With 27 European Union Member States present, the Latvian Presidency on 26 - 27 March chaired the meeting of Directors General for Youth in Riga, where issues of cyber bullying, youth cybercrimes and recruitment on the internet were debated. A need for a cross-sectorial policy cooperation concerning safety on the internet, digital literacy and other emerging challenges that young people are currently facing was emphasised during the meeting.
International experts invited by the Presidency shared their views on the challenges linked to the use of internet by young people. Ms Annie Mullins, Director of Trust and Safety at Ask.fm Europe, introduced the problem of cyber bullying in social media. Project officer Ms Francesca Bosco from the Emerging Crimes Unit of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, presented the increasing problem of youth cybercrimes. Whereas, strategic communications advisor Mr Thomas Elkjer Nissen from the Royal Danish Defence College, presented a case study on ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant), analysing their social media and recruitment strategies.
“It is about the time to bring awareness of these emerging issues to EU youth policy-makers. When the Latvian Presidency started out, we made Digital Europe as one of our key priorities. Unfortunately alongside the use of technology also comes the misuse of it, and young people in Europe are getting more exposed to new forms and shapes of cyber-violence and cybercrimes. Only a cross sectorial approach will work efficiently to combat these threats. By sharing the latest data and analysis at the meeting in Riga, the experts raised the policy-makers’ awareness of these emerging tendencies. Member States shared their experience and the lively debates during the workshops were highly appreciated by the policy-makers,” said Sanda Brūna, Deputy Director for Youth at the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science.
The second part of the DG meeting addressed youth work and started a discussion on further agenda in the area of youth at EU level.
Youth policy makers traditionally meet after the EU Youth Conference, which is held once under every Presidency. Entitled “Empowering young people for political participation in democratic life in Europe”, the EU Youth Conference took place on 23–26 March in Riga. The meeting was co-financed by the Erasmus+ programme for education, training, youth and sports.