France wants to export one of its successful devices. On Tuesday, May 30, French and Italian officials meet in Rome to launch a Franco-Italian civic service. "The idea is to allow young people who are not in the context of their studies, who are in associations, to experience mobility", explained to Agence France-Presse the Secretary of State responsible for Youth, Sarah El Haïry, who is piloting this project included in the Franco-Italian Treaty of the Quirinal of 2021.
The idea of this system is to allow, in the long term, young people living both in France and in Italy to carry out a remunerated mission of general interest in the other country. Aged 16 to 25, beneficiaries will be paid around 600 euros to work for up to a year in associations or in communities on issues of the environment, solidarity, discrimination, memory or even sport. And for good reason, Paris (for the 2024 Summer Olympics), Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo (2026 Winter Olympics) are hosting the next Olympics.
“The only thing you ask for is a passion. There are no prerequisites", even linguistic, Italians not being required to speak French to apply and vice versa, said the minister. The initial objective is modest, of the order of "150 civic services in all, French and Italian" each year, according to the Secretary of State for Youth. In total, since its creation in 2010, more than 700,000 young people have participated in civic service.
The Franco-Italian system is provided for in the framework of the Quirinal Treaty, signed in November 2021 in Rome by French President Emmanuel Macron and Mario Draghi, who was then Prime Minister. This text provides for areas of enhanced bilateral cooperation in diplomacy and defence, in digital and environmental transitions, culture and education, industrial cooperation and even space.
Diplomatic relations have been strained between the two countries since Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took over. “We try to keep political vagaries out of this treaty. Italy remains a friendly country, commented Sarah El Haïry. We must not fall behind on youth issues. »
