EU Youth Dialogue
The EU Youth Dialogue is the largest youth participation mechanism in Europe.
What does this mean? Simply put, it’s the most organised space for young people to have a say in shaping both the national and EU policies that affect their lives. It brings together young people, youth organisations, governmental representatives and civil society stakeholders to sit around the same table and work on solutions.
The EU Youth Dialogue (EUYD) has been around since 2010, though back then it was called Structured Dialogue. Its purpose was clear from the start: to ensure the inclusion of young people’s perspectives in policymaking. In 2019, it got a new name and a stronger role as part of the EU Youth Strategy, becoming the EU Youth Dialogue that we know today. Since then, more than 300,000 young people have taken part.
How does it work?
It runs in 18-month cycles, each focusing on a key topic that matters to young people in Europe. During this time, national consultations are held with young people and youth organisations, gathering ideas and perspectives from across the continent.
Each cycle has two phases: the consultation phase, where voices are collected, and the implementation phase, where ideas are turned into action. The process is led by three consecutive EU Council Presidencies that work together. Every Presidency organises a EU Youth Conference (about every six months), creating space for dialogue between young people and policy makers.
- All the outcomes of the EU Youth Dialogue can be found in the European Youth Portal.
Consultation phase
That’s the moment when the dialogue really begins. National Working Groups (made up by National Youth Councils and ministries) lead activities in their countries, while international non-governmental youth organisations contribute at the European level.
Through consultations and discussions, young people share their views on chosen topics, linked to one of the European Youth Goals. These consultations can happen locally, regionally, nationally, or across borders. Even national youth councils and international non-governmental youth organisations outside the EU are invited to bring their expertise to the table.
Implementation phase
Once the consultations are complete, it’s time to put the ideas into practice in the EU Member States. During the implementation phase, National Working Groups turn their consultation phase findings, together with the Europe-wide results, into concrete plans and activities.
The aim is simple: to ensure the recommendations don’t just stay on paper, but actually spark real action at both national and EU levels.
EU Youth Conferences
Every six months, when the EU Presidency changes hands, an EU Youth Conference takes place. During the conferences, young people come together with ministerial representatives to discuss the results of the national consultations, identify common challenges and draft recommendations for the future of EU youth policy.
Where are we now?
The current 11th cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue, led by Poland, Denmark and Cyprus, is all about European Youth Goal #1: “Connecting EU with Youth.” Around 38,000 young people have already shared their ideas on how the EU can better reach and engage with them. Another key focus of the cycle is the future of the EU Youth Programmes, like Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps.
Why is it important?
The EU Youth Dialogue gives young people a real opportunity to take part in the European decision making processes and voice their views to policymakers. By creating a structured, ongoing space for dialogue between young people, organisations, and policymakers, it helps bridge the generation gap and makes EU decision-making more inclusive and democratic.
And this is not just wishful thinking, but actual reality. The EU Youth Dialogue is responsible for creating the European Youth Goals, a set of 11 priorities for young people across Europe that guide European policy processes. These goals have led to concrete policy changes such as the reinforced Youth Guarantee, Europe’s largest youth employment initiative, and the EU Youth Check, an impact assessment tool that mainstreams youth perspectives into EU law.
How can you get involved?
• For youth organisations: National Youth Councils from EU Member States are part of the National Working Groups. A number of selected international non-governmental youth organisations also actively participate in the process, contributing their expertise at European level.
• For individuals: If you’re a young person, you can join the EU Youth Dialogue by taking part in activities and consultations organised by your country’s National Working Group. To find out more, reach out to your National Youth Council, they’ll guide you on how to get involved.
Key outcomes
After the consultation phase, a report is drafted to compare and analyse the outcomes of the national consultations across Europe. The idea is to find common themes and priorities and turn them into policy recommendations that can then be implemented at both national and European level.
At the end of the cycle, an implementation report is produced. It looks at how the recommendations could be implemented and summarises the entire 18-month cycle.
Key Documents and Resources
Open Policy Documents
Open Archive
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