On the 20th of November the Goethe-Institut organised, together with German MEP (Member of European Parliament) Petra Kammerevert, a special event: a breakfast meeting with European Members of Parliament. It was a unique opportunity to meet the newly elected MEPs in the initial phase of their new mandate in the European Commission. The focus of the event was on StartNet and on the transition from school to work.

Johannes Ebert, the Secretary General of the Goethe-Institut, together with colleagues from the Goethe-Institut Brüssel and Stiftung Mercator discussed with MEPs and the European Commission about youth employment and the transition from school to work in Europe. Despite the existing Youth Guarantee measures, youth unemployment rates remain alarmingly high in several European regions. The StartNet project operates both at the regional level in Southern Italy, as well as at the European level in the exchange of good practices, and this dual purpose was considered very interesting and met with the approval and support of all those present. Participants commented that the collective impact approach with a multi-stakeholder network involving all sectors is considered to be a very useful strategy in this contest. Following the keen interest and very positive feedback, and as suggested by the Commission, StartNet will present applications to access Erasmus+ funds in order to implement in-depth measures in career guidance and vocational training and to strengthen the widen the cooperation of the European network.