The youth of the Mediterranean and the challenges of a permanent crisis: Income, independence, housing and future challenges

European Parliament, Rue Wiertz 60, 1047 Brussels, Belgium - Room A5G1

PROGRAM

11.00h Presentation of the event

• Laia Garrido Policy Advisor, Networking & Inter-Institutional Relations Unit of Renew Europe

11.05h Opening remarks

• Jules Maaten, Head of EU Regional Office, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom

11.15h Presentation of the report

• David Henneberger,Head of Office Spain, Italy, Portugal & Mediterranean Dialogue, FNF
  
• Jorge Galindo, Managing Director, EsadeEcPol- Center for Economic Policy and co- author of the report

11.35h Discussion with MEPs and participants

• Eva-Maria Poptcheva, Member of the European Parliament elected in Spain & Vice-Chair Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

• Salima Yenbou, Member of the European Parliament & Member of the Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean

Moderator: Odilia Abreu, Senior Project Manager Mediterranean Dialogue, FNF Madrid

12.30h Closing of the event

ABOUT THE EVENT

During the European Year of Youth in 2022, Renew Europe established the Renew4Youth Taskforce. Since then the more than 20 MEPs conforming this taskforce have been meeting youth from across Europe to listen to their challenges and policy proposals. As part of this process, the group organized several events across Europe, including regional youth summits in Central-Eastern Europe and Western Europe. The result was the approval of the first Renew Europe Youth Manifesto launched in 2023. In this event, Renew Europe aims to keep the discussion about the great challenges youth are facing across Europe, giving special attention to specific regional problems and solutions. This time the focus will be on the youth in the Mediterranean.

Building upon the prior successful endeavor, "The Double Crisis Generation: Economic Insecurity and Political Attitudes in Southern Europe," the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Madrid office, in collaboration with its strategic partner, the Esade Centre for Economic Policy (EsadeEcpol), embarked on a joint initiative to conduct the Youth Trans Mediterranean Survey. This comprehensive study was executed in collaboration with the public opinion and data company YouGov.

The report “The youth of the Mediterranean and the challenges of a permanent crisis: Income, independence, housing and future challenges- SPAIN, ITALY, JORDAN, LEBANON, MOROCCO, PORTUGAL, TUNISIA”, aims to shed light on the unique challenges and opportunities facing young individuals in Mediterranean countries.

The comprehensive study spans across Spain, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Portugal, and Tunisia, providing valuable insights into the socio-economic attitudes of youth. By delving into their expectations and preferences, we aim to gain a deeper understanding of how young people navigate through the complexities of a perpetually evolving landscape.

The transition to adulthood for those born between 1980 and 2005 has been profoundly impacted by recurrent economic and social crises, particularly affecting young individuals in Southern Europe and the broader Mediterranean region. This Roundtable unveils the findings of a pioneering multi-country survey, offering fresh insights into the perspectives of young adults (aged 18-34) in the Mediterranean. We will explore vital aspects of their present, such as financial stability, ability to save for the future, emancipation, and housing. Furthermore, we will delve into their outlook on the immediate and long-term future, backed by specific data. The Roundtable will also address their perceptions of the critical challenges they anticipate in adulthood, their preferred solutions, and their evaluation of the institutions tasked with addressing them.

ABOUT THE FNF AND ESADEECPOL

Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF)

FNF is the foundation for liberal politics of the Federal Republic of Germany. It aims to promote the goal of making the principle of freedom valid for the dignity of all people and in all areas of society, both in Germany and abroad. With the safeguarding and the development of its statutory projects (civic education and dialogue, sponsorship of the talented, research and political consultation, archive-work), the Friedrich Naumann Foundation wants to contribute to shaping the future.

The Madrid project office seeks to develop a new approach to interregional cooperation in the Mediterranean. With partner organisations from across the region, we are developing a liberal approach to geostrategic demands and opportunities, which we believe will have a considerable impact on economic development and social inclusion around the Mare Nostrum.

EsadeEcPol- Center for Economic Policy

Founded in 1958, Esade is a global academic institution, with campuses in Barcelona and Madrid, and present throughout the world through collaboration agreements with 185 universities and business schools.

Each year, more than 11,000 students participate in its courses, in the three training areas: Business School, Law School and Executive Education.

Esade Alumni, Esade’s alumni association, has more than 60,000 alumni and has an international network of 72 chapters, with alumni of up to 126 nationalities, present in more than 100 countries. Esade also participates in the Esade Creapolis business innovation park, a pioneering ecosystem that aims to inspire, facilitate and accelerate the innovation processes of the companies that participate in it. With an international vocation, Esade occupies prominent positions in the main world rankings of business schools such as Financial Times, QS, Bloomberg Businessweek or América Economía. Esade is a member of the Ramon Llull University