with the objective of having an active citizenship in a European environment,” according to the Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport, Clyde Puli who yesterday addressed a news conference to launch the revision of the National Youth Policy.

Mr Puli explained that the first policy of the sort was finalised in 2004. Since then, significant changes have come into being, such as Malta’s entry into the European Union and the ever-growing challenges of information technology. These are changes of which youths are at the core.

The Parliamentary Secretariat will be conducting consultation meetings with national youth organisations. The aim will be to identify issues that need to be improved while building on the existing policy in order to move forward.

Mr Puli believes that the national consultation “should be as wide as possible and include as many views as possible”.

Besides discussions, questionnaires will be sent to youth NGOs on a national basis. Similar questionnaires will be distributed during the Malta International Trade Fair. One may also download questionnaires from the Education Ministry website www.education.gov.mt and from the Youth and Sport Secretariat webpage on ‘face book’.

A consultative committee, chaired by Ms Miriam Theuma, was set up to analyse the current policy by consulting experts and analysing the information submitted by youth organisations.

“Such a committee, consisting of an absolute majority of youths, is made up of students, workers, youths involved in unions and others active in politics, people with special needs, and academics specialising in youth studies, among others,” Mr Puli said.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sports also explained that the appointment of such a committee will lead to the presentation of the revised National Youth Policy by the first quarter of next year.

“The set policy will then be a guideline indicating clear goals for all youth organisations and local authorities,” Mr Puli said.

The first meeting in a series of discussions will be held with the National Youth Council which has already prepared its document for discussion with suggestions for a number of amendments.

While thanking the consultative committee, Mr Puli expressed appreciation for the work being carried out on a voluntary basis, which he described as, “a synonymous characteristic with youthful energy”.