ANYN i drejtohet me letër të hapur BE: Çështja e të rinjve, kriter shtesë për hyrjen e Shqipërisë në BE

The Albanian National Youth Network asks for the intervention of the European Commissioners, Federica Mogherini and Johannes Hahn

OPEN LETTER

To: Mrs. Federica Mogherini

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Mr. Johannes Hahn

European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations

Subject:                                   The support, empowerment and progress of youth in Albania must also be criteria for the opening of the negotiations with European Union.

Honourable Mrs. Mogherini,

Honourable Mr. Hahn,

The Albanian National Youth Network (ANYN)is the leading youth network in the country for youth rights, composed of representatives of over 50 civil society youth organizations and youth political forums at the local and national level. The Network conducts youth actions throughout Albania to improve public youth policies, increase youth participation in decision-making, empowerment of youth organizations, as well as the establishment of service centres and youth work.

On 12 August, in the International Youth Day, ANYN made public the National Report "Youth in Albania". This study is drafted in cooperation with the Children's Rights Center in Albania (CRCA), which contains the assessment that civil society organizations in the country have done regarding to the efforts of the Government and Municipalities to implement the National Action Plan for Youth in Albania (2015-2020).

The report brings some facts and date of great concern to the current situation of young people in Albania. One of the biggest challenges for young people in the country remains employment. About 81% of youth organizations stated that they did not have the support of the Albanian Government for the promotion and empowerment of programs for promoting youth employment. Data from the International Labour Organization for year 2015 (ILO) show that Albania is the first country in Europe for youth unemployment.

According to the Report, by the end of 2017, the Albanian Government did not invest for the implementation of the Youth Action Plan, although the Albanian National Youth Network - ANYN has raised its voice for this crucial problem. While for 2018 only 0.01% of the state budget went to young people who are 25% of the population in Albania.

Over 80% of young people across the country claim that there is a significant lack of friendly and quality services for them and for young people with disabilities as well. Free counselling and psychosocial assistance for high school pupils and students is not provided in any city of Albania, and this service should be provided at the Community or Youth Centres of the Municipalities. Referring to the data of different studies, violence against children and youth in Albania, especially girls, affects over 50% of them!

Meanwhile, referring to the date of the international organizations reports, I would like to bring to your attention that over 70% of young people in Albania seek to emigrate! Young people face a lack of opportunities, social and economic policies and their disregard for decision-making institutions on employment and development issues affecting their lives.

Young people's participation in decision-making processes is very low. According to the report "Youth in Albania", about 73% of young people in our country do not find the support of the Government in their representation in decision-making processes and local government structures. Referring to this report, young people are used only as a political background, do not have effective participation in policy-making and decision-making at all levels of politics, and have a strong lack of support, indicating that youth is not a priority for Government and Municipalities in Albania.

Albania hopes that the negotiations with the EU will be opened in the summer of 2019. I take the opportunity to thank you personally for the support you have given my country to this process.

Taking into consideration the overwhelming situation of young people in Albania, we want to ask for your commitment and of the commission that part of the criteria and conditions that Albania must fulfil in the opening of the negotiations in 2019, necessarily must be included the issue of supporting and empowering young people in Albania by the side of the Albanian Government.

Albania cannot advance the support and empowerment of young people, who are over 25% of the population. Therefore, let us work together so that young people from all over Albania will not be the biggest losers of Albania's integration process.

With respect,

Ms. Ervjola Osmanaj

President

Albanian National Youth Network

Mrs. Linda Pino

National Coordinator

Albanian Coalition for Education - ACE

Mr. Mirgit Vataj

Representative

Albanian National Network ”Act for Children”

THIS LETTER IS SUPPORTED BY NETWORKS AND ORGANIZATION AS FOLLOWING

1. Action for Change and Transformation - ACT;
2. PINK Embassy in Albania;
3. Civic Alliance for the Protection of National Values - CAPN;
4. Change - Regional Development Agency;
5. DEV – AID;
6. ECPAT
7. Albanian Coalition for Education – ACE;
8. National Child Helpline (ALO 116);
9. Partner for Children;
10. Organization for Protection of People with Disabilities - MEDPAK;
11. Romano Kham Organization;
12. Children’s Rights Centre in Albania, CRCA;
13. National Network for Children’s Rights: Act for Children;
14. Network for the Promotion of Women and Youth in Politics;
15. Studio G & G Group;
16. Environmental Association 'Environment, Energy, Nature, Valuation' - MENV Group;
17. Civic Office for the Protection of Environment - COPE;
18. Albanian Environmental Experts Union – AEEU;