Athens, 15 April 2021

17th Conference of Presidents of Parliaments of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative

The 17th Conference of Presidents of Parliaments of the Adriatic and Ionian Initiative (AII), in the framework of the parliamentary dimension of the AII under Slovenia’s current Chairmanship, concluded today. The event took place online.

The Conference was attended by Presidents of Parliament (or their representatives) of the AII member states, while it was the first time a delegation from the Republic of San Marino participated, which has joined the Initiative and is now its 10th member. 

From the Greek side, it was MP Vassileios Digalakis, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Cultural and Educational Affairs who participated. The debate centred around the labour perspectives and challenges facing the generation of young people in the digital age.

During his intervention, Mr. Digalakis referred to the upheaval and uncertainty caused by the pandemic in people’s daily lives, affecting particularly the young, whether employed or students. In fact, he mentioned that most students have already spent three semesters away from their Universities, in person social contacts and the academic experience. On the other hand, as he pointed out, the transition into the digital age has been accelerated, creating new opportunities and challenges, especially for the next generation. 

He stressed the need for young people to acquire the appropriate high skills and abilities in order to enter the labour market, saying that those who are able to learn new things fast will have a competitive advantage. 

This is why, he added, it is imperative to reorient the economic model and the educational systems, so that they may prepare graduates capable of being employed in sectors with a growth dynamic and an extroverted orientation. Life-long learning will be the key for workers' working life and the digital economy the vehicle for future growth. Learning culture needs to be established as an ongoing process which requires the education of both learner and educator. In the digital age, as Mr. Digalakis underlined, the most precious good is knowledge. He went on to point out that in the current extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, countries and regions need to cooperate more than ever before, and stressed the importance of the EU’s economic and investment plan for the Western Balkans. Furthermore, he added that the AII and the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) are important strategic tools for the region’s post-pandemic recovery and the promotion of regional convergence.

Finally, he called on AII member states to coordinate actions so that emblematic macro-regional priorities may be included in national and regional EU programmes for 2021-2027 and expressed his belief that the proper utilisation of the natural and human resources of this beautiful region will create the conditions for economic and social prosperity.

 

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