The chambers of industry and commerce, the chambers of crafts and the economic chambers in Germany, Luxemburg and Austria now have issued a joint declaration in favour of increased European educational co-operation throughout Europe.
The chambers published their "Luxemburg Declaration" in the context of the ministers' conference "Berufliche Bildung in Europa - Perspektiven für die junge Generation" (Vocational Training in Europe - Prospects for the Young Generation) that had been initiated by the German Federal Minister of Education, Annette Schavan, and which took place towards the end of 2012 in Berlin.
The conference was attended by the education ministers of Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Slovakia and Latvia - all of them countries marked by a high rate of youth unemployment and full time school vocational education systems. Equally attending the conference were the managing directors of the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad in these European Union (EU) member countries, the President of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), Hans Heinrich Driftmann, and the DIHK Deputy Managing Director, Achim Dercks.
In Berlin, DIHK President Driftmann said that the meeting "clearly illustrates that the EU and its member countries want to follow the example of the benefits of the successful dual vocational training system." He added that given the alarming degree of youth unemployment throughout Europe, this is also very much in order: in the EU, 5.7 million young people under 25 years of age are without a job and the unemployment rate within this age group is more than 23 per cent.
"We cannot and must not accept that young people are given the impression of not having a chance in Europe. This issue in particular is our joint responsibility, independent of the fact from which country we come", urged Driftmann during his discussion with the education ministers.
He pointed to the comparatively low rate of youth unemployment in Germany, Austria and Luxemburg. "On the one hand, this development is owed to the successfully practised dual vocational training system in these countries", explained the DIHK President, "yet, on the other hand, it is also due to the strong and institutionalised part played by the chambers and businesses in the field of vocational training."
He said that, therefore, the memorandum signed by Annette Schavan and the education ministers of the other six countries made full sense. This memorandum provides for the joint development of dual vocational training structures in Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Slovakia and Latvia and also for the development of new forms of participation for industrial and social partners including chambers.
"To this end, as are the chambers in Austria and Luxemburg, the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce is prepared to make available to other European countries its knowledge and its good experience", emphasised Driftmann. He stressed that active commitment towards the strengthening of the dual vocational training system in Europe had been agreed upon in the joint "Luxemburg Declaration".
"The DIHK has already pressed ahead with this", reported Driftmann. In September and November, respectively, the DIHK signed co-operation agreements for establishing a dual vocational education and training system with the Spanish and the Italian associations of chambers.