LONDON Euro-MP Jean Lambert has joined forces with the only female candidate to be the next President of the European Commission – German Green MEP Ska Keller – to call for the abolition of all university and college tuition fees.

Ms Lambert and Ms Keller – speaking in London after a YouGov poll revealed that only 41% of 17-21 year olds are planning to vote in the upcoming elections – were being hosted by the youth-wing of the Green Party of England and Wales, as it launched its manifesto ahead of next week’s election to the European Parliament.

Ska Keller, now 32, was one of the youngest MEPs to be elected to the European Parliament in 2009.

Ms Lambert, who is a member of the European Parliament’s cross-party Intergroup on Youth Issues, said: “Across the UK young people are really feeling the squeeze, and they’re fed up with politicians turning their backs on them.

“I’m here with Ska today to try to demonstrate that some politicians do care, and are calling for policies deigned to improve the lives of younger people.

“I hope everyone will vote next Thursday, and have their say on the future of Europe.”

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Speaking at a Brussels event to mark the International Day for Street Children, which takes place tomorrow (April12th), she said a global effort was needed to improve the lives and prospects of the estimated 700 million children forced to call the streets home – as many as 100,000 of them a year in London.

The Green MEP, who is also a member of the European Parliament’s cross-party Intergroup on Youth Issues, said: “A child runs away from home every five minutes in the UK – that’s 100,000 children a year – many of whom end up on the streets of London.

“Though many return home quickly, some don’t: and we know that however long a child is on the streets she is more likely to suffer violence and sexual exploitation, to become malnourished and suffer disease – with little or no access to healthcare – and to have their education disrupted.

“In many countries, it’s much worse of course, with children starting life on the streets.”

She added: “We really need a global focus on this: and the UN is the body to co-ordinate one. There is lots of good work happening on this issue, not least at EU level, but it really needs to be joined up. Our children, in London and around the world, deserve better.”

Campaigners say the International Day for Street Children is a platform for the millions of street children around the world – and their champions – to speak out so that their rights cannot be ignored.

They want the UN to adopt the Day – when the UN adopts a Day it gives the issue greater global exposure and increases pressure on governments to act.

You can add your support for the campaign by signing the petition.

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They were visiting the European Parliament HQ in Brussels.

Ms Lambert, a member of the Youth Issues cross-party Intergroup, said: “Welcoming school groups from London to the European Parliament, and getting the chance to explain a bit of the EU’s vital role, is one of my favourite tasks as an MEP.

“Polls show us time and time again that young people care more about the issues like the environment where the EU is a more progressive force than the UK – but we all know that European politics can seem a little complicated and detached from everyday Londoners’ lives.

“That’s why it’s so important to link the two – both to make the EU seem a little less remote and to explain how young people can get more involved.”

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No-one active in politics is satisfied with the status quo: we all want to see change, although we would might disagree as to what needs to change and the policies necessary to achieve it.

Our passion may be fuelled by a burning sense of injustice: the treatment of young people by the police or children dying from hunger in a world where we can spend millions on weapons. We may have been moved to action when we have seen a relative poorly treated in hospital or put out of business due to cheap imports and no one has seemed able to respond to our anger or concern. Virtually everyone I know in politics has had something which has triggered them into action and made them stand up for their beliefs.

There are many people who will find such activity bizarre. I am sure you have friends who cannot understand why you are bothering; who will tell you that politics changes nothing and that all politicians are the same. They may also say some other, very uncomplimentary things!

They should meet some of those who I am privileged to meet in my work as a Member of the European Parliament, and particularly as a member of the sub-Committee on Human Rights. People who have been imprisoned and even tortured because they have dared to criticise their government or who have spoken out in defence of the rights of their people. Those who have no right to vote: those whose countries are in conflict and where elections are impossible or where can you can vote – but it had better be for the governing party or you will find your family threatened or without food.

People such as Ingrid Betancourt, abducted and held prisoner as a result of her political activities: Hu Jia, the Chinese environmental activist and campaigner on HIV/AIDS, currently serving a prison sentence and announced this week as the winner of the European Parliament’s Sakharov prize for Freedom of Conscience. There are countless others who desperately want to have the same political rights and freedoms we have – including the right to choose not to use their vote.

Political choices frame our lives and decide our futures. Politics matters.

We need to do more in our schools and elsewhere to demonstrate the importance of democracy. Students need to be able to practice democracy in action. For example, a school near my home in London has a scheme that involves a group of pupils in helping to raise educational standards and this includes some of them being involved in interviewing prospective staff. As a former teacher, I find this a little unnerving, but I am told it works well! We have some London Boroughs which have a Young Mayor – elected by young people and who acts as their voice. There are countless examples of good practice throughout the EU.

We cannot expect young people to emerge from education as active citizens if they have no understanding or experience of what participation means. But the practice of democracy and acquiring the necessary skills needs resources, such as time, energy and money. You have at least some of them here.

You are meeting at a time of major political challenges:

– the financial crisis likely to affect businesses, jobs and tax revenues and the potential social consequences arising from that;

– the crisis of climate change, where we need rapid and effective action to reduce the threats to food production, major movements of peoples and conflict over resources such as water. If I could add a personal plea for a strong resolution from you on this which could send a strong message to the European Parliament and the Council, I would be very grateful;

– the need to meet our Millennium Development Goals and deliver greater equality in the world.

I look forward to your conclusions and can promise you they will be seriously considered. I noticed that a recent Parliamentary resolution on the financing of pensions has included the need for the financial education of young people – part of an EYP Resolution from your Liverpool session. We need to think about how to better develop these links.

We need people seriously interested in politics and in working for democratic solutions which respect human rights. Think of the political systems and outcomes where that is not the case. Your time is not wasted here: you are exercising a very precious right – the right to political action. Make the most of it!

Find out more about the European Youth Parliament and how to get involved.

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