Intervention by the State Secretary, Mr Odd Anders With, Ministry of Children and Family Affairs, Norway

Baltic Sea Youth Ministers Conference, "Youth in the Knowledge Society" 6. – 9. Juni 2002

Dear Ministers, Colleagues and participants of the Conference,

First of all allow me to thank the Lithuanian Ministries for inviting to this Conference, for the great hospitality you have shown and the very good working conditions you have provided for.

This is the second Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth Policy in the member counties of the Council of Baltic Sea States. The first one in Visby, Sweden was four years ago. Then a Plan of Action for the future co-operation in the youth policy field in the Baltic Sea region was adopted. To me it is important that we keep a continuity concerning the main political objectives of the co-operation. At this Conference we should further develop the concept we have drawn up in Visby, in accordance with the political realities in the region. This Conference has to focus on the realities of today and on the challenges of tomorrow. We have during these four years obtained a lot, but we have to admit - as always - that there are still improvements to be made. There are new challenges and there are new expectations, especially from the young people in the region.

Regional co-operation is important. In a smaller region we often have common historic, cultural and political links. Even if the history books are telling us that during centuries wars often have dominated contact between people in our region, we have after all a lot in common. Let us hope that the periods of wars and hostility has come to an end. Through youth co-operation, youth exchange, common youth projects and contact between young people in the region we are going to secure a peaceful and prosperous future in the Baltic Sea Region. In a smaller geographical region we are neighbours. We have common interests and it is easier to meet the challenges and to solve our problems together.

International co-operation in the youth field has to be based on the national policy of each of the countries. An important part of the co-operation is therefore to exchange information and experiences from national level. It is to learn from each other, to exchange examples of good practice and experiences from evaluating political measures in order to find out the best for young people in the region. Norway is geographically in the periphery of the Baltic Sea Region. Despite this fact, we have a genuine interest in a closer co-operation. I will therefore be in favour of a closer and more structural intergovernmental co-operation in the youth field. We have seen in the area of child policy that a practical and constructive co-operation will give us results for the future.

In Norway, my government is preparing a white paper on youth policy to be presented to the Parliament in the near future. Our ambition is to consolidate and further develop a comprehensive, cross-sectorial and integrated youth policy, covering all political areas of concern to young people. I will admit that it not an easy task. As soon as you are going to hammer out a policy outside the area of competence of your own ministry, you have to negotiate, be patient and flexible in order to reach results. One of the major roles of a ministry responsible for child and youth policy is to watch the other ministries continuously to secure that they follow-up the agreed policy in their daily work.

I am not going to use your time with detailed information on the future youth policy in Norway. But since we see the very close link between a national youth policy and the international co-operation in the youth field, I will use the opportunity to touch upon some central elements. In our opinion it is important to underline the basic values in a governmental youth policy.

We have first of all have to look at the creativity of young people, their ability to a critical approach to society, their choice of values and engagement as an enormous resource for the society, which we have to appreciate and use. Young people should have all possibilities for engagement and participation in society at their own premises. Young people should have the possibility to qualify through challenges and experiences in order to be trained in participation and mastering of the complex modern society they are a part of.

The society has to be open and including, giving the individual the possibility to develop his or her potential. We have to make equality and equal opportunities a reality, without making everyone choosing the same. Through participation and real influence in their daily life, young people will be trained and used to be active citizens taking part in the democratic processes in society. In this context it is important to underline the personal responsibility, the community spirit and the importance of voluntary work.

Education is today more important than ever. Education is giving the individual a better possibility for a free choice later in life. Our policy will be to give all children and young people the equal rights and the equal opportunities to education and qualification. At the same time we need to focus on the diversity and quality in education. Globalisation is central in modern society. In order to secure that increased globalisation gives an added and positive value, it has to be a part of a democratic development, giving children and youth the possibility to influence and make their dreams and objectives for the future a reality.

We are looking forward to present this white paper to the Parliament, and we foresee a constructive and positive discussion contributing to the improvement of the life situation of all children and youth.

The special theme of this Conference is "Youth in the Knowledge Society". This is a central part of the Lisbon process of the European Union aiming at making Europe to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world. The objective is challenging, but it is of utmost importance to the future of children and youth in Europe.

In the Baltic Sea region four of the eleven countries are members of the European Union today. Additional four countries are candidates to become members in the near future. Therefore the development of European Union policy on areas of concern to young people will in reality influence on all the eleven Baltic Sea States. The objectives of the Lisbon process are in many ways universal. They will be of central value for all countries, also those who have chosen not be member of the European Union. I therefore see no problem in Norway participating in many elements of the Lisbon process. I think we can benefit from a co-operation in this field, and I also believe we may have something to contribute to the co-operation.

I can give one resent and concrete example on how we, as a non-member of the Union, are taking part in the co-operation. In the beginning of May the European Commission, together with the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Science, organised a conference in Oslo on "Validation of non-formal and informal learning; European experiences and solution". This is one aspect of the Lisbon process that also is of highly importance to youth and to the youth policy. Norway has co-operated with the Commission for several years on this issue, and I think we also have contributed a little bit in order to develop mechanisms for validation of non-formal education, which also may be used in a youth policy context.

The European Commission has published a White Paper on youth. In the same way as the Lisbon process is influencing nom-member countries, the White Paper will do so in the field of youth policy. I am of the opinion that the development of youth policy elements will profit from a broader co-operation than the exclusive member countries. In my opinion it is a challenges for the European Union to have an inclusive policy in areas where we all can benefit from a closer co-operation, and where we all have the same interest. An including attitude will also make co-operation in the youth field in the Baltic Sea region more effective, both in the present situation and in the future.

Dear friends,

I am looking forward to this Conference. I am convinced we will have interesting discussions both in plenary and in the workshops later today.

I will once more congratulate the Lithuanian authorities with the initiative and the arrangements, and I wish all of us a successful conference.

Thank you for the attention.