YOUTH COUNCIL: MINISTERS SEEK TO MAXIMISE YOUNG PEOPLE'S INVOLVEMENT IN DEMOCRACY.

Cooperation.

Chairing the session, Marie-Josee Jacobs, the Luxembourg Family Policy, Integration and Equal Opportunities Minister, said the resolution on European youth cooperation initiatives took stock of the first implementation cycle for the open coordination method (OCM) in this area in the light of the European Commission's October 17, 2004 Communication. The Ministers decided it was important to spell out the procedures for applying this method, some aspects of which are still quite sketchy. Back in June 2002, the Council adopted the OCM as a new youth policy cooperation framework for the four priority themes of participation, information, voluntary service and a greater understanding of young people. The new resolution proposes developing the OCM implementation procedures more effectively as soon as joint targets have been adopted for a given priority (assessment of the national situation, definition of priority policy lines, review of the progress made, suitable consultation with young people).

Participation in democracy.

The resolution adopted on how to "increase participation by young people in the system of representative democracy" is a perfect illustration of the OCM being put into...