The enthusiasm of young people knows no bounds.

Whether they are involved in music, sport activities, bands, choirs, fashion shows, The enthusiasm of young people knows no bounds.

Whether they are involved in music, sport activities, bands, choirs, fashion shows, workshops, visual art, concerts, drama, stage performances or engaged in serious discussions on important topics, they show vigour, intelligence, commitment and happiness.

Everything is happening in the capital this week.

It’s youths’ exuberance at its brilliant best. All their actions are dominated by cheerfulness and liveliness. It’s a pleasure to watch them perform or to be part of their act.

This is Youth Week, an occasion for young people and policy makers to dialogue in total synergy. It is also an opportunity for young people to influence the development of youth policies.

As our young people form an impressive strong pillar of our society, it is equally necessary to integrate a youth dimension in other policy fields affecting young people.

Their participation in this year’s European Youth Week being staged in Valletta is dynamic and I am sure that during the remaining days their contribution to the success of this novel activity will be even more enthusiastic and vibrant, much to the delight and appreciation of the crowds watching their activities.

No less than 20 bands, 40 sports associations, 23 NGOs and other youth organisations together with literally hundreds of students and youth workers are actively involved in an extensive programme they meticulously prepared. On-going simultaneous activities throughout the day for a whole week prove the youths’ dynamism and dedication.

The IV European Youth Week marks 20 years of European Programmes for Youths, but it is the first time that Malta has organised such a programme. We join 31 other European countries in a full calendar of events and manifestations with the emphasis being on inclusion, empowerment, partnerships and cooperation.

The Youth Week aims at creating awareness that young people are citizens of Europe besides being citizens of their country, and also focuses on fighting racism and xenophobia. It supports the exchange of groups from different countries and backgrounds; encourages projects between neighbouring countries and also encourages the work of voluntary services in countries other than their own.

The EU hopes to meet the expectations of young people by giving them the means to express their ideas and to enable them to make a greater contribution to society. The European Union Programmes Agency has already supported Maltese youth projects through grants and exchanges. In the first six months of this year alone, 330 young people have already participated in EU Programmes supported by EUPA. Quite an increase when compared to the 210 who participated in the 12 months of the previous year.

Following enlargement, Europe now has 75 million young people between the ages of 15 and 25. It is important to look at the challenges young people will be facing in the years to come. It is equally important that they form an active part of the society they belong to; therefore it is vital to offer the best practical National Policy for Youths.

The Secretariat for Youth and Sport aims at presenting an amended and adjourned policy, which would serve as a roadmap that indicates clear and direct targets. One of the first initiatives taken by my Secretariat soon after the March general election was to start a process to adjourn the national youth policy to conform to the present situation.

My working experience with young people enhanced my conviction that they must be heard especially in matters that may affect them or their future. Today’s youths are a generation living in a rapidly evolving world socially, economically and technologically, where Europeans can move around freely to work and where learning is easier than ever before.

We are determined to present youth policies based on a sound knowledge and understanding of young people’s needs, concerns and challenges.

Dr Puli is Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport