In May, the European Parliament adopted its position on the European Commission’s “EU Youth Strategy – Investing and Empowering”. The resolution of the Parliament calls for a stronger recognition of non-formal education and highlights the importance of learning mobility, volunteering (2011 has been designated as the “European Year of Volunteering”) and participation of young people. These areas are at the heart of the Youth in Action Programme.

As to languages, the Parliament calls on Member States to ensure that children and young people have a right to state education, “helping them to achieve, with due respect for their own culture and language, the necessary command of the language of the host Member State and a knowledge of its culture as a tool for integration”.

The "EU Youth Strategy – Investing and Empowering" was adopted by the European Commission on 27 April 2009, and endorsed by the Council Resolution on a renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-2018) on 27 November 2009.