Minister due on Brussels mission

Nov 26 2012

Scotland's Youth Employment Minister is to represent the UK at the European Education, Youth and Culture and Sport Council this week.

Angela Constance said she is keen to learn how youth unemployment is being dealt with in other EU member states, singling out Austria as an example, where the rate is less than 10%.

She will take part in the event in Brussels, Belgium, as part of a three-day visit to the city where she will share experiences about efforts to tackle youth unemployment.

Ms Constance said: "This coming week represents an excellent opportunity to share with other European countries how Scotland plans to support more young people into employment through a range of activity and investment, including Opportunities for All (which offers everyone aged between 16-19 a place in education or training), financial support for employers and record numbers of modern apprenticeship places and to learn from the activities of our European peers.

"I am in no doubt that the ideas and actions that some of our European colleagues are implementing to deal with what is a global problem could help inform future developments in Scotland.

"I will be very interested to learn how youth unemployment is being dealt with in other EU member states, with a particular interest in Austria, a relatively small country with a youth unemployment rate below 10 per cent.

"It will also be an honour to represent the UK at the Education, Youth and Culture and Sports Council, which will focus on how we ensure young people have a voice across the UK.

"I will be very pleased to highlight Scotland's work in this area, including our upcoming youth summit where over 100 young people will get the chance to directly discuss their views on youth employment with ministers."

The youth summit is to be held at the Hub in Edinburgh on December 5, and will be co-hosted by Young Scot and the Scottish Youth Parliament.

The Education, Youth and Culture and Sports Council meets three or four times a year and brings together education, culture, youth and communication ministers.