Opening of the 18th Youth Economic, Social and Environmental Council

©Direction de la Communication - Stéphane Danna

The 18th Youth Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) opened on Wednesday 9 October, attended by Mr Jean-Philippe Vinci, Director of the Department of Education, Youth and Sport; Ms Caroline Rougaignon-Vernin, Chair of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE), Mr Michel Gramaglia, Vice-Chair of the CESE, Ms Christine Giolitti, Vice-Chair of the CESE, the headteachers of Lycée Albert I, Lycée François d’Assise–Nicolas Barré and Lycée Rainier III, and the sponsoring teachers from the schools who will act as coordinators for the groups of pupils.

A voluntary body, the Youth CESE gives students of any nationality who attend a high school in the Principality the opportunity for their voices to be heard in public debate, by drafting proposals which are then referred to Monegasque authorities following a debate and vote by their peers.

CESE secretariat and members offer support to the young people by organising meetings with contacts in the public and private sectors to enable them to collect the information they need to develop their plans. It is also a way of helping them to learn about the operation and machinery of public governance.

The work of the 18th Council will continue throughout the year, closing in May with a session at which the draft proposals will be presented.

Since it started, 71 proposals have been adopted. Some have been very popular with local authorities, such as the therapeutic sensory garden at the CRIII and the mini football pitch on Esplanade des Pêcheurs built thanks to a proposal developed during the CESE.

In total, more than 580 secondary school pupils took part in the experience. This year, for the 18th Council, 41 young counsellors embarked on this adventure, accompanied by their sponsoring teachers.

The Youth Economic, Social and Environmental Council was established in November 2007, at the initiative of the CESE, in close partnership with the Department of Education, Youth and Sport.