Youth Unemployment in Cyprus. Presentation of the FES Report

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and the University of Nicosia cordially invite you to the conference

Youth Unemployment in Cyprus
Presentation of the FES Report by Sertac Sonan and Gregoris Ioannou

Friday, 21 October 2016, 9.30 – 18.00

UNESCO Amphitheatre, University of Nicosia, Nicosia Open to the public
Youth unemployment is a huge problem in Europe and on both sides of the divide. The FES has asked two Cypriot researchers to investigate the causes of youth unemployment on the island in a comprehensive study. On the occasion of the launch of the report this study and the problem of youth unemployment in Europe in general will be discussed by representatives from labour unions, officials, representatives of employers’ associations and involved actors from civil society.

9.30 Opening Addresses by
Emilios Solomou, Executive Vice President for Administration and Director of the UNESCO Chair of the University of Nicosia
Hubert Faustmann, Director of the Office of FES in Cyprus

9.45: Panel 1:
9.45 – 11.00: Youth Unemployment in Europe
Hans Dietrich, Institute for Labour Market and Professional Research:
Unemployment in Europe and Strategies to Combat it
Discussion

11.00 – 11.30 Coffee Break

11.30 – 13.00 Panel II: Youth Unemployment in the north
Sertac Sonan, Presentation of the Youth Unemployment Report
Hasan Yıkıcı, (Dev-İş)
Süleyman Gelener, (KTÖS)
Employers’ Representative (not confirmed yet)
İsmet Lisaniler, (Retired official from the north)

13.00 – 14.30 Lunch Break

14.30 – 16.00 Panel III Youth Unemployment in the south
Gregoris Ioannou, Presentation of the Youth Unemployment Report
Nikos Gregoriou, PEO, Economic and Social Policy Bureau
Tasos Kakoullis, Secretary of SEK Youth SEK Lena Panayiotou, OEB, Senior Industrial Relations & Social Policy Officer (10 minutes)
Official from the Ministry of Labor (tbc)

16.00 – 16.30 Coffee Break

16.30 - 18.00 Panel IV: The Social Impact of Youth Unemployment in Europe and Cyprus
Hans Dietrich, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung
Nadia Karayianni, NGO Support Centre, Member of Board of Directors
Celal Özkızan (Bağımsızlık Yolu)

18.00 End of the Event

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and a 15 minute audio interview to Rosie Charalambous (Cyprus Mail) about it here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HgJcXueZ_M

Youth Unemployment in Cyprus An Examination of the "Lost Generation"

co-authored with Sertac Sonan, 
commissioned by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung

Youth unemployment has been rapidly rising in the Republic of Cyprus in the last decade and now stands above the figure in the northern part of Cyprus. Youth unemployment in the Republic of Cyprus stands significantly above the EU and Euro area average.

While youth unemployment has always been chronically high in the northern part of Cyprus, it has been declining in the last three years reaching a level slightly below the Euro Area. 

The big proportion of higher education graduates and the strength of the institution of the family in both sides at the same time reinforce and control the social impact of the problem. The same applies for the individual-oriented programmes such as the ones in force at EU and national levels, which cannot provide medium or longterm solutions. 

The problem is structural and connected to the broader deterioration of labour market conditions. Active labour market policies need to be implemented alongside a comprehensive regulatory framework that strengthens collective bargaining in combination with public and private investment.

the full report is available here
http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/id-moe/12825.pdf