EU Commission taking new Covid variant 'very seriously'

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Over €1billion (£855million) has been allocated by the EU as a standalone budget for a project named “The European Solidarity Corps”, in addition to the monies already spent since it was first announced by former European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in 2018. Under the “EU Divorce Bill” agreed by former Prime Minister Theresa May, the UK remains liable for part of the costs of the European Commission’s plans which were agreed before the United Kingdom officially left the European Union on January 1, 2021. This comes on top of the €26billion euros which the EU is spending on its Erasmus+ youth programme from this year until 2027.

Both the European Solidarity Corps and Erasmus+ are in the European Commission’s list of agencies and projects to which British taxpayers are expected to contribute, under the so-called divorce bill arrangements agreed by Mrs May.

Documents from the group of EU-funded agencies working on the European Solidarity Corps reveal how a body set up to provide volunteering opportunities for unemployed young people requires allegiance to the political priorities of the European Commission, run by President Ursula von der Leyen.

The wording from SALTO-YOUTH, one of the EU’s agencies running the project, states: “The European Solidarity Corps supports the political priorities of the European Union and engages organisations and young people in projects to address them.”

On Wednesday a European Commission official told Express.co.uk: “The ESC is, as all European programmes, anchored in the vision for the European Union. The new programme puts a strong focus on horizontal priorities such as social inclusion, green and digital transitions, and promoting young people’s participation in democratic life.”

A European Commission source added: “Through annual priorities, the Solidarity Corps may, in addition, contribute to challenges that Europe faces, such as addressing the COVID-19’s impact and recovery. These priorities are in addition to the main objective of the programme, namely giving volunteering opportunities to young people.”

With youth unemployment remaining at remarkably high levels compared to the UK, the European Commission continues to attempt to address the issue.

In Ms von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech on 14 October 2021, she declared 2022 has been officially designated by the European Commission as the European Year of Youth.

For years youth unemployment across the EU has been a major problem. In some EU countries, it has been as high as 58 percent, which some politicians have described as “leaving a generation without hope.”

“Youth unemployment has long been a blight on the EU’s copybook.”

The Rt Hon David Jones MP, former Brexit Minister

Former Brexit Minister David Jones MP told Express.co.uk: “Despite all the talk in Brussels the EU has not been able to improve the situation. It’s a tragedy for millions of young people but thank goodness the situation is far better in the United Kingdom.”

The latest figures for youth unemployment in the EU from Eurostat compared to the UK from the Office for National Statistics make for troubling reading in Brussels. They show the EU’s youth unemployment rate is nearly double that of Brexit Britain, currently running at 17.7 percent compared to the UK at only 9.3 percent.

Figures released at the end of June 2021 show the worst 10 EU countries for youth unemployment in Q2.

Greece: 38.5%
Spain: 38.2%
Italy: 32.2%
Croatia: 25.7%
Sweden: 25.4%
Portugal: 24.7%
Slovakia: 21.7%
Belgium: 20.5%
France: 19.8%
Estonia: 19.6%
UK : 9.3%

With youth unemployment rates in parts of the EU still running at more than four times those in the UK, David Jones MP added: “We can always do better – and we must, because there can never be room for complacency – but at least the chances for our young people are a great deal better than in most of the EU.”

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On the same day that Ms von der Leyen made her State of the European Union speech at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, a Commission Staff Working Document regarding the implementation of the EU Youth Strategy was issued.

The European Solidarity Corps presents itself as a youth volunteering programme.

It is funded from the EU’s central budget and is now incorporated under EU law as an official body entitled to receive funds.

The “Corps” was set up with the aim of providing opportunities for unemployed young people across the bloc aged from 15-29 years.

The ambition stated by the Commission is that 270,000 may take up the opportunity over the next seven years.

According to the official Brussels statistical agency Eurostat, there are currently 73.6 million EU27 citizens in the 15-29 age group.

If the Commission secures its objective of 270,000 young people participating in its flagship programme, this will represent just 0.05 percent of the total number who are eligible across the EU27 countries.

Express.co.uk contacted the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture for its latest information on the number of volunteers who have participated in the scheme since it started in 2018.

An official said they were not able to give precise numbers, but stated: “Some 60,000 participants already took part in projects.”

They went on to say: “So far 400,000 young people have joined the European Solidarity Corps as registered participants.”

Registering indicates interest but in three years only a small proportion of those expressing an interest have gone on to participate in this EU project.

If the EU’s hoped-for 270,000 young people participate this will mean a cost per young person of €3,737 euros (£3,195).

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