10/08/1998

Ladies and gentlemen,

I wish to say thank you first of all for the invitation to attend this World Conference. My gratitude extends most especially to our Portuguese hosts. From the perspective of the Federal Republic of Germany, there are eight points in particular - alongside many others - which appear to be of special significance and it is these which I would like to touch on briefly below.

1. Background information on the general situation prevailing in Germany at present

In the course of the 1990s, my country has undergone a number of radical changes. Germany has been reunited since the 3rd October 1990. We are grateful to our neighbours and friends the world over for the support they lent to this process of reunification. Germany is situated at the centre of a European continent which is growing more and more closely together and co-operation between the countries of Europe - including the states of Central and Eastern Europe - is gradually intensifying. Moreover, since 1991, Germany boasts a radically modernised new Child and Youth Services Act.

On the other hand, unemployment in our country also constitutes a major source of concern. The budgetary problems being experienced by the Federal Government, the Laender and the local governments have worsened considerably in recent years. And it goes without saying that, in Germany, we too are feeling the effects of globalization on our economy, our labour market and in society. Nevertheless, we continue to welcome the great opportunities that globalization brings with it. "Globalization" is certainly a topic which the international community of states as a whole will be deeply involved with in coming years.

2. Youth unemployment

In Germany - like in many other countries - the problem of unemployment and, with it, that of youth unemployment - is the number one topic. All the relevant youth surveys confirm that our young people also share this assessment. I am sure that any one who manages to solve the core problem of youth unemployment, and in the process resolve or at least mitigate the concomitant social problems, will be able to win the hearts of our young people (and probably even the elections). All of the responsible agencies in Germany - together with partner countries in the European Union - are focussing on changing the economic and social structural conditions so as to beat unemployment and youth unemployment into a retreat on a permanent basis.

3. Education and training

Germany's young generation enjoys a high level of education but, at the same time, frequently complains that the duration of their training or studies is in many cases too long by international comparison. As a result, we have begun to carry out fundamental university reforms, including changes to the syllabus contents.

What constitutes an even greater source of concern to us at present, however, is the fact that - although we have still managed so far - it has become increasingly difficult in the past few years to furnish vocational training opportunities for all of the young people looking for a place to learn a trade. The economic sector and society as a whole must, with the State's assistance, increase their efforts over the next few years even more since, as a result of demographic trends, the number of young people in quest of a vocational training place will continue to rise for a relatively long time. Young people need good-quality vocational training. They may not be given the impression that they are not welcome on the vocational training and labour markets.

4. A child-oriented society

Compared with the situation in many other countries, children and young people in Germany are materially well-off. Naturally, there are, however, children and families in Germany who are in a difficult financial situation. And, above all, there is a considerable number of children and young people who are being negatively affected by divorce, violence and other immaterial restrictions.

For the past quarter-of-a-century, one-third less children are being born in Germany than would be necessary to keep the total population figure constant. Consequently, from the demographic perspective, Germany's age-pyramid is now already, so to speak, upside down. This means that, in the coming years and even decades, our society will be made up of less and less young people and an increasing number of elderly persons. In the big cities, there are already districts where only a marginal number of children and families are to be found. Many adults hardly have contact with children any more. For a variety of reasons, Germany has therefore become a country whose society is no longer used to children and has, at any rate, ceased to be sufficiently child-oriented. Counteracting this trend, is a task which we in Germany will have to work at for a long time to come.

5. Involvement of young people and participation

Traditional forms of getting young people involved can no longer be considered sufficient. We must find more modern ways of involving young people which are attractive to them and will help them to grow into and practise exercising responsibility. We therefore very much welcome the fact that the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth has taken up this important topic of "participation".

There is a multitude of forms of participation open to young people in Germany. Youth parliaments, youth district councils, youth advisory committees and many other forms of concrete youth and citizen participation such as in the area of traffic and regional planning, sports and playground planning and in school. The German Child and Youth Services Act contains precise legal provisions regarding participation and the planning of youth services. It is important that we take young people seriously and that we do not offer any "token events". Young people want to see concrete results after a reasonable period of time; they are not always willing, either, to commit themselves to participating for very long periods of time.

I would be very interested in hearing about and learning from other countries' experiences in the course of this conference.

6. Protection of young people from the media

A special problem in Germany and in many other countries of the world is the flood of new information from the media which also targets young people. Particularly questionable in this context is the increased transmission of pornographic material and images which glorify violence, racial hatred and the like on the Internet. National instruments in the area of the protection of young people from the media can neither control nor stop these trends. In this context, it is up to the community of states to develop instruments which can be employed to combat the excesses described above. This is another topic which it would be appropriate for Ministers responsible for Youth from all over the world to take up as well.

7. International youth policy

The international community of states will come to work together more intensively and will continue to grow even closer together in the coming years. Naturally, this also presents a very special challenge and opportunity for our young people. International youth policy has a number of tried and tested instruments at its disposal which are suitable for facilitating young people's efforts to get to know each other and grow closer together irrespective of national and continental boundaries: youth exchange, young professionals' exchange, cross-border studies, vocational training, periods of work experience, voluntary service and much, much more. I would be very pleased if the Ministers Responsible for Youth meeting here at this World Conference would also set new directions in this respect, pointing the way ahead.

8. Racism and xenophobia

International youth policy and international youth exchange are excellent preventive instruments, not only with a view to securing peace and understanding among nations but also in the fight against xenophobia, anti-Semitism, racism and intolerance. The efforts we have made so far must be pursued consistently and it must be done with an eye on each new young generation, year after year. This is a never-ending task which has to be confronted time and time again and which is never "done".

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am happy that the final declaration envisaged for this Conference touches on most of the points I have mentioned. From Germany's perspective, the Lisbon Conference constitutes a contribution towards implementing the World Action Programme and offers an opportunity for Ministers responsible for Youth from all over the world to exchange know-how and share their experience. Thank you for your attention.