Youth unemployment rates are the worst in Europe, rising dramatically and are serious problem for us all.
It is not only the Middle East that is concerned about the joblessness among the young. According to The Statistical Office of European Commission Eurostat in November 2010; in Spain, the youth unemployment rate is 43%; Greece 33%, Italy 29%, Franca 29% and Britain 19%.
Greece, Ireland and now Portugal seeking European Union’s bailout of their economies. It is only a matter of time according to the markets that Spain other weak Eurozone economies follow the same fate as those that have been resuced by the likes of Germany. The prospects in these countries for the youth are fast diappearing as industry and growth rates in their economies stall or go into reverse with rising infaltion.
Unemployed youth who are overeducated are worrying. Many live with their parents, unable to afford their own accommodation. They have their own dilemma whether to stay within their family or risk a future or perhaps try to find better life somewhere else.
In the Middle East the youth form the majority of the population and one can see the role they are playing in the revolutionary activities of late.
The flames of revolutionary passions are still radiating across the region with flickers across European cities. Young people in Europe have smiler concerns and aspirations.
What is striking in the UK is that the impact of the Coalition Government is felt across the country. The impact could not be starker on the level of cuts in Local Government services particularly for young people. These service cuts range from closure of children centres to youth centres.
The Government recently announced the removal of Education Maintance Allownance (EMA) that impacts particularly on young people from poor households to stay in education to get some decent qualifications rather then entering the recession hit job market. The EMAs have been abolished which will have considerable negitive impact on this particular group of young people.
The future does not hold out a good promise for our young people with debts piling up with the world recession. European cities embrace themselves for the rising discontent amongst its youth and the pricell for us will be high with effects being felt by future generations the world over.
Is this the beginning of a shift away from a prosperous West to an emerging and the rise of the Middle East through their confident youth asserting themselves? All this has happened as the West has failed to forecast such developments despite its expertise in such areas.
The question that needs to be asked is that, where are the youth of today in the UK, Europe and in the Middle East headed?
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Semra Eren-Nijhar 