EUFED e-bulletin - May 2010

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EUFED e-bulletin
Issue n° 34 - May 2010

We are pleased to send you the new edition of the EUFED e-bulletin, with latest information from the Federation, a summary of relevant EU developments and a selection of news items from our member Associations and Hostelling International.
Constanze Adolf, Operating Director
Michèle Obert, Coordinator

To contribute to this e-bulletin or to tell us what you think, please contact: info@eufed.org

President's Introduction

These are surprising times in Europe, recently troubled by two very different problems.

Firstly, air traffic has been re-arranged, often at short notice, as a consequence of the ash clouds blown south from the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull. For the first time, we fully realise how dependent we have become on flight technology. And that in turn perhaps helps us to realise how significant are the associated issues of sustainable tourism.

We have had longer to get used to the economic issues, although the austerity programme now put forward for Greece demonstrates how hard it will be for a number of the countries in Europe (as well as world wide) to adjust to a sustainable economic position.

Both are issues which emphasise the importance of the sustainability issues being pursued by EUFED, which are themselves a wider interpretation of the new HI Environmental Charter put forward for adoption at HI's Shenzhen Conference.

It had been intended to have a short EUFED meeting at the start of the Shenzhen meeting, to give all European associations a chance to come together and discuss their wishes and concerns. Sadly, the timing of the various conference events and the associated pre-tours has made that impossible to achieve this year. A separate letter has been sent to all members.

Paul Goldfinch

EUFED news

EUFED advocates for a strong sustainable tourism policy at the cabinet of the new EU Commissioner Antonio Tajani
On 30th March 2010, EUFED's Operating Director met Antonio Tajani, Commission Vice-President and new EU-Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, and Mattia Pellegrini, member of his Cabinet.

EUFED's Operating Director underlined the importance of sustainable tourism as one of the most important competitive advantages of European tourism. The future of European tourism relies on the quality of the tourist experience linked to the natural environment, cultural distinctiveness, social interaction, security and well being of local populations. In this respect, EUFED's Operating Director called for a coherent strategy and strong political signals during Antonio Tajani's 4-year term.

Furthermore, she presented EUFED's position paper on the new EU tourism framework. In particular, she advocated for a strong tourism policy dedicated to young people and proposed to put youth in the centre of a political initiative from the Commission in the field of tourism in 2010.

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/tajani/index_en.htm

EUFED Executive Committee meeting
The last EUFED Executive Committee meeting took place in Paris on 12th April 2010 and was hosted by FUAJ (the French Youth Hostel Association). The following issues were discussed:

- Preparation of EUFED General Assembly and Conference which will take place in Manchester Youth Hostel from 18th to 20th June 2010 on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of YHA E&W (Youth Hostel Association England & Wales).
- Preparation of the intended European meeting in Shenzhen (China) on Monday 24th May 2010 from 14h00 to 16h00 ahead of HI 48th International Conference (24-28 May 2010).
- Preparation of EUFED seminar and reception at the European Parliament in Brussels on 14th-15th September 2010. Invitation and papers will follow in due time.

EUFED meets member associations to discuss future perspectives
In the scope of annual meetings with member associations, EUFED met Bernard Fauville, CEO of LAJ (the Belgian French-speaking Youth Hostel Association) on 12th March 2010 in Brussels to discuss future perspectives and projects. A meeting was organised with FUAJ (the French Youth Hostel Association) on 12th April in Paris and with SJH (the Swiss Youth Hostel Association) on 18th March 2010 to discuss priorities and potential cooperation. The EU Calypso meeting in Rome on 3rd and 4th March 2010 was also the occasion for EUFED Operating Director to meet and discuss these issues with Igor Jurišič President of the Slovenian Youth Hostel Association (PZS).

EUFED and ECF meet to promote youth mobility

On 13th April 2010, the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF) and EUFED's Operating Director met for a brainstorming session on future co-operation and common projects for young people. ECF Secretary General Dr. Bernhard Ensink and the EUFED Operating Director agreed that Dr. Bernhard Ensink would join the next EUFED seminar in Brussels in September 2010.

ECF represents 60 member organizations in 37 countries promoting sustainable mobility and public well-being. One flagship project is the Eurovelo network, composed of 12 routes totalling over 66,000 km. This cycle route unites the whole European continent as a truly sustainable Trans-European network. Furthermore, the ECF is involved in the Iron Curtain Trail project as well as in organizing the VeloCity conference series.

www.ecf.com

EUFED as partner to revise a compendium on regulations regarding laws on youth protection in European destinations
EUFED was solicited by the Federal Association for Protection of Children and Young People (BAJ - Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Jugendschutz) - an organization which is engaged in acquisition and publication of information in protection of children and young people and which also advises government and parliament on this subject - for support to launch the second edition of a compendium on regulations regarding laws on youth protection in foreign countries.

The associated investigation and questionnaire are being supported by the "Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend" - German Federal Ministry of Family affairs, Senior Citizen, Women and Youth. The questionnaire focuses on regulations regarding curfew, alcohol, smoking and similar issues as they affect young people.

EUFED aims at using its organisational structures to support this initiative, addressing young people, parents, travel agencies and tour guides, because of the persistent demand by parents, skilled personal and voluntary youth leaders.

More information...

EUFED organises the Eurocaching 2010 in Dreisbach Youth Hostel

On behalf of the regional government of Saarland, EUFED prepared this central youth event of the “Grand Region” (Wallonia, Saarland, Luxembourg, Lorraine and Rhineland-Palatinate) in the Youth Hostel Dreisbach (Germany). During 4 days, 18 young people discussed about living in the "Grande Région", about youth mobility, active citizenship and cultural diversity in the “Grande Region” via Geocaching. Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden outdoors places, called geocaches, and then share experiences online. A film project developed during the Forum and a declaration "WE are the Grande Région" were presented to politicians during a "Grande Région party".

On 4th and 5th May 2010, group leaders, organisers and Youth Hostel Associations of the Grande Région got together again to develop further the ideas of the participants and to set up new programmes and co-operation.

For further information, please contact constanze.adolf@eufed.org

Live from Brussels

ENTER! A two-year project developed by the Directorate of Youth and Sport of the Council of Europe on social cohesion and inclusion of young people
ENTER! is a two-year project (2009-2011) developed by the Directorate of Youth and Sport of the Council of Europe and it is part of the work priority on social cohesion and inclusion of young people. This project aims at developing youth policy responses to exclusion, discrimination and violence affecting young people in multicultural disadvantaged neighbourhoods. It is seen as a vehicle to develop the impact of non-formal education interventions in relation to the social rights of young people on youth policy realities. To read more...

Welcome to the Green Week Conference 2010

The 10th edition of Green Week, the biggest annual conference on European environ-ment policy, is taking place from 1st to 4th June 2010 in Brussels. This year's theme is biodiversity.

Green Week 2010 is addressing the state of biodiversity and nature in Europe and the world, the benefits they bring, current pressures, and possible solutions to the current rates of loss. The path to be taken by EU policies on biodiversity and nature policies post-2010, the economic dimension of biodiversity, ecosystem services and Natura 2000 are also examined.

To find out more about the programme: www.greenweek2010.eu

New logo selected for all EU organic products

On 8th February 2010, the European Commission officially announced the winner of the EU organic logo competition. Over the past two months, some 130,000 people have voted online to choose the new organic symbol from three finalists. The winner is Dusan Milenkovic, a student from Germany, who gained 63% of the overall vote for his “Euro-leaf” logo.

From 1st July 2010, the organic logo of the EU will be obligatory on all pre-packaged organic products that have been produced in any of the EU Member States and meet the necessary standards. It will be optional for imported products. Other private, regional or national logos will be allowed to appear alongside the EU label. The organic farming regulation will be amended in the coming weeks to introduce the new logo into one of the annexes. To read more...

April 29, the first "European Day on Solidarity between Generations"
This day was part of an awareness raising campaign with the aim to attract the attention of politicians at European, national, regional and local levels on how to rethink the concept of solidarity between the generations, and on how to support civil society initiatives on intergenerational cooperation.

The objective is to encourage the European policy-makers to put intergenerational solidarity high on the EU agenda and to support the proposal to make 2012 the European Year on Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity as supported by EUFED initiative in September 2009. More information: www.age-platform.eu

Madrid EU Stakeholder conference Towards a Socially Responsible European Tourism Model: EU tourism policy in theory and practice

Held in Madrid on 14th-15th April 2010, in the framework of the Spanish Presidency of the EU, the Conference debated how to best develop a more competitive, sustainable and socially responsible European tourism sector in the light of recent economic and institutional developments within the EU.

“This conference takes place at an historical moment”, said Mr. Rifai, Secretary General of the UNWTO. “With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU has for the first time the competence to carry out actions to support, coordinate and supplement the actions of the Member States in the area of tourism”.

With tourism higher on the agenda of the European institutions, Spain has made the promotion of a European model of Socially Responsible Tourism one of the priorities of its six-month Presidency of the EU.

EUFED lobbied in its discussion paper on "A new framework for the tourism policy in the EU" that mobility should be seen not as an end in itself but as a preferred means of strengthening European citizenship and competitiveness, expanding and enriching the experience of young people, enhancing their mobility and employability and developing their intercultural understanding through language skills and experience with other cultures.

EUFED calls for a holistic approach to European Tourism relying on a strong sustainable development strategy with clear principles, objectives, measures and tools. The European Commission should intensify the cooperation with stakeholders on all levels of policy development and implementation. Young people are not represented in the on-going programmes. Therefore, the European Commission should define Youth tourism as a key priority in the coming years to explore the above-mentioned tools for youth tourism. Young people should be the centre of a political initiative by the European Commission in 2010. Therefore the European Tourism Forum 2011 should focus on young travellers, especially in the framework of the European Year of Volunteering. More information...

2011 budget: focus on youth and economic recovery

The priorities for next year's EU budget adopted by the Budgets Committee, if endorsed subsequently by the full Parliament, can be expected to influence the Commission's compilation of the draft budget - the first formal step in the annual budgetary procedure which was presented on 28th April 2010. To read the press release

EU 2020 strategy, youth and economic crisis
While welcoming EU new 2020 strategy, presented recently by the European Commission, MEPs said that it needs more substance, especially in the field of climate change, environment and social policies. Members of the Budgets Committee agreed that young people should top the EU's mid- and long-term priorities, since youth "is at the heart of social and inclusive strategies" and "its innovation ability is a key resource for development and growth in the EU". To fight the economic crisis, the EU should support education, vocational training and research as well as innovative and in particular green technologies.

Member Associations news

Austria - ÖJHW - New Chairman for the Austrian Youth Hostel Association
The Board meeting of the Austrian Youth Hostel Association took place in Salzburg at the Eduard Heinrich Haus Hostel on 16th January 2010. On this occasion, Mr. Leopold E. Eisenmann was unanimously elected by the national organisations and the representatives of ÖJHW member organisations. Ms Irene Heinisch and Ing. Wolfgang Erhard (Chairman of the county of Vienna) were elected as vice chairpersons. Mr Michael Schramm (Chairman of Lower Austria) was elected as new Board Member and MMag. Josef Holzer as the Financial Expert. www.jungehotels.at

Austria - ÖJHW - and ITB (International Tourism Exhibition)

The International Tourism Exhibition (ITB) took place in Berlin from 9th to 14th March 2010.

The Austrian Youth Hostel Association was very well represented at the Hostelling International stand.

On 10th March 2010, Mr Eisenman and Mr Hinterseer, CEO of the Salzburg region, were happy to welcome the visit of the Vice-Governor of the county of Salzburg Dr. Haslauer.

From left to right on the picture: Mr Eisenman, Dr. Haslauer, Mr Hinterseer.

www.jungehotels.at

Austria - ÖJHR - The Austrian Youth Hostel Association celebrates its 60th birthday
The Austrian Youth Hostel Association is celebrating its 60th birthday this year. Ever since its foundation in 1950 it has been the aim of the Association to provide travellers with budget accommodation, leisure and cultural activities, sports, and the experience of nature’s beauty.

Croatia - CYHA - HI-Q certification

The first two hostels in Croatia achieved successfully their HI-Quality audits and are now certified. The audits were performed from 12th to 16th April 2010, by the HI-Quality Head Auditor of Hostelling International Iddan Kroll, in CYHA's youth hostels in Rijeka and Dubrovnik.

Being successful and getting the HI-Quality certificate is a great success for both hostels but also for the Croatian Youth Hostel Association and for the process of developing youth hostelling and youth tourism in Croatia. Joining the two certified youth hostels to a list of 220 HI-Q certified hostels worldwide is a big recognition to YH Rijeka and YH Dubrovnik and their staff.

YH Rijeka was opened three years ago after a demanding and complete renovation of a former kindergarten. The building itself is an old 19th century villa which belongs to the City of Rijeka. The City offered the building to CYHA for the purpose of opening the first youth hostel in this town.

The building of the Youth Hostel Dubrovnik was built back in 1938 as a hostel and for more than seven decades welcomes young travellers in this amazing city.

Rijeka and Dubrovnik youth hostels are among the first 4 hostels in the whole Eastern Europe that managed to implement successfully HI-Quality system (other 2 are Hostel Feri Igman in Sarajevo and Downtown Hostel in Prague).

www.hfhs.hr

Germany - DJH - Youth Hostel Academy is now carbon-neutral

"Climate protection is an important goal for youth hostels", stated Angela Braasch-Eggert, President of the German Youth Hostel Association. "This is why we want to be a role model. The DJH-academy is now the first CO2-neutral training and management institute in Germany."

Conscious behaviour seminars and education projects have always left a relatively minor CO2-footprint behind. In addition to these achievements, the academy is committed to reducing CO2-emissions even more. Therefore, paper and energy consumption are planned to be further reduced and participants will be encouraged to travel with public transport. Similarly, youth hostels for meetings and seminars will be selected on the basis of environmental criteria. These include making use of local and organic products and more efficient heating and lighting. The remaining not reducible CO2-emission of the academy is offset by a compensatory payment to certified climate protection projects.

"It is all about credibility", said Angela Braasch-Eggert. "If we want to take climate protection seriously, we must begin with small steps. We let ourselves be judged by our actions."

www.jugendherberge.de

Germany - DJH - Commitment to the Tunisian Association

The Tunisian and the German Youth Hostel Associations (ATATJ) decided to re-launch their exchange of trainees. This agreement was made when a DJH-delegation led by the President Angela Braasch-Eggert was visiting Tunis. The first four trainees are expected to come to Germany in the course of 2010.

While in Nabeul, the German delegates also received information on the development of the new youth hostel. DJH representatives agreed to co-finance the construction. The grant is subject to the condition that the hostel meets the quality requirements of Hostelling International.

www.jugendherberge.de

Scotland - Scottish Youth Hostel Association (SYHA) - Two new hostels in Scotland

SYHA opened Corrour Station House Restaurant & Rooms on Friday 30th April 2010, opening up the Highlands to a wider market of walkers, nature lovers and education groups.

The development extends the charity’s accommodation provision on Rannoch Moor, home to the much loved Loch Ossian Hostel, with four well equipped rooms. In particular, schools, youth and education groups can now be catered for at the location, which offers incredible wildlife watching, walking, outdoor activities and an invaluable field trip experience for youngsters.

Corrour Station House Restaurant & Rooms will also offer an a la carte menu offering traditional Scottish hot meals, as well as packed lunches, at affordable prices. Situated on Rannoch Moor and part of Corrour Estate, the iconic Corrour station provides a "‘gateway to the Highlands".

SYHA has taken on the lease of the station house, which has benefited from partial refurbishment and redecoration to provide a bright, fresh and pleasant restaurant and rooms. The catering facilities will make the destination a viable option for groups, and an attractive one for travellers arriving by train from as far away as London.

Lochranza Youth Hostel has celebrated reopening in time for summer 2010 following a £0.5 million refurbishment.

Lochranza Youth Hostel is situated on the Isle of Arran in South West Scotland and offers high quality, flexible and affordable accommodation to individuals, families and groups.

Fully refurbished and redecorated inside and out, this beautiful building now offers a high quality environment designed to exceed the expectations of the modern traveller. Following the investment in premium beds, en suite private rooms and superior kitchen and shower provisions, the new Lochranza Hostel presents a quality experience, while retaining its traditional charm.

Guests can also be assured ecologically sound measures have topped the list wherever possible, with the installation of rain water harvesting, heat pumps and energy efficient lighting, part funded by Community Energy Scotland and the Scottish Government CARES scheme. The hostel is also the first in Scotland to achieve Fair Trade status, selling exclusively Fair Trade teas and coffees to guests.

www.syha.org.uk

Spain - Red Española de Albergues Juveniles (REAJ) - REAJ launched a programme of creative mobility in hostels
REAJ recently launched a program called "‘Movic" where young artists of different disciplines will work together on cultural projects in different hostels around Spain. The purpose of the project is to stimulate and promote the creativity of young artists.

The artists involved represent different disciplines, such as painting, sculpture, photography, video, performance, music, urban art, etc. The artists will work together for 15 days. During this creative stay they will all contribute to the project with elements from their own discipline.

The projects will also be inspired by the hostels they are staying at. The first hostel to host the artists, which are all under 35 years old, is Baltasar Gracián in Zaragoza. The following stops will be at hostels in Miranda de Ebro, Lugo, Córdoba and Vic. To follow the programme...

www.reaj.com

Switzerland - Swiss Youth Hostels (SJH) - Reopening Youth Hostel Basel St. Alban
The youth hostel in Basel reopened on 15th March after 15 months of renovation. The cost of the work was about 10.5 million CHF including a support of 750.000 CHF from the region.

The new youth hostel now provides 234 beds in a variety of modern rooms (from double rooms to 6-bedded rooms).

www.youthhostel.ch

Switzerland - Swiss Youth Hostels (SJH) - Refurbishment of Youth Hostel St. Moritz

The old St. Moritz hostel is undergoing renovation work.

From 12th July until 25th October it will be open only partially.

The renovated youth hostel will reopen its doors on 1st December 2010, just in time for the winter season. It will offer 286 beds.

www.youthhostel.ch

HI news

Bosnia Herzegovina
On 10th April 2010, the Youth Hostel Feri was audited by Iddan Kroll HI Quality Lead Auditor and certified for the HI-Quality System.

This is the first Youth Hostel in Bosnia and Herzegovina with HI-Q verification, and the Youth Hostel Association of B&H is very proud of this achievement. By receiving this award YH Feri has proven to be an outstanding example of quality and an excellent guidance for other youth hostels in Bosnia.

Youth Hostel Feri, situated in the mountain of Igman, famous venue of the Winter olympic games in 1984, is a strong symbol as the newest Youth Hostel in the C&EE Region, destroyed during the war of 1992‐1995 but rebuilt and opened in December 2008 in the name of reconciliation, peace and international understanding. www.hihostels.com

With support from the General Budget of the European Communities
The information contained in this publication does not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the European Commission