means that during Youth Week, a young representative from each member and candidate state will be discussing their national youth issues with each other and with various EU commissioners. There will be a rep from Ireland who is yet to be announced, and these bright young things are there to be your voice on the European platform.

The one thing demonstrated by these talks was a willingness to listen and improve, which is a bit shocking from an Irish perspective. Usually in Ireland, when someone tells us we’re doing something wrong, we nod, and then continue to do it, just more discreetly, (for example drinking on public transport). The people who spoke to us even seemed interested in the (well earned) cringey response that the ‘Youth on the Move’ promo video solicited.

Around 9pm, with our heads reeling from a full days Euro-Jargon, almost all thirty of us young journalists hit the streets of Brussels with one objective; Belgian Beer. I think talking to the other journos and asking about how they felt about EU policies and youth work was the most educating and revealing thing about the trip. I’m looking forward to the events in May and also to seeing if the EU is really that pushed with its’ ruffian youngsters, or if they’re just being polite...

European Youth Week is held across Europe every year at the end of May. Check out Leargas.ie for info about how you can get involved, and maybe even get yourself over to Brussels!

By: Katie O’ Mahony