Youth Guarantee
Four months is all it takes! At least according to the largest EU youth employment initiative, promising that every young person who is not in education, employment, or training (NEET) will be offered an opportunity within four months.
We have been present since the very inception of the Youth Guarantee in 2013 💪
Lighting the way forward
The Youth Guarantee aims to ensure that every young European is provided a quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship, or a traineeship within the crucial four-month period. Initially funded by the European Social Fund and the Youth Employment Initiative, the programme is now supported by the European Social Fund+. Member states are required to supplement European funding with their own national resources.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Youth Guarantee was strengthened in 2020 by extending the age limit to include young people under 30. It also prioritises personalised approaches, recognising that young NEETs are a diverse group and one-size-fits-all approaches are not the most efficient.
Real solution or false promise?
The Youth Guarantee was designed as a promise to Europe's youth, a commitment to fight youth unemployment and ensure smoother transitions from education to work. It was developed in response to young people’s demands for a Youth Guarantee instrument expressed through the EU Youth Dialogue.
How does it work?
Each member state has an implementation plan, resulting in a variety of approaches across Europe. This flexibility allows for tailored solutions but makes it harder to track overall progress. Monitoring happens both nationally and across Europe.
Mind the Gaps
The Youth Guarantee is celebrated across Europe, but it's not perfect. The European Council's recommendation doesn't enforce strict quality standards, resulting in uneven programme outcomes and opportunities. Regional differences and gaps in implementation persist, particularly when it comes to outreach to rural areas and those who need it the most. That's why there's an urgent need to fix these issues to ensure the Youth Guarantee truly delivers on its promise and promotes social inclusion.
Pathways to improvement
Here's our key recommendations, to enhance the Youth Guarantee:
At EU level
- Recognise the Youth Guarantee as a right for young people
- Establish a common definition of NEET
- Set clear quality criteria and standards
- Simplify access to ESF+ funds for youth organisations
- Enhance the European Semester's efficiency in monitoring the Youth Guarantee and increase Country Specific Recommendations
- Improve monitoring
At member states level
- Foster cross-sectoral cooperation for a holistic approach to support young people facing multiple barriers
- Strengthen the involvement of youth organisations
- Reinforce the capacity of Public Employment Services and train employees to interact effectively with diverse young people
- Collect disaggregated data to better understand young people's needs
- Guarantee minimum income during transition periods
- Ban unpaid internships under the Youth Guarantee
Key Documents and Resources
Open Policy Documents
Open Research studies and publications
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