Online Survey

Dear participants of Youth Voice,
thank you for taking part actively in the Youth Voice event and helping us to make the voice of young Europeans be heard all over Europe. As we said at the event, the project does not finish and you are still a kind of “participation ambassadors” in your community. Therefore, we would like to involve you in a participative exercise and get to know your opinion.

We prepared a survey poll of several questions, most of them related to topics you discussed during the Youth Voice. We would like to get to know the answer of all of you. The results of the survey will after be published in a letter which we aim to send to politicians in all the EU countries. So take this exercise seriously and let your voice be heard.

Although the following questions are complicated try to find the answer which is closer to you:

1. Voting age

Many discussions take place about the topic of the age limit for the voting right. Many people promoting youth participation struggle to decrease the age limit to 16 years. Many other people say that 16 years old citizens are not mature enough and informed about the political issues.

Do you think that young people should be able to vote from 16 in the general elections?
YES NO Don’t participate to the vote

2. Lisbon Treaty

The Lisbon Treaty brings a lot of reforms to the functioning of the European Union and aims to make the European institutions more democratic and transparent. It has both many supporters and opponents. In some countries the citizen voted for it.

Would you vote for the Lisbon Treaty?
YES NO Don’t participate to the vote

Do you know the general concept of the Lisbon Treaty?
YES NO Don’t participate to the vote

3. Participation on local level

Youth participation on local level is perhaps the most efficient one and can bring concrete results. In many towns and cities, local youth councils (something like youth parliament of a town) work and advise the politicians about different issues.

Do you think it should be compulsory by law to set up a local youth council in each municipality?
YES NO Don’t participate to the vote

Are you ready to give some of your time to your local community and be a volunteer?
YES NO Don’t participate to the vote

4. Education

University education is a great advantage provided to an individual by the society. In some countries you must pay for the university education, in others it is provided for free by the state.

Do you think university education should be free of charge?
YES NO Don’t participate to the vote

Do you think that university diplomas from one country are recognized enough in other EU countries?
YES NO Don’t participate to the vote

5. Environment

Many products we consume are cheap because they are manufactured in a cheap but not environmentally friendly way.

Would you be willing to pay higher price for a product that is environmentally friendly and does not harm the nature?
YES NO Don’t participate to the vote

6. Demonstrations and freedom

All citizens have the right to free speech and free assembly. However, demonstrations sometimes transform into violent riots and clashes with police.

Do you think demonstrations are legitimate and appropriate method of participation?
YES NO Don’t participate to the vote

Do you think that extreme right and extreme left political parties should be prohibited?
YES NO Don’t participate to the vote

7. Employment and entrepreneurship

Youth unemployment rate in most EU countries is twice as high as the usual unemployment rate.

Do you think governments should give special subsidies to companies for employing a young person/recent graduate?
YES NO Don’t participate to the vote

Do you think young entrepreneurs should get special support from the government (grants, a period without paying taxes, etc.)?
YES NO Don’t participate to the vote

8. Youth in the World

Although the financial situation of people in different parts of the EU is very diverse, we live in one of the richest part of the Earth. Many people say we should contribute more to the developing countries and support them, others say that the development aid is inefficient.

Do you think the EU and its Member States should provide the developing countries with greater development aid?
YES NO Don’t participate to the vote

Should the financial crisis be reason to cut the development aid by EU Member States?
YES NO Don’t participate to the vote

9. Youth participation

Youth participation is a key priority of the European youth policy. Although young people have opportunities to participate, quite often it shows up that young people are not willing to get involved in politics.

Are you actively involved in political life?
YES NO Don’t participate to the vote

Do you want to be actively involved in political life?
YES NO Don’t participate to the vote

Are you actively involved in an NGO?
YES NO Don’t participate to the vote

Do you want to be actively involved in an NGO?
YES NO Don’t participate to the vote

Do you think there are enough young politicians in your country?
YES NO Don’t participate to the vote