Sceptical Youth

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Published: 23 March 2005

Sceptical Youth

The electronic poll of more than 300 teenagers (16-19 year olds) at a recent conference, organised by the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA), revealed that 61% were against having a single currency - the Euro.

The poll also revealed their views on subjects ranging from the importance of voting to whether the EU (European Union) should help poor countries in other parts of the world.

The majority of delegates were on citizenship programmes run by schools, colleges, youth or training organisations in England, but the audience also included young people from Holland, Hungary, Sweden and Ireland.

Main findings - student poll

61% were against having a single currency - the Euro - for all the countries of the EU, with 24% in favour and 15% unsure. But young people from Ireland (which uses the Euro) were more positive, with 92% in favour.
The two things that concern young people most about being part of Europe were (selected from a list of seven) "the EU is undemocratic - decisions are made a long way from individual people" and "the loss of our national identity and power."

Speaking at the event, Tony Benn, former Labour MP and cabinet minister, called for a 'commonwealth' of Europe and said:
"Do you want to live in a Europe where the laws are made by people you didn't elect, can't get rid of and who don't listen?"

Other findings

26% of the audience felt they were more European than British, whereas 53% disagreed and 21% described their feelings as somewhere in between ("somewhat European").
52% agreed that membership of the EU was a good thing, with 28% disagreeing and 18% unsure.
79% were in favour of the EU policy which allows the citizens of member states to live and work in any EU country.
86% agreed that the EU should help poor countries in other parts of the world.
The two most important actions the EU could undertake (selected from a list of seven) were "maintaining peace and security in Europe" and "fighting unemployment, poverty & social exclusion".
Opinions were more divided on other issues. 52% thought it was important to vote for an MEP to represent them in the European parliament and 50%said they would vote in a referendum on the proposed new constitution for the EU, but 42% admitted to not having enough information to form a view.

Bernadette Joslin, project manager, citizenship at LSDA said:
"Young people clearly have strong views on Europe and many other issues, which shows they are certainly not apathetic about politics.

But there is a dearth of information available to help them make informed decisions about important issues such as the European Constitution and the Euro. Citizenship education has a crucial role in helping them to form opinions, particularly as they become young adults.

We need to motivate and empower them to become more actively involved in national, European and international issues and feel that they can make a difference."

The programme for the one day event - EURU? Voice your europinions - held at Congress House in London, was planned by young people involved in the Post-16 Citizenship Programme, managed by the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills (DfES).

Other speakers and panel members included MEPs Robert Events (Labour), Gerard Batten (UKIP) and Jean Lambert (Green Party), who contributed to debates on: