Conference (Brussels, 18 February 2020)

A group of 40 young professionals from 15 European countries were invited to a conference in the European Parliament (Brussels), to address and discuss youth transition from several perspectives (education, employment, housing, founding a family, etc.). Previously, participants had the opportunity for networking and sharing views at an intensive preparatory workshop. The whole project was organized by the National Association of Large Families in Hungary (NOE), MEP Gyorgy Holvenyi and the International Federation for Family Development (IFFD).

In the 20th century, the economy underwent a major restructure. Governments encouraged more young people to complete secondary school in an effort to increase the knowledge and education levels of the labour force. The result was mass education and a credentialled workforce with less full-time work available, but it also included youth unemployment and underemployment.

The three different types of ‘traditional transitions’ were considered widespread until the mid 1970s. The first type of transition is termed ‘school-to-work’, defined as ‘young people first leaving school at the minimum school leaving age and immediately, and with few difficulties, getting a job’. Secondly, there is what can be termed a ‘housing transition’ meaning that the young person leaves the family home and sets up a place of their own. Such transitions were possible because of the stability and security provided by a stable job career that enabled them to save and plan for a move. Lastly, on their traditional journey into adulthood, a young person underwent a ‘family transition’ in which form a relationship, get engaged, then married, and upon marriage leaving home to live with their spouse’.

Recently, the ‘traditional transitions’ have been transformed over the past 30 years to become more complex and less predictable, often termed as ‘extended transitions’ meaning that the process of moving from childhood (dependency) to adulthood (independence) is taking much, much longer. This means that leaving school and entering employment is much less common as 4 out of 5 young people stay now stay on in further education or training; similarly, there is an increased dependency on parents as 1 in 3 young people go onto University. The traditional ‘housing transition’ has also changed as it is more likely that young people will leave home not to set up a family home, as significant numbers leave home at 18 and do not to get married and move in with spouse – but to live alone, with a friend or at university. Social and economic factors mean that there is less affordable housing and an ever-decreasing availability of social housing. Recent studies show that of those aged 20-24, 1 in 3 men and 1 in 4 women lived at home with parents.

In 2020, young people are therefore required to navigate in a much more complex transitional terrain. Unlike their predecessors, it is common nowadays for young people to experience non-linear, fragmented and extended youth transitions. Family support can be the key to overcome difficulties, also avoiding social costs on public health and other consequences of social disintegration.

The goals of this conference were to empower attendees to stand up, to open a dialogue and to discuss with experts and decision makers about the role of families in supporting youth transitions from school to work and, ultimately, youth employment outcomes, with a view on the Sustainable Development Goals; the role of family policies in helping families to fulfil that role; and the timing and ways of founding families for young couples. Consequently, it intended to provide clues for a better navigation in post-secondary education, job search, employment, family support and starting a family heading for a better future of the young.

SESSION I

Moderator
Paul Graas

György Hölvényi
Member of European Parliament
Hungary

Katalin Novak
State Secretary for Family and Youth Affairs
Hungary

Katarina Ivankovic-Knezevic
Director for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion of the European Commission

Katalin Kardosne Gyurko
President of the National Association of Large Families in Hungary (NOE)

Ignacio Socias
Director of International Relations of the International Federation for Family Development (IFFD)

Michaela Sojdrova
Member of European Parliament
Czech Republic

Lukas Mandl
Member of European Parliament
Austria

Karlo Ressler
Member of European Parliament
Croatia

Kinga Gal
Member of European Parliament
Hungary

NOE INTERNATIONAL AWARD CEREMONY

Presentation
Kinga Joo

Janos Makuk
Director of Charity Service of the Order of Malta at the Beregovo District, Ukraine

Luciano Malfer
Director of the Family Agency of the autonomous province of Trento (Italy)

SESSION II

Moderator
Paul Graas

Kinga Joo
Vice-President of the National Association of Large Families in Hungary (NOE)

Ignacio Socias
Director of International Relations of the International Federation for Family Development (IFFD)

Balazs Molnar
Vice-President of Maria Kopp Institute for Demography and Families (KINCS)
Hungary

Bénédicte Colin
Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE)
France

Maria Waszkiewicz
European Large Families Confederation (ELFAC)
Poland

Statements by teams
Luis Sancho (Spain)
Franciszek Wiacek (Poland)
Coen Vermeij (Netherlands)
Everard Van Weede (Netherlands)
Getter Rang (Estonia)
Bénédicte Colin (France)

Q&A