Table of Contents

Executive Summary. 4

1........... Introduction. 8

2........... General Overview of Youth Policy. 8

2.1........ Youth policy: a policy based on evidence. 8

2.2........ Legal framework and national youth policy environment 9

2.3........ Implementation of the first cycle of the EU Youth Strategy. 15

3........... Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship. 20

3.1........ Commission initiatives and action. 20

3.2........ Summary of initiatives and action at national level 22

3.3........ Youth-led initiatives and action. 28

4........... Education and Training. 31

4.1........ Commission initiatives and action. 31

4.2........ Summary of initiatives and action at national level 33

4.3........ Youth-led initiatives and action. 37

5........... Social Inclusion. 39

5.1........ Commission initiatives and action. 39

5.2........ Summary of initiatives and action at national level 41

5.3........ Youth-led initiatives and action. 46

6........... Health and Well-being. 49

6.1........ Commission initiatives and action. 49

6.2........ Summary of initiatives and action at national level 50

6.3........ Youth-led initiatives and action. 53

7........... Youth Participation. 55

7.1........ Commission initiatives and action. 55

7.2........ Summary of initiatives and action at national level 57

7.3........ Youth-led initiatives and action. 62

8........... Voluntary Activities. 65

8.1........ Commission initiatives and action. 65

8.2........ Summary of initiatives and action at national level 66

8.3........ Youth-led initiatives and action. 70

9........... Culture and Creativity. 73

9.1........ Commission initiatives and action. 73

9.2........ Summary of initiatives and action at national level 74

9.3........ Youth-led initiatives and action. 77

10......... Youth and the World. 79

10.1...... Commission initiatives and action. 79

10.2...... Summary of initiatives and action at national level 81

10.3...... Youth-led initiatives and action. 85

11......... Structured Dialogue with Young People and Youth organisations. 87

11.1...... Commission initiatives and action. 87

11.2...... Summary of initiatives and action at national level 89

11.3...... Youth-led initiatives and action. 95

12......... Annex. 99

12.1...... Table of abbreviations. 99

12.2...... Council Resolutions/Conclusions on youth (2010-2012) 101

Executive Summary

Background

The EU Youth Strategy

In 2009, the Council endorsed the renewed framework for European cooperation in the youth field (2010-2018), known in short as the EU Youth Strategy[1]. Its objectives are to:

(i) create more and equal opportunities for all young people in education and in the labour market, and

(ii) promote the active citizenship, social inclusion and solidarity of all young people.

The EU Youth Strategy advocates a cross-cutting approach, branching out into eight different policy areas (‘fields of action’), which are the following: Education and Training, Employment and Entrepreneurship, Social Inclusion, Health and Well-being, Participation, Culture and Creativity, Volunteering, and Youth and the World.

The EU Youth Strategy and its implementation are based on the Open Method of Coordination, addressing both the Commission and Member States to take specific actions in the above-mentioned ‘fields of action’. To this end, it proposes a set of instruments which include: evidence-based policy-making; mutual learning; regular progress-reporting; dissemination of results and monitoring; Structured Dialogue with young people and youth organisations; and mobilisation of EU programmes and funds.

The EU Youth Strategy invited the Commission and Member States to implement the strategy by fostering cooperation that cuts across all of the various policy fields concerned. Such an approach should be pursued at all levels, and policies can be improved by sharing good practices. Youth work should be supported, developed and recognised for its economic and social contribution.

EU Youth Report: reporting on progress and looking ahead

The period covered by the EU Youth Strategy is divided into three-year cycles, with the requirement to produce an EU Youth Report at the end of each cycle, the first of which will be drawn up in 2012 and ‘consist of […]a joint Council-Commission report (political part), and supporting documents (statistical and analytical part). The EU Youth report will evaluate progress made towards the overall objectives of the framework, as well as progress regarding the priorities defined for the most recent work cycle and identify good practices. […] The EU Youth Report should also serve as a basis for establishing a set of priorities for the following work cycle.’

This Staff Working Document supports the Commission Communication which presents the draft joint report on the EU Youth Report to the Council. Summarising the results of the first cycle (2010-2012), it presents the actions taken at EU-level and in Member States, as well as initiatives taken by young people themselves. Separate chapters report on achievements in all eight ‘fields of action’ of the strategy, the general organisation and approach to youth policy, and the Structured Dialogue between young people and policy-makers. The references made to Member States' activities are based on National Youth Reports submitted by them[2]. Young people are represented in the report by the European Youth Forum, which is an umbrella organisation of approximately 40 National Youth Councils and more than 60 international non-governmental youth organisations in Europe.

A second Staff Working Document supporting the Commission Communication on the EU Youth Report 2012 provides a comprehensive picture of the situation of young people in Europe based on the latest available data, statistics and research. It portrays trends and developments in young people's conditions in different areas, corresponding to the ‘fields of action’. It builds on the dashboard of EU youth indicators, which is an overview of 41 indicators that measure the most crucial aspects of the lives of young people in Europe[3].

Results of the first cycle of the Open Method of Coordination in the youth field (2010-2012)

Actions at EU level

The Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth puts young people high on its agenda and embraces a number of concrete initiatives to support them in getting jobs and dealing with related challenges during this crisis. Young people are the target group of the flagship initiative ‘Youth on the Move’, which promotes mobility as a means of learning. They are also impacted by two other flagship initiatives, ‘An Agenda for New Skills and Jobs’, which aims to improve employability and employment opportunities for young people, and ‘A Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion’, the aim of which is to combat poverty and exclusion from an early age.

In response to the unacceptably high youth unemployment rates, the Commission proposed a comprehensive set of measures under the ‘Youth Opportunities Initiative’ and urged Member States to make better use of the European Social Fund (ESF). It also proposed tailor-made national approaches to youth unemployment through its Country Specific Recommendations under the European Semester and through dedicated action teams set up to assist those Member States with above average unemployment rates.

To better prepare young people for the labour market, including in the medium term, and in line with the Europe 2020 benchmarks on tertiary education and early school leaving, the Commission intensified its efforts to ensure that young people acquire the relevant skills for the labour market and to improve education and training. The main initiative in this field is the strategic framework for European cooperation in Education and Training, which was adopted in 2009 for the period up to 2020 (ET 2020). In this context, the Commission presented a strategy for the modernisation of Europe's higher education systems in 2011.

The Youth in Action and the Lifelong Learning programmes support learning mobility in both formal and non-formal education. Projects supported in 2011 under the Lifelong Learning programme involved more than 530 000 participants, while Youth in Action projects involved more than 180 000 young people.

The Commission is also endeavouring to lift obstacles EU citizens, including the young, encounter when using their EU rights, notably their right to free movement within the EU be it for leisure, volunteering, study or work[4].

The EU Youth Strategy contributed to these efforts by making youth employment the overall thematic priority during the first Trio Presidency. This resulted in recommendations and proposals for action through Council resolutions addressing the social inclusion of young people, and the role of youth work in employability and accessing jobs. During the same period, the Structured Dialogue between young people and policy-makers focused on youth employment. The resulting recommendations culminated in a Council resolution and were used to develop policy measures within the Commission.

The Trio Presidency of Poland, Denmark and Cyprus chose ‘youth participation in democratic life’ as the overall thematic priority between mid-2011 and end 2012. Youth participation is important not only to increase citizenship, social inclusion and solidarity among young people; it also helps young people to acquire valuable cross-cutting skills that add to their employability. This work led to Council conclusions and resolutions that emphasised the need for an inclusive approach to participation and to broaden the range of tools for youth participation. It addressed interaction with young people from EU neighbouring countries, especially in Eastern Europe, and ensured better outreach to include young people with fewer opportunities. It also looked at the creative potential of young people themselves in terms of developing opportunities for youth participation.

Actions in Member States

All Member States submitted reports on how the EU Youth Strategy has been implemented at a national level during the period 2010-2012. These reports were drawn up in response to a comprehensive questionnaire covering all aspects of the EU Youth Strategy[5]. Norway, Switzerland, Montenegro, and Croatia submitted such reports voluntarily. The National Youth Reports can be downloaded from the Commission's website.

This report presents a summary of actions taken, including tables indicating the aggregate responses of all National Youth Reports to the various questions. It analyses trends in the ‘fields of action’ and provides an overview of national policies, the use of funds in each country, as well as specific projects and initiatives. As mutual learning is key to the implementation of the European Youth Strategy, examples of good practice from the Member States are highlighted throughout the report.

A majority of Member States have legislation specifically pertaining to young people, some of which has only relatively recently come into effect. The same applies to National Youth Strategies. Structures for cooperation across ministries or with researchers reflect the cross-sectoral approach of the EU Youth Strategy at national level. Member States indicate that the EU Youth Strategy has been generally well received, and have taken measures after it came into force in all eight ‘fields of action’. The most dynamic policy field seems to be Participation, in which 18 Member States have taken action since the EU Youth Strategy came into force in 2010, whereas Culture and Creativity had the fewest initiatives.

Many measures relating to the ‘fields of action’ had been taken before the EU Youth Strategy came into force, which shows that the strategy ties in well with Member States' priorities. For example, 22 Member States responded that they had already taken measures to promote learning mobility of all young people before the EU Youth Strategy came into effect in 2010. This was also the case in the areas of combating homelessness and financial exclusion; support of youth organisations and recognition of their important role in promoting participation from an early age.

The Structured Dialogue between young people and policy-makers has been successfully established. National Working Groups have been set up and Member States are ready to enhance the transparency and visibility of the process and monitor its follow-up.

Actions by young people

The European Youth Forum (YFJ) also contributed to this report by describing its activities and appreciation of measures in all eight ‘fields of action’. The YFJ is a key player in the Structured Dialogue, with its President acting as chair of the European Steering Committee.

YFJ has been very active in the field of Employment and Entrepreneurship, including the submission of various position papers that have fed into the Commission’s policy preparations. As youth organisations are an important provider of non-formal learning, the YFJ has also been active in promoting better recognition and quality of non-formal education.

A wide range of activities were carried out in preparation for and during the 2011 European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship, during which YFJ organised a large volunteering convention in Brussels.

1. Introduction

This part of the EU Youth Report assesses the implementation of the EU Youth Strategy at national and EU level during its first three-year work cycle. Separate chapters cover all eight ‘fields of action’ of the Strategy.

Each chapter consists of three sections. The first provides an overview of initiatives taken at EU level during 2010-2012. The second includes a summary and a brief assessment of the initiatives and action taken at national level. This section is based on National Youth Reports submitted by all Member States[6] and Norway, Switzerland, Montenegro and Croatia. These reports were drawn up in response to a comprehensive questionnaire covering all aspects of the EU Youth Strategy[7]. The third section presents measures taken by young people themselves, represented by the European Youth Forum – a body which represents some 90 National Youth Councils and international non-governmental youth organisations in Europe.

National Youth Reports can be downloaded from the Commission's website.

2. General Overview of Youth Policy 2.1. Youth policy: a policy based on evidence

This EU Youth Report has been drawn up thanks to a framework for reporting and monitoring of youth data, research and policy activities. This framework is anchored in the EU Youth Strategy, which stresses the importance of evidence as a basis for policy.

EU Youth Policy is measured through a dashboard of EU youth indicators, which was drawn up in 2011 on the basis of a mandate from the EU Youth Strategy. An expert group fed into this dashboard[8], which presents 40 indicators in all eight ‘fields of action’ of the EU Youth Strategy. Eurostat set up a sub-section on youth on its website, displaying latest available data for the indicators. The expert group on EU youth indicators meets annually to review the dashboard. The Commission also released a study[9] showing how Member States work with youth indicators.

The Commission furthermore conducted a Flash Eurobarometer-survey on youth (Fl319a and Fl319b) in early 2011. The data collected further contributed to the dashboard of EU youth indicators and a Commission benchmark on mobility.

This evidence-base was further enriched by findings from a cluster of five youth-oriented socio-economic research projects supported under the 7th EU Research Framework Programme, focusing on marginalised groups of young people and their inclusion in society (young homeless people; young people from a public care background; ethnic minority youth including Roma and young unemployed).

The results and recommendations of these projects are summarised in the forthcoming policy review[10] Social Inclusion of Youth on the Margins of Society: More Opportunies, Better Access and Higher Solidarity and were discussed at a European Conference by European and national policy-makers, youth researchers and practitioners in the youth field (November 2011).

The Commission is supported in its evidence-based approach to youth policy by its partnership with the Council of Europe (CoE) in the youth field. The EU-CoE Youth Partnership manages the Pool of European Youth Researchers (PEYR) and the European Knowledge Centre on Youth Policy (EKCYP). It also has a comprehensive online database with knowledge on the situation of young people in Europe.

The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) also provides support in monitoring data and statistics in the youth field.

2.2. Legal framework and national youth policy environment

This chapter provides a general overview of how the Member States and participating non-EU countries – 31 in all – structure their youth policy in terms of legislation, policy strategies and inter-ministerial cooperation. It also presents how these countries perceive the impact of the EU Youth Strategy at the national and local levels as well as other linkages between youth policy at national and EU level.

2.2.1. Youth laws or national legislation on youth

Responses in National Youth Reports[11] || || || || ||

Does your country have a 'youth law' or legislation that specifically refers to youth issues, or laws containing a section addressing the needs and/or rights of young people? || Total || Belgium || Non-EU countries || EU countries excl. Belgium

Yes || ▼ || 27 || 3 || 3 || 21

No || ◊ || 6 || || 1 || 5

Although most Member States report to have legislation that specifically refers to youth issues, or laws containing a section addressing the needs and/or rights of young people, the responses do not easily lend themselves to analysis. For instance, some countries which answer in the affirmative to the question whether they have specific legislation on youth make reference to legislation on children. Most countries operate with an overlap in age between children and young people (children defined up to the age of 18 and young people usually from the age of 15), and in some countries the division between children and youth is vague. It should be noted that several of the countries reporting that they do not have a ‘youth law’ or specific legislation on young people, may have specific legislation on children, defined up to the age of 18

Many Member States refer to specific youth laws (see Table 2‑A). In countries with a federal structure, the regions are autonomous on youth issues: In Belgium, the three Communities have separate youth legislation, and legislation on youth is in place in all 17 Autonomous Communities of Spain. In Austria and Germany, national legislation is supplemented by legislative acts at Federal State level. In Italy legislation in this area only exists at regional level.

Whereas most Member States have legislation on young people, such legislation is in most cases recent, which suggests that youth legislation is an area still under development.

Table 2‑A: Overview of youth laws or national legislation on youth

(Web-links included where provided)

EU MEMBER STATES

BELGIUM: Laws and legislative acts pertaining to young people's rights and well-being exist in all Communities (Flemish, French and German-speaking).

BULGARIA: The Family Code (2009, amended 2010) settles relationships between parents and children. Other legislative acts cover various issues relating to youth, among them employment, health, physical education and sport.

CZECH REPUBLIC: A number of laws address young people's rights, welfare and care services, social protection, education, etc.

DENMARK: There is no specific youth law or youth legislation.

GERMANY: Legislation on child and youth (adopted 1990) available online at http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/sgb_8/ (in German).

ESTONIA: The Youth Work Act was adopted in 1999; the renewed law came into force in 2010.

IRELAND: The Youth Work Act was adopted in 2001: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/pdf/2001/en.act.2001.0042.pdf (in English).

GREECE: A number of laws concern young people's rights to education and information, health and social protection, youth participation in elections, entrepreneurship and employment, etc.

SPAIN: At regional level, there exists specific legislation on youth, such as training, employment, health, housing, education, environment, culture, sports, tourism and recreation, associations, voluntary work, etc.

FRANCE: There is no specific youth law. However, legislation which covers young people exists in various areas, such as education, employment, social affairs, health, justice, professional training, etc.

ITALY: No national youth law, but some legislation exists at regional level.

CYPRUS: The main legislation concerning youth is the Youth Board Law of 1994 (available in English). Additionally, there are other laws addressing the needs/rights of young people.

LATVIA: The Youth Law is from 2009 and was amended in 2011: http://www.likumi.lv/doc.php?id=175920 (only Latvian).

LITHUANIA: The Law on a Youth Policy Framework (2003) outlines the main concepts of youth policy, defines youth policy areas and establishes principles of the implementation of youth policy.

LUXEMBOURG: There is a Youth Law (2008) and a Law on Youth Volunteering (2007).

HUNGARY: There is a law on the Children and Youth Fund (1995) and a Regulation of the Ministry of Youth and Sports on the Functioning of the National Children and Youth Fund and the Regional Youth Services (1999).

MALTA: No legislation on youth but a Commissioner for Children Act, Chapter 462 of the Laws of Malta: http://www.mjha.gov.mt/LOM.aspx?pageid=27&mode=chrono&gotoID=462 (English version).

NETHERLANDS: The Youth Care Act 2005 and the Social Support Law 2007 address child and youth issues. A new youth law will soon replace the Youth Care Act. Youth Care Act: http://english.minvws.nl/en/folders/djb/2005/youth-care-in-the-netherlands.asp Social Support Act: http://english.minvws.nl/en/themes/social-support-act (English version).

AUSTRIA: There is a Federal Youth Promotion Act (2001): http://www.en.bmwfj.gv.at/Youth/YouthPromotion/Seiten/default.aspx

POLAND: The Act on promotion of employment and labour market institutions (2004) outlines special measures for unemployed under the age of 25.

PORTUGAL: All youth legislation (latest revisions in 2011) is available online at http://juventude.gov.pt/Legislacao/Paginas/Legislacao_Juventude.aspx (in Portuguese). There are youth protection acts in all nine regions. English versions are available upon request.

ROMANIA: The Romanian Youth Law was adopted in 2006.

SLOVENIA: Legislation on youth include the Youth Councils Act, http://www.ursm.gov.si/fileadmin/ursm.gov.si/pageuploads/pdf/ZJIMS/ZMS-NPB1__ANG.pdf, and the Public Interest in Youth Sector Act, http://www.ursm.gov.si/fileadmin/ursm.gov.si/pageuploads/pdf/ZJIMS/ZJIMS_ENG.pdf (English version).

SLOVAKIA: Different legislation addresses needs and rights of young people. The legal act closest resembling a youth law is the Youth Work Support Act (2008).

FINLAND: There is a Youth Act (2006), http://www.minedu.fi/OPM/Nuoriso/nuorisopolitiikka/?lang=en (in English), and several other acts that address welfare and health, rights, education and training.

UNITED KINGDOM: There is the Children Act (2004), http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/31/contents, and the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act (2009). Furthermore, in Wales there is the Rights of Children and Young Persons Measure (2011) and in Scotland the Commissioner for Children & Young People Act (2003).

NON-EU COUNTRIES

SWITZERLAND: There is a Federal law on the Promotion of extracurricular Child and Youth Welfare (2011).

MONTENEGRO: There is different legislation pertaining to young people's rights and well-being. A separate Youth Law is planned, scheduled for adoption in 2012.

CROATIA: Law on Youth Advisory Boards (LYAB), adopted in 2007.

2.2.2. National Strategies and Action Plans or cross-sectoral strategies specifically referring to youth issues

Responses in National Youth Reports || || || || ||

Does your country have a National Youth Strategy and/or Action Plan, or a cross-sectoral strategy specifically referring to youth issues? || Total || Belgium || Non-EU countries || EU countries excl. Belgium

Yes || ▼ || 28 || 3 || 4 || 21

No || ◊ || 5 || || || 5

Even in the absence of a National Youth Strategy or action plan, Ireland and Spain stress that strategies existed previously and that new strategies are expected to be in place by the end of 2012. Portugal and Spain are currently drafting a White Paper on Youth. All ongoing processes mention that consultations with young people are an inherent element in the development of youth policy. In Austria a national Action Plan for the Rights of Children and Youth has been in place since 2004.

As is true for youth legislation, National Youth Strategies and action plans are in many cases relatively recent. A substantial number of countries in which strategies are already in place, report ongoing processes to develop new strategies. This again suggests that youth policy is an area of increasing importance at national level.

2.2.3. Institutional mechanisms aimed at cross-sectoral youth policy

Responses in National Youth Reports || || || || ||

Does your Government have an inter-ministerial working group on youth or any other institutionalised mechanism for ensuring a cross-sectoral approach to youth policy? || Total || Belgium || Non-EU countries || EU countries excl. Belgium

YES, such an institutional mechanism has existed since before the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010. || ■ || 27 || 1 || 4 || 22

YES, such an institutional mechanism was established after the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010. || ● || 4 || 2 || || 2

NO, but we have an ongoing initiative to establish such an institutional mechanism in 2012. || ▲ || 1 || || || 1

NO, we do not plan to establish such an institutional mechanism. || ♦ || 1 || || || 1

There are many examples of standing working groups or advisory bodies with representatives of different ministries. In the French community of Belgium, a permanent inter-ministerial Conference on Youth has existed since July 2011 at the level of Ministers. In Cyprus, an inter-ministerial Consulting Committee on Youth consists of representatives of 10 ministries and various government agencies. In the Czech Republic, the Youth Chamber, which is an advisory body to the Youth Minister and consists of representatives from various ministries and youth stakeholder groups, has been transformed into an efficient instrument for the implementation of youth policy. In Spain, the Inter-ministerial Commission for Youth comprises a senior representative of each ministry plus the president of the National Youth Council, and its role is to propose government programmes and measures in the youth field. The Council of Youth Affairs in Lithuania consists of 6 representatives of different ministries and 6 representatives of the Lithuanian Youth Council, and submits proposals on youth policy to the Ministry of Social Security and Labour.

Several Member States mention that the EU Youth Strategy's emphasis on a cross-sectoral approach has played an important role for the recognition of youth policies and strategies at national level.

France

Policy in favour of young people

The document of transversal policy ‘Policy in favour of young people’ is an annual annex to the draft of the budget law. It shows the policy pertaining to young people from the age of 3 to 30 with measures taken, indicators of performance and dedicated funding including costs of human resources (€ 74.9 billions). Documents of transversal policy allow another perspective on the budget, but are not subject to parliamentary decision. The document on youth policy is written according to an inter-ministerial procedure established by the Ministry of Finance. The policy is presented along five strategic axes. In addition to informing Members of Parliament, the document aims to harmonize the policies between the ministries involved in its preparation and to detect possible synergies. It can be downloaded here.

2.2.4. Linkages between youth policy and youth research

Responses in National Youth Reports || || || || ||

Is there an institutionalised and regular cooperation between the Ministry responsible for Youth and the youth research community in your country? || Total || Belgium || Non-EU countries || EU countries excl. Belgium

YES, such cooperation has existed since before the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010. || ■ || 22 || 1 || 3 || 18

YES, such cooperation was established after the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010. || ● || 2 || 1 || 1 || 0

NO, but we have an ongoing initiative to establish such cooperation in 2012. || ▲ || 6 || || || 6

NO, we do not have any initiative to establish such cooperation. || ♦ || 3 || 1 || || 2

Member States' governments take different approaches to institutionalised cooperation with researchers. A significant number of Member States fund Youth Institutes which often conduct research themselves. In the cases of Luxembourg, Malta, and Portugal these institutes are part of a university, whereas research centres in the United Kingdom have a stronger emphasis on secondary analysis.

Germany and Austria both issue youth reports outlining the situation of young people during each parliamentary term. Estonia refers to the organisation of cooperation seminars by the Youth Institute. In Slovakia, cooperation takes place in working groups. Facilitation of information exchange and stimulation of research is the focus of the Nordic Youth Cooperation Committee in Denmark and the Youth Institute in the Netherlands. The Nordic Youth Cooperation Committee derives new ideas also from the European dashboard of youth indicators. The Youth Research Society in Finland promotes of multidisciplinary youth research and was founded as non-profit organisation already in 1988, the earliest year referred to by Member States responding to this question.

With Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Latvia, and Lithuania nearly all the Member States reporting ongoing initiatives are currently trying to establish a permanent network of youth researchers.

2.2.5. Strategies and measures to support youth work

Responses in National Youth Reports || || || || ||

Does the Government of your country have a strategy to acknowledge, raise awareness of, and reinforce the role of youth work in society, in line with the Council Resolution on Youth Work (2010)[12]? || Total || Belgium || Non-EU countries || EU countries excl. Belgium

YES, we already had such a strategy in place since before the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010. || ■ || 19 || 3 || 1 || 15

YES, we have set up such a strategy since the adoption of the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010. || ● || 3 || || 1 || 2

NO, we do not have such a strategy in place, but the Government is planning to set up such a strategy in the coming year. || ▲ || 4 || || || 4

NO, the Government is not planning to set up such a strategy. || ♦ || 7 || || 2 || 5

The Flemish Community of Belgium, Germany, and Finland point out their long tradition of youth work, by referring to well established funding procedures at various levels and long standing laws. Finland not only underlines the importance of local, regional, and national youth work in its policy programme, but also of virtual youth work.

Several Member States refer to parts on youth work in their National Youth Strategies (e.g. Latvia, Lithuania, and Hungary). In Slovenia the notion of the entire youth work sphere being in the public interest is anchored in law. Spain reports on efforts in the area of professional qualifications in the youth field; Malta refers to its university as an institution of higher education for the youth field also delivering courses leading to vocational qualifications. In the Czech Republic high quality NGOs are awarded the honorary title ‘Organisation recognised by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports in the field of children and youth work’.

Even some Member States that report not having or planning such strategies are actively promoting youth work. In Bulgaria, the significance of youth work is outlined in the National Youth Strategy (2010-2020); in Slovakia there is a Youth Work Support Act and in Sweden – where youth work is a local responsibility – one of the main roles of the National Board of Youth Affairs is to provide relevant support to municipalities. Cyprus and Poland report that they provide active support to youth work through their policies.

The most frequently mentioned measure is the financing of non-governmental youth associations.

Malta

Youth Information Portal

Youth Information Malta consists of a web portal which includes general information compiled in Maltese and in English about a wide range of topics. A search function and accessibility features are also included. The information is continually updated and includes detailed contact information of various organisations together with embedded hyperlinks to access further details directly from the source. The portal provides also a showcase of news, music, and events pertaining to the youth field. The streaming music function is aimed primarily to promote local artists and their music with direct links to the respective websites. The events section is a showcase of events and besides informing young people, it assists youth organisations, agencies and groups in their promotions. Youth Information Malta aims also to be a common meeting platform for young people, institutions, organisations and youth workers. For more information click here.

2.2.6. Using general EU funding opportunities for youth initiatives

Responses in National Youth Reports || || || || ||

Has your Government carried out specific initiatives targeting young people or the field of youth policy utilising EU funding opportunities through the European Social Fund, the European Regional Development Fund and/or the Rural Development Fund, or any other relevant EU funds or programmes such as PROGRESS? || Total || Belgium || Non-EU countries || EU countries excl. Belgium

YES, we have carried out youth initiatives or projects utilising the general EU funding opportunities mentioned above in the past, before the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010, but they are now finalised. || ■ || 13 || 1 || || 12

YES, we are currently carrying out youth initiatives or projects utilising the general EU funding opportunities mentioned above. || ● || 14 || 2 || 1 || 11

NO, we have not carried out youth initiatives or projects utilising the general EU funding opportunities mentioned above, but we are planning to do so in 2012. || ▲ || 1 || || 1 || 0

NO, we do not plan to utilise the EU funding opportunities mentioned above to finance youth activities or projects. || ♦ || 5 || || 2 || 3

A majority of projects funded by the EU through the European Social Fund (ESF), the European Regional Development Fund and/or PROGRESS focus on labour market integration of young people. Employability is strengthening e.g. through better recognition of non-formal learning and supporting youth work, training of youth workers, stimulating entrepreneurship, improving information services and developing ICT skills. Other projects focus on developing networks of youth centres and regional youth policy, improving systems of formal education, and promoting rural development by working with young farmers. Diverse groups of young people at risk of social exclusion and poverty or with special needs (immigrants, disabled, early school leavers) are often targeted.[13]

2.3. Implementation of the first cycle of the EU Youth Strategy 2.3.1. Impact of the EU Youth Strategy on national or local level

Responses in National Youth Reports || || || || ||

Please indicate how the EU Youth Strategy, adopted in November 2009, has influenced youth priorities in your country at the NATIONAL level? || Total || Belgium || Non-EU countries || EU countries excl. Belgium

It has reinforced existing priorities. || ◄ || 27 || 2 || 2 || 23

It has led to a re-orientation of policy. || ► || 3 || 1 || || 2

It has had little or no impact on national youth policy. || ▬ || 3 || || 2 || 1

|| || || || ||

Please indicate how the EU Youth Strategy has influenced youth priorities in your country at the LOCAL and/or REGIONAL level? || Total || Belgium || Non-EU countries || EU countries excl. Belgium

It has reinforced existing priorities. || ◄ || 24 || 1 || 2 || 21

It has led to a re-orientation of policy. || ► || 2 || 1 || || 1

It has had little or no impact on local and regional youth policy. || ▬ || 7 || 1 || 2 || 4

Member States will differ in national priorities and vary their emphasis on different policy areas linked to youth. However, the National Youth Reports show a strong coherence between national initiatives and areas of action which they committed to prioritise through the EU Youth Strategy.

Nearly all Member States report that the EU Youth Strategy has reinforced their national priorities, with several stressing its direct impact. For example, the strategy was a guiding document for developing the National Youth Policy Programme in Lithuania, the link between youth policy and labour market policies was strengthened in Austria and the dialogue with youth was further developed in the Flemish Community of Belgium.

The EU Youth Strategy seems to have had less impact on local and regional youth policy, which is not unexpected given that the Open Method of Coordination focuses on cooperation between the EU and Member States. Implementation at regional and local level will require tailoring measures to regional and local circumstances, which probably requires more time.

2.3.2. Challenges in implementing the EU Youth Strategy at national level

According to the National Youth Reports, the EU Youth Strategy has been the subject of many conferences and meetings across Europe, and all national governments have actively promoted the Strategy. This is particularly true for the Member States which held the EU Council Presidencies during the first two years of the EU Youth Strategy: Spain, Belgium, Hungary and Poland.

When assessing the challenges in implementation, many National Youth Reports noted that the close links between the EU Youth Strategy and National Youth Strategies made it artificial to separate the two. Among the main challenges mentioned by most countries were:

· cross-sectoral and inter-ministerial cooperation;

· convincing local authorities to put ‘youth’ on the agenda;

· highlighting the added value of non-formal education and youth work for other policy areas;

· consequences of high youth unemployment and its social impact on young people.

The financial crisis only exacerbates these challenges.

Few countries carried out assessments on the impact of the EU Youth Strategy at national level and when it occurred, it usually coincided with assessing national policy (such as in the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Finland in 2011). In Estonia, the Estonian Youth Work Centre developed a youth monitoring system and since 2010 publishes a youth monitoring yearbook. Germany is the only country undertaking a separate evaluation of the EU Youth Strategy, focusing on its governance instruments.

2.3.3. Consultation of young people in the reporting exercise

In line with the bearing principle of youth participation in the EU, nearly all Member States involved young people in developing the National Youth Report. The most common way has been to involve the National Youth Council, the National Working Group for the Structured Dialogue and/or other relevant youth stakeholders, but some have also organised specific events (Ireland), or had an online consultation (Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia). Several countries noted, however, that the format of the National Youth Report was not suitable for a wider consultation with young people.

Table 2‑B: Overview of responses contained in National Youth Reports – legal framework, youth policy environment, implementation of the EU Youth Strategy[14]

EU Member States || Does your country have a ‘youth law’ or legislation that specifically refers to youth issues, or laws containing a section addressing the needs and/or rights of young people? || Is the document available in other languages, in full or abbreviated version? || Does your country have a National Youth Strategy and/or Action Plan, or a cross-sectoral strategy specifically referring to youth issues? || Is the document available in other languages, in full or abbreviated version?

Belgium German-speaking || ▼ || ▼ || ▼ || ◊

Belgium Flemish || ▼ || ▼ || ▼ || ▼

Belgium French || ▼ || ◊ || ▼ || ◊

|| Bulgaria || ▼ || ◊ || ▼ || ◊

|| Czech Republic || ▼ || ▼ || ▼ || ▼

|| Denmark || ◊ || || ◊ ||

|| Germany || ▼ || ◊ || ▼ || ◊

|| Estonia || ▼ || ▼ || ▼ || ▼

|| Ireland || ▼ || ◊ || ◊ || ◊

|| Greece || ▼ || ◊ || ▼ || ◊

|| Spain || ◊ || ▼ || ▼ || ◊

|| France || ◊ || || ▼ || ◊

|| Italy || ◊ || ▼ || ▼ || ▼

|| Cyprus || ▼ || ▼ || ▼ || ▼

|| Latvia || ▼ || ▼ || ▼ || ◊

|| Lithuania || ▼ || ▼ || ▼ || ▼

|| Luxembourg || ▼ || ◊ || ▼ || ◊

|| Hungary || ▼ || ◊ || ▼ || ▼

|| Malta || ▼ || ▼ || ▼ || ▼

|| Netherlands || ▼ || ▼ || ▼ || ◊

|| Austria || ▼ || ▼ || ◊ || ◊

|| Poland || ▼ || ▼ || ▼ || ▼

|| Portugal || ▼ || ◊ || ▼ || ◊

|| Romania || ▼ || ◊ || ◊ || ◊

|| Slovenia || ▼ || ▼ || ◊ ||

|| Slovakia || ▼ || ▼ || ▼ || ▼

|| Finland || ▼ || ▼ || ▼ || ▼

|| Sweden || ◊ || || ▼ || ▼

|| United Kingdom || ▼ || ◊ || ▼ || ◊

|| Non-EU Members || || || ||

|| Norway || ◊ || || ▼ || ◊

|| Switzerland || ▼ || ▼ || ▼ || ▼

|| Montenegro || ▼ || ◊ || ▼ || ▼

|| Croatia || ▼ || ◊ || ▼ || ▼

▼ Yes ◊ No

EU Member States || Does your Government have an inter-ministerial working group on youth or any other institutionalised mechanism for ensuring a cross-sectoral approach to youth policy? || Is there an institutionalised and regular cooperation between the Ministry responsible for Youth and the youth research community in your country? || Does the Government of your country have a strategy to acknowledge, raise awareness of, and reinforce the role of youth work in society, in line with the Council Resolution on Youth Work (2010)? || Has your Government carried out specific initiatives targeting young people or the field of youth policy utilising EU funding opportunities?

Belgium German-speaking || ● || ♦ || ■ || ●

Belgium Flemish || ■ || ● || ■ || ●

Belgium French || ● || ■ || ■ || ■

Bulgaria || ■ || ▲ || ♦ || ■

Czech Republic || ■ || ■ || ■ || ●

Denmark || ♦ || ■ || ■ || ■

Germany || ■ || ■ || ■ || ●

Estonia || ▲ || ■ || ■ || ■

Ireland || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■

Greece || ■ || ▲ || ▲ || ■

Spain || ■ || ■ || ■ || ●

France || ■ || ■ || ■ || ♦

Italy || ■ || ▲ || ▲ || ●

Cyprus || ■ || ♦ || ♦ || ■

Latvia || ■ || ▲ || ■ || ♦

Lithuania || ■ || ▲ || ● || ●

Luxembourg || ■ || ■ || ● || ●

Hungary || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■

Malta || ● || ■ || ■ || ●

Netherlands || ■ || ■ || ■ || ♦

Austria || ■ || ■ || ■ || ●

Poland || ■ || ■ || ♦ || ■

Portugal || ■ || ■ || ▲ || ■

Romania || ■ || ■ || ▲ || ■

Slovenia || ● || ▲ || ■ || ■

Slovakia || ■ || ■ || ♦ || ●

Finland || ■ || ■ || ■ || ●

Sweden || ■ || ♦ || ♦ || ●

United Kingdom || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■

Non-EU Members || || || ||

Norway || ■ || ■ || ■ || ♦

Switzerland || ■ || ■ || ♦ || ♦

Montenegro || ■ || ● || ● || ▲

Croatia || ■ || ■ || ♦ || ●

■ Yes, before the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010

● Yes, after the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010

▲ No, but plans 2012 ♦ No, without plans

EU Member States || Please indicate how the EU Youth Strategy, adopted in November 2009, has influenced youth priorities in your country at the NATIONAL level? || Please indicate how the EU Youth Strategy has influenced youth priorities in your country at the LOCAL and/or REGIONAL level?

Belgium German-speaking || ► || ►

Belgium Flemish || ◄ || ◄

Belgium French || ◄ || ▬

Bulgaria || ◄ || ◄

Czech Republic || ◄ || ◄

Denmark || ▬ || ▬

Germany || ◄ || ◄

Estonia || ◄ || ◄

Ireland || ◄ || ◄

Greece || ◄ || ◄

Spain || ◄ || ◄

France || ◄ || ◄

Italy || ◄ || ◄

Cyprus || ◄ || ◄

Latvia || ◄ || ◄

Lithuania || ► || ►

Luxembourg || ◄ || ▬

Hungary || ► || ▬

Malta || ◄ || ◄

Netherlands || ◄ || ◄

Austria || ◄ || ◄

Poland || ◄ || ▬

Portugal || ◄ || ◄

Romania || ◄ || ◄

Slovenia || ◄ || ◄

Slovakia || ◄ || ◄

Finland || ◄ || ◄

Sweden || ◄ || ◄

United Kingdom || ◄ || ◄

Non-EU Members || ||

Norway || ▬ || ▬

Switzerland || ▬ || ▬

Montenegro || ◄ || ◄

Croatia || ◄ || ◄

◄ It has reinforced existing priorities

► It has led to a re-orientation of policy

▬ It has had little or no impact on youth policy

3. Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship 3.1. Commission initiatives and action 3.1.1. Youth employment: a priority for the European Union

With the effects of the economic crisis on young people becoming ever more severe, youth employment is an on-going concern for the EU. Since 2010, the youth unemployment rate has increased to well over more than one in five young Europeans, with much higher rates for young people in a number of Member States or for young people with specific challenges, such as early school leavers.

The Europe 2020 strategy dedicates two of its flagship initiatives ‘Youth on the Move’[15] and ‘An Agenda for New Skills and Jobs’[16] to improving employability and employment opportunities for young people. ‘Youth on the Move’ was welcomed by the Council, thereby emphasising the particular relevance of its cross-sectoral nature[17]. In December 2011 the Commission launched the ‘Youth Opportunities Initiative’[18] to further stress the need for action on the high youth unemployment rates and the growing number of young people not in employment, education or training (so-called NEETs).

The Youth Opportunities Initiative emphasised the primary role of Member States in tackling unemployment and advocated mobilising the European Social Fund (ESF) to further support skills development and the transition from school to work. With strong backing from the informal European Council of 30 January 2012, the Commission set up youth action teams to support the eight Member States[19] with the highest youth unemployment rates. These teams worked together with national authorities and social partners to develop actions appropriate for each country, along with advising on the use of Structural Funds to support short- and long-term measures.

To supplement national efforts, the Commission initiated a number of measures at EU level, which included:

· The implementation of a preparatory action on ‘Youth guarantee schemes’ that will help Member States to ensure that all young people are in a job, further education or training within four months of leaving school.

· ‘A quality framework for traineeships’ scheme that aims to increase the transparency on the conditions for trainees throughout the EU.

· ‘Your first EURES job’, a targeted job mobility scheme in the form of a preparatory action that aims, in 2012-2013, to reach out to around 5 000 young people to help fill job vacancies in other Member States.

The Commission also proposed to dedicate more EU funds to apprenticeships, student placements in enterprises, young volunteers and entrepreneurs under the ESF, the Lifelong Learning, the Youth in Action and the Erasmus for Entrepreneurs programmes. A significant share of the budget for social innovation will be targeted at youth in disadvantaged situations and areas.

To enhance transparency, the EURES European Job Mobility Portal gives access to over 1.3 million vacancies and 850 000 CVs, and the European Vacancy Monitor provides quarterly labour-market updates on the job opportunities available in different sectors and countries across the EU. The awareness-raising campaign ‘Youth@Work’ (April 2011-May 2012) was aimed to link up young people and SMEs.

Mutual learning and exchange of good practice on youth employment has taken place with support of the ESF. For instance, a Youth Employment Network on education, counselling mobility and entrepreneurship, (consisting of Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, and Sweden) which produced a Benchmarking Report in 2011 showcasing best practices based on studies and evaluation as a basis for a Common Reference Framework.

The EU placed further efforts into improving the quality of traineeships and work placements it supports through its programmes. A new study[20] provided a comprehensive overview of how traineeships are structured in Member States, from legislative frameworks, governance and financing, to target groups, sectors and professions. The study pointed out issues around the current arrangements where improvement is needed, including areas related to quality, and the need for new opportunities particularly for young people who are unemployed, low skilled or at risk of social exclusion. The outcomes of the study will be fed into on-going work related to moving obstacles to mobility and improving the quality of traineeships and work placements.

3.1.2. Youth employment: the priority of the first cycle under the EU Youth Strategy

Given the rising youth unemployment rates, the Trio Presidency during 2010 and the first half of 2011 (Spain, Belgium and Hungary) chose ‘youth employment’ as the overarching priority.

Within the Trio Presidency, each country focused on a national priority, proposing action contributing to labour market access and employability of young people from this specific angle. Under the Spanish Presidency, the Council adopted a Resolution on the active inclusion of young people: combating unemployment and poverty[21]; and under the Belgian Presidency a Resolution on youth work[22]. Under the Hungarian Presidency, the Council adopted a Resolution on encouraging new and effective forms of participation of all young people in democratic life[23], which stressed the value of participation in acquiring key competences. Several events explored concrete policy approaches, including e.g. a peer learning seminar on cross-sectoral youth policy cooperation in Madrid and a seminar on flexicurity.

The European Youth Forum (YFJ), in cooperation with the Trio Presidency, the Commission and National Working Groups, conducted a Structured Dialogue on youth employment which resulted in a number of concrete recommendations. The Council endorsed later a number of recommendations in a Resolution, which notably called for better labour market information, the recognition of non-formal learning, a quality framework for internships, the flexibility to reconcile work and private life, and more opportunities for mobility[24]. These recommendations were well received and taken further by Commissioners Vassiliou and Andor.

3.1.3. Entrepreneurship: another career option

The Commission promotes entrepreneurship as a career option. Within education policy, peer learning activities and targeted funding of European projects aim to promote entrepreneurship as a key competence in the education systems. The ‘Erasmus for Entrepreneurs’– expected to finance around 600 exchanges in 2012 – offers new entrepreneurs learning experiences in businesses abroad. The European Progress Micro-finance Facility[25] financially supports potential young entrepreneurs and € 3 million of the ESF Technical Assistance will be used to support Member States schemes for young business starters and social entrepreneurs. The Commission organised meetings with youth representatives, stakeholders and policy-makers to discuss policy initiatives to cooperate on entrepreneurship promotion and share experience.

Romania – Youth in Action programme

Learning how to help young people find their place in society

The project trained youth leaders from Azerbaijan, Greece, Italy, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine in working with young people facing unemployment, marginalisation and social exclusion. It guided them in techniques to stimulate entrepreneurial skills among youth, and to interest unemployed young people in seeking qualifications, employment and involvement in society. 22 young people took part in this 10-day training course funded by the Youth in Action national agency in Romania in mid-2010. It was hosted by Kasta Morrely in Iasi, Romania, a human rights organisation that promotes skills central to the development of a democratic society. Through a non-formal approach, discussions addressed entrepreneurship and business strategies, social inclusion, youth unemployment in Europe, vocational qualifications, the socioeconomic situation in participants' countries and the challenges of engaging unemployed young people to participate actively in society. On the basis of this project, further cross-border cooperation has developed to reduce youth unemployment and support local communities.

3.2. Summary of initiatives and action at national level 3.2.1. Youth measures in flexicurity strategies

Responses in National Youth Reports || || || || ||

Has the Government of your country - existing or previous - taken concrete measures or carried out any specific policy initiatives to take the specific situation of young people into account when devising flexicurity strategies? || Total || Belgium || Non-EU countries || EU countries excl. Belgium

YES, such measures had already been taken before the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010, no additional initiatives were necessary. || ■ || 13 || || 2 || 11

YES, such measures/initiatives were taken after the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010. || ● || 10 || 3 || || 7

NO, but we plan to take concrete measures in this field in 2012. || ▲ || 5 || || || 5

NO, we do not have any current plans to carry out measures in this field. || ♦ || 5 || || 2 || 3

Flexicurity is about optimising the balance between labour market flexibility and security for employees against labour market risks. Some countries adapted the legal framework regulating employment contracts to improve access of young people to the labour market. Others apply schemes to encourage employers to hire young people, e.g. through tax incentives, or grant special facilities for dismissed employees to find a job. Such measures are frequently combined with e.g. career guidance, counselling or opportunities to gain work experience.

3.2.2. Cross-border professional and vocational opportunities for young people

Responses in National Youth Reports || || || || ||

Has the Government of your country - existing or previous - taken concrete measures or carried out any specific policy initiatives to promote cross-border professional and vocational opportunities for young people? || Total || Belgium || Non-EU countries || EU countries excl. Belgium

YES, such measures had already been taken before the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010, no additional initiatives were necessary. || ■ || 23 || 3 || 1 || 19

YES, such measures/initiatives were taken after the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010. || ● || 5 || || 2 || 3

NO, but we plan to take concrete measures in this field in 2012. || ▲ || 1 || || || 1

NO, we do not have any current plans to carry out measures in this field. || ♦ || 4 || || 1 || 3

Many countries cite EU programmes such as Youth in Action and Lifelong Learning as key sources for opportunities to learn, train and work abroad. In Sweden, an evaluation of Youth in Action projects in the field of training showed their value in developing vocational, social and foreign language skills. In 2011 the Malta Qualifications Council started a Leonardo da Vinci project to test and implement the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training in a national context, facilitating the recognition and transfer of learning outcomes. There are also national cross-border programmes in vocational training open to students from a neighbouring country, e.g. between Germany and France, and programmes that organise professional training in other parts of the world.

The German ESF funded ‘IdA Programme – Integration’ offers work experience abroad focussing on helping young people facing difficulties to access the labour markets (e.g. disadvantaged youth, young unemployed, single mothers, and young people with disabilities).

Many countries actively promote opportunities to train or work abroad. The EURES network organises job days and campaigns around working abroad. One of the tasks of the Eurodesk youth information network, active in 33 countries, is to inform about mobility opportunities (e.g. in the Flemish Community of Belgium, projects financed in this field include the website www.gostrange.be and a bi-annual information fair the latter of which attracted 1 500 young people in 2011).

Other examples of policy initiatives to promote cross-border professional and vocational opportunities for youth are a programme for supporting distance learning to young people in remote areas of Greece, a ‘mobility semester’ for all undergraduates at the University of Malta and supporting young participants in ‘skills’ championships at national and international level in Sweden.

3.2.3. Career guidance and counselling services

Responses in National Youth Reports || || || || ||

Has the Government of your country - existing or previous - taken concrete measures or carried out any specific policy initiatives to develop career guidance and counselling services? || Total || Belgium || Non-EU countries || EU countries excl. Belgium

YES, such measures had already been taken before the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010, no additional initiatives were necessary. || ■ || 26 || 1 || 4 || 21

YES, such measures/initiatives were taken after the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010. || ● || 6 || 2 || || 4

NO, but we plan to take concrete measures in this field in 2012. || ▲ || 0 || || || 0

NO, we do not have any current plans to carry out measures in this field. || ♦ || 1 || || || 1

Career and counselling services are frequently offered by education institutions as well as employment services. In some countries such guidance is guaranteed by law. Youth information centres can play an important role in counselling and provide information on job opportunities, e.g. in the German-speaking Community of Belgium, where schools offer classes on ‘life planning’. The role of youth work is especially relevant for young people who are out of reach of regular education or employment systems and/or who need a second or third chance. In some countries, for example Estonia, career and educational guidance targets not only young people but also parents, teachers and youth workers. The ESF is often quoted as a source to develop career guidance services.

Latvia

KIPNIS – Career education

In Latvia, the General Education Standard for secondary education includes career planning and development, integrated into the various teaching subjects. Subject teachers can themselves determine the methods for exploring this within the curriculum and schools can also integrate it in extracurricular activities. The ESF funded project KIPNIS provides career education guidelines and in-service teacher training on implementing such career education. For more information click here.

Many countries offer targeted support, courses, counselling or work placements, to unemployed or vulnerable young people. A full year comprehensive counselling programme is available to young people in the French Community of Belgium, in which they can develop individual plans through, for instance, awareness-raising for jobs in promising sectors, sessions to explore one's own career path, information on job offers and, if appropriate, social support. Some countries use special approaches, such as one-stop-shops or online guidance. Other countries organise guidance on specific topics, such as in Austria where guidance centres advise girls on ‘non-traditional’ careers or in the Flemish Community of Belgium with its ‘Personal Development Trajectory’ for students in dual education and work. In Bulgaria, events brought together young jobseekers and employers to exchange expectations and requirements. This led to common criteria in selection procedures. There is also guidance for organisations that support young people, e.g. the German ‘Jobstarter’ for companies offering placements.

Finland

MAST – Common guidance

The MAST project, supported by the ESF, developed a model for counselling at regional level for students in vocational training. It aims to lower drop-out rates and facilitate transition to work life. The project involved schools, youth workshops and others working with young people. Its success is based on strong cooperation between the partners involved and the use of a common guidance model, e.g. to facilitate the assessment of skills gained at work by the school. For more information click here.

The ‘Career Card’ in Greece is designed to help young people choose training to complement their knowledge and skills, while the card will cover costs of counselling and training.

The European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network (ELGPN), supported by the Commission and bringing together experts from 26 countries, enhances better coordination of services, a common understanding of career management skills and making the most of new technologies.

Portugal

Reflection for Action

The Portuguese NYC (CNJ) conducted a project ‘Reflection for Action – Towards Youth Employment’ to implement the third phase of the first cycle of Structured Dialogue. Seminars occurred from January to March 2011, through the implementation of five regional meetings and one national event. In the latter 300 young people living in Portugal took part, from different socio-economic, cultural backgrounds and geographical origin, side by side with decision-makers, politicians and experts. They identified concrete actions to be developed at EU level in terms of youth employment. Non-formal methods education was an integrated component of this project to ensure a participatory approach, focusing on young people's participation and cooperative work. The project produced a website and a Guide on the Rights of Young Workers.

3.2.4. Promoting quality internships and apprenticeships

Responses in National Youth Reports || || || || ||

Has the Government of your country - existing or previous - taken concrete measures or carried out any specific policy initiatives to promote quality internships and apprenticeships to facilitate the entry to, and progress within, the labour market? || Total || Belgium || Non-EU countries || EU countries excl. Belgium

YES, such measures had already been taken before the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010, no additional initiatives were necessary. || ■ || 25 || 2 || 3 || 20

YES, such measures/initiatives were taken after the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010. || ● || 8 || 1 || 1 || 6

NO, but we plan to take concrete measures in this field in 2012. || ▲ || 0 || || || 0

NO, we do not have any current plans to carry out measures in this field. || ♦ || 0 || || || 0

Traineeships are frequently available as part of formal education and several countries have dual track education systems combining classroom teaching with apprenticeships, sometimes tailored for young people with difficulties. The value of apprenticeships is supported by numbers: in Wales, United Kingdom, more than 75 % of apprentices achieve a full certificate. In Malta, 85 % of apprentices find employment or start a business.

Several countries have taken legal measures to promote apprenticeships. This is the case in Finland (to prevent replacing regular workers by interns and better protection of interns at work), Germany (to widen possibilities for corporate internships), Romania (to improve the framework for apprenticeships in the workplace), Italy (to improve apprenticeship contracts) and Spain (to make trainees eligible for social rights and benefits).

Broad policy programmes are also pursued. In Germany, specific measures include the ‘Wege ins Ausland’ working group, which has developed criteria and raised awareness for quality traineeships abroad; in the United Kingdom, a web-based apprenticeship vacancy system has been set up and apprentice-sharing between different employers is facilitated. Furthermore, Austria offers guaranteed placements in supra-company structures for apprenticeship-seekers in compulsory education and Luxembourg introduced a system in vocational training that transposes job profiles into learning profiles, listing all relevant competences to be acquired.

Portugal

INOV – Training opportunities

To facilitate transition, Portugal's ‘INOV’ programme offers a range of training opportunities: INOV-CONTACTO offers international training to young graduates; INOV-Art offers internships in arts and culture; INOV-Energi@ aims to enhance socio-professional skills of unemployed graduates; INOV-Social promotes integration of young graduates in the non-profit sector; INOV-Jovem supports professional training in SMEs in innovation and business management; INOV-Mundus aims to promote involvement of young graduates in organisations active in development cooperation. In 2010, INOV attracted 35 100 participants.

France has developed a comprehensive strategy for vocational training. Measures include a card for apprentices with similar advantages as a student card, online facilities for partner search and completion of administrative procedures and the possibility to use temporary work agencies to hire apprentices. Financial support is available to individual companies as well as to improve the situation of apprentices and the vocational training system at large.

A number of countries offer graduates and unemployed young people opportunities to gain work experience and acquire further skills by extending unemployment benefits and/or providing financial compensation to employers who offer training opportunities. The job guarantee in Sweden targets young people aged 16 to 24 who have been enlisted with the governmental employment services for more than three months. The guarantee provides for professional orientation, work experience or even preparatory work to start a business. In 2010 on average 47 000 people per month participated.

In the National Youth Reports submitted by Member States, National Youth Councils in several countries call for further efforts to offer quality traineeships.

3.2.5. Promoting sharing of responsibilities between partners

Responses in National Youth Reports || || || || ||

Has the Government of your country - existing or previous - taken concrete measures or carried out any specific policy initiatives to promote sharing of responsibilities between partners in order to facilitate reconciliation between professional and private life for both young women and young men? || Total || Belgium || Non-EU countries || EU countries excl. Belgium

YES, such measures had already been taken before the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010, no additional initiatives were necessary. || ■ || 25 || 2 || 3 || 20

YES, such measures/initiatives were taken after the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010. || ● || 4 || 1 || || 3

NO, but we plan to take concrete measures in this field in 2012. || ▲ || 1 || || 1 || 0

NO, we do not have any current plans to carry out measures in this field. || ♦ || 3 || || || 3

Support to young parents is available across Europe – albeit to different degrees – through access to childcare, along with financial support or tax deductions. Aside from maternity leave, paternity leave is increasingly available, which helps young women and men better share family responsibilities. There are also possibilities for longer ‘parental’ leave, income support, the right to part-time work and the promotion of flexible working arrangements. A number of countries run awareness campaigns and in some countries (such as Denmark, Austria and Slovenia) companies can perform audits to test their ‘family-friendliness’.

Luxembourg

Megafamily

In Luxembourg, the Megafamily campaign on the balance between work and private life was launched in 2011 by the Ministry responsible for equal opportunities. It offers online evaluation tools to check one's own situation, targeting both families and businesses. The ‘familytest’ reveals inequalities between a couple regarding household chores and inspires a discussion on the division of labour. Moreover a wide range of information helpful to reconcile private and work life can be found on the website, e.g. on maternity leave, social transfers, babysitters. Employers also have a space to exchange good practices. The website is also linked to a group on Facebook, which allows for communication on the subject.

3.2.6. Promoting entrepreneurship in the field of sustainable development

Responses in National Youth Reports || || || || ||

Has the Government of your country - existing or previous - taken concrete measures or carried out any specific policy initiatives to promote entrepreneurship in the field of sustainable development? || Total || Belgium || Non-EU countries || EU countries excl. Belgium

YES, such measures had already been taken before the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010, no additional initiatives were necessary. || ■ || 25 || 2 || 3 || 20

YES, such measures/initiatives were taken after the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010. || ● || 4 || 1 || || 3

NO, but we plan to take concrete measures in this field in 2012. || ▲ || 2 || || 1 || 1

NO, we do not have any current plans to carry out measures in this field. || ♦ || 2 || || || 2

Support for potential or new entrepreneurs, including young people, in the form of information, coaching, business services, grants or loans, is available across the EU. In some countries, young entrepreneurs enjoy more favourable conditions to set up a business. Others address entrepreneurship within the education system to develop entrepreneurial skills and creativity. Programmes are available for young people to this purpose, such as the ones developed by Junior Achievement-Young Enterprise; there is support for young people willing to develop their own ‘junior enterprise’ whilst still in education. FINICIA-Jovem, developed by the Youth Institute in Portugal, stimulates creativity and innovation among young entrepreneurs, students, and young people in youth organisations.

Partners from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, and Lithuania joined in a Community of Practice ‘Learning network on inclusive entrepreneurship’ (COPIE) to share experience on producing an environment in which entrepreneurship is a natural choice for people from all walks of life. This project (2009-2012) gathered representatives from ESF management and implementing bodies and was supported with a grant of € 630 000.

United Kingdom – Wales

YES – Empowerment

The Youth Entrepreneurship Strategy (YES) Action Plan in Wales seeks to equip young people with a ‘can do’ attitude and a drive to create opportunities for themselves. The YES Action Plan outlines measures for young people, education, business and community within three areas – Engaging: Promoting the value of entrepreneurship to create opportunities and develop young people – Empowering: Providing young people with entrepreneurial learning opportunities – Equipping: Supporting young people to create and grow businesses. For more information, click here.

Most countries encourage sustainable activities. In Greece, training is available for unemployed to develop specific skills in sustainable economic development. Cyprus runs a scheme, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, for youth entrepreneurship, emphasising new technologies, innovative production and environmental issues to develop strong and competitive businesses. Programmes in some countries focus on certain economic activities, e.g. the Ministry of Agriculture in the Czech Republic supports young farmers who want to start their own business.

Lithuania

Rural Development

There are support possibilities for youth under the Rural Development Programme for Lithuania 2007-2013 consisting in setting up of young farmers, modernisation of agricultural holdings, improvement of economic value of forests, first afforestation of land, non-productive investments in forests, diversification into non-agricultural activities, support for business creation and development, encouragement of rural tourism activities. The applicants under these measures are young farmers (a farmer, who is less than 40 years old) and young people not less than 18 years old. For the implementation of the projects, priorities of the Rural Youth Committee in 2012 are: promoting entrepreneurship among rural youth; to organise the leisure time for rural youth; to encourage the community of rural youth; to encourage volunteering of rural youth; the development of rural youth-friendly spaces; to promote the ecological awareness. For more information, click here.

Some countries support entrepreneurial initiative in the non-profit sector. The ‘Zakon o socialnem podjetnistvu’ (law on social entrepreneuship) in Slovenia promotes socially relevant activities or support to people from vulnerable backgrounds. In the Flemish Community of Belgium, the project ‘Opinno’ encourages science students to orient themselves towards specific areas, including ‘energy and living environment’; ‘CORE’ encourages secondary school students to work around rational use of energy in cooperation with a start-up cooperative; and ‘VLAJO’ supports projects for secondary school students to start up their own business in fair-trade products. In Italy, micro-credits are available to develop social businesses or cooperatives that help increase jobs for disadvantaged or socially vulnerable groups.

3.3. Youth-led initiatives and action

Young people's voices were heard through the Structured Dialogue dedicated to this topic. The European Youth Forum (YFJ) built on this by providing further feedback to the Commission and the Council on the need for a strong youth dimension in EU policy activities. It also increased capacity building of youth organisations on youth employment policies through its Youth Employment Action network.

The YFJ promoted a European Quality Charter on Internships and Apprenticeships, which sets the basic quality principles to ensure that internships and apprenticeships become valuable and quality experiences across Europe. The YFJ also launched a survey ‘Interns Revealed’ on the experiences of young interns in Europe, and gathered signatures from organisations on the website http://qualityinternships.eu/ and from individuals via Facebook. This support campaign continued in 2012 and the Charter was officially presented at the European Parliament in May 2012.

Youth organisations also expressed themselves on access to entrepreneurship in an opinion presented by the YFJ. This reaffirmed the need for stable, enabling, and supportive environments to engage in entrepreneurship. This was further discussed during the roundtable ‘Making Entrepreneurship a Real Option for Young Europeans’ organised in the European Parliament in May 2011.

The YFJ also issued an opinion on a youth guarantee. This is important to improve the situation of young people being neither in education, employment nor training (NEETs), who often face poverty and social exclusion.

Young people gathered also at the ‘Youth Employment in Europe’ conference, co-organised by the YFJ and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris to express their opinions, concerns and suggestions on policy measures to support youth employment.

Table 3‑A: Overview of responses contained in National Youth Reports – Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship

Has the Government of your country - existing or previous - taken concrete measures or carried out any specific policy initiatives

EU Member States || to take the specific situation of young people into account when devising flexicurity strategies? || to promote cross-border professional and vocational opportunities for young people? || to develop career guidance and counselling services? || to promote quality internships and apprenticeships to facilitate the entry to, and progress within, the labour market? || to promote sharing of responsibilities between partners in order to facilitate reconciliation between professional and private life for both young women and young men? || to promote entrepreneurship in the field of sustainable development?

Belgium German-speaking || ● || ■ || ● || ■ || ● || ■

Belgium Flemish || ● || ■ || ● || ● || ■ || ■

Belgium French || ● || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ●

Bulgaria || ● || ● || ● || ■ || ● || ●

Czech Republic || ▲ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■

Denmark || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■

Germany || ● || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■

Estonia || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■

Ireland || ♦ || ■ || ■ || ● || ♦ || ■

Greece || ● || ● || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■

Spain || ▲ || ▲ || ■ || ● || ■ || ●

France || ■ || ♦ || ♦ || ■ || ♦ || ♦

Italy || ● || ■ || ● || ■ || ■ || ●

Cyprus || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ♦ || ■

Latvia || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■

Lithuania || ▲ || ♦ || ■ || ● || ■ || ■

Luxembourg || ♦ || ■ || ■ || ● || ● || ♦

Hungary || ● || ● || ● || ● || ■ || ■

Malta || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■

Netherlands || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■

Austria || ● || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■

Poland || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ● || ■

Portugal || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■

Romania || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■

Slovenia || ▲ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■

Slovakia || ▲ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■

Finland || ● || ♦ || ● || ■ || ■ || ▲

Sweden || ♦ || ■ || ■ || ● || ■ || ■

United Kingdom || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■

Non-EU Members || || || || || ||

Norway || ♦ || ♦ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■

Switzerland || ♦ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ■ || ▲

Montenegro || ■ || ● || ■ || ● || ▲ || ■

■ Yes, before the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010

● Yes, after the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010

▲ No, but plans 2012 ♦ No, without plans

4. Education and Training 4.1. Commission initiatives and action

Education and training figures at the top of the EU agenda with one of the five headline targets of the Europe 2020 strategy – the EU Strategy for jobs and growth – focusing on increasing tertiary attainment to at least 40 % and reducing the share of early school leavers to less than 10 % by 2020.

Through the strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training, adopted in 2009 for the period up to 2020[26] (ET 2020), Member States agreed that the long-term strategic objectives of EU education and training policies are (1) making Lifelong Learning and mobility a reality; (2) improving the quality and efficiency of education and training; (3) promoting equity, social cohesion and active citizenship; and (4) enhancing creativity and innovation, including entrepreneurship, at all levels of education and training.

Following up the Europe 2020 headline target of lowering the rate of early school leavers to less than 10 % by 2020, the Commission adopted in 2011 the Communication Tackling early school leaving which outlines policy measures aimed at reaching this goal. A policy handbook with examples of good practice accompanied the Communication, which was followed by a Council Recommendation in May 2012[27].

The Commission also adopted in 2011 the Communication Agenda for the modernisation of Europe's higher education[28] which prioritises widening access of under-represented groups into higher education as a means to improve the attainment level.

Within the strategic framework, the first Joint Report[29], adopted in 2012 by the Commission and the Council, finds that Member States are making slow progress towards achieving the Europe 2020 target of reducing the share of early school leavers below the 10 % benchmark. In 2011, the early school leaving rate averaged 13.5 % across the EU compared to 14.1 % the year before (with considerable differences between Member States). If current trends continue, the report states, the 2020 target will not be met. The share of low-achievers in basic skills in reading, maths and science, in contrast, is on track for meeting the EU target of less than 15 % by the end of the decade (20 % in 2009 compared to 24.1 % in 2006).

The report also shows that achieving the EU's tertiary attainment target – raising the share of 30 to 34 year olds who have graduated from higher education from the current EU average of 34.6 % to at least 40 % – cannot be taken for granted. Seven Member States score below 25 %. To support Member States' reforms and contribute to the goals of Europe 2020, the Commission published a new agenda for modernisation of Europe's higher education systems in September 2011[30]. The strategy identifies priority areas where EU countries need to do more to achieve shared education objectives and sets out how the EU can support their modernisation policies. EU-level initiatives will include a multi-dimensional university ranking and an ‘Erasmus for Masters’ loan guarantee scheme for students taking a full degree course abroad. The ‘Erasmus’ programme celebrated its 25 years' anniversary with some 3 million European students having already participated. An Erasmus manifesto recently prepared calls to enhance the quantity of the programme (student numbers/targets and adequate funding, incl. for less well-off students) as well as its quality (especially regarding programme preparation and credit recognition).

The Commission encouraged learning mobility through ‘Youth on the Move’, one of the flagships of the Europe 2020 strategy[31]. ‘Youth on the Move’ was followed by a Council Recommendation on learning mobility[32] which provides guidance with regard to tackling administrative, institutional and legal obstacles to learning mobility. The new proposal for an integrated programme Erasmus for All[33] also devotes ample room to learning mobility, and the Council has adopted a new benchmark in this area[34].

The EU Youth Strategy promotes youth work, which offers non-formal and informal learning environments. Youth work has been addressed during various events during 2010-2012. This included the first European Youth Work Convention in Ghent, organised by the Belgian Presidency with the support of the Commission (2010). The recommendations of this meeting were endorsed in a Council Resolution[35]. The youth partnership between the European Commission and the Council of Europe organised a symposium in 2011 on the recognition of youth work. The Commission has also launched a study on the value of youth work in the EU the results of which are expected in 2013.

Portugal – Youth in Action programme

Teach in order to learn

This project took place in Luau, Angola, involving 12 volunteers from Portugal – along with Angolan young people – during one month in 2010. It started with an exploration of the education and training needs among local children and young people, to get to know the context they were operating in. On that basis, the volunteers built a library from scratch: 300 cases of books were delivered during the project, they classified and catalogued and incorporated them into the new library, which became a cultural centre for extra-school activities. They worked with local teachers in developing cultural and artistic activities and providing teaching materials ranging from health to information technology. They also gained a clearer sense of what European identity means – something that they continued to display on their return home, in meetings and presentations to their peers. The project also promoted international youth work and the concept and practice of volunteering. Local newspapers, newsletters, the radio, and videos made by the volunteers with their partners during the project and distributed widely on their return ensured its visibility.

Adult learning is a vital component of the lifelong learning continuum, covering the entire range of formal, non-formal and informal learning activities, general and vocational, undertaken by adults after leaving initial education and training. Adult learning is important in relation to the provision of second-chance opportunities and the acquisition of basic skills such as literacy and numeracy, but also digital skills; in relation to targeted learning for early school leavers and young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs) as stated in the recent Council Resolution on a renewed European agenda for adult learning[36].

Intergenerational learning (IL) has been the main medium for the transfer of skills, knowledge and values between generations for centuries. Nowadays IL is increasingly taking place outside the family because of changes in structures of families and communities. IL in the workplace provides a means to imparting tacit knowledge and skills between older workers and apprentices and for younger workers to introduce new technical knowledge. Alongside its importance in the context of working environment, IL also has the potential to contribute significantly to promoting social cohesion in general and is admirably suited to addressing many of the key challenges facing Europe today, such as combating poverty, integrating young people at risk, environmental protection and intercultural harmony.

Spain, Austria, Romania, Sweden – Grundtvig

Seniors for Intergenerational Knowledge Transfer

Once seniors leave the labour market, they neither have the opportunity to offer their know-how to others nor access to permanent learning processes (lack of motivation), leading to a kind of social exclusion. The project used NICT-based didactic methodologies to qualify seniors (coming from restructuring sectors) to take active part (via volunteer work) in training processes aimed at young people, thus giving value and transferring their knowledge to new generations. Through such efforts, they became experienced mentors and were offered the training they needed as well as the necessary tools and methodologies to enable effective knowledge transfer across generations. For more information, click here.

To promote the validation of non-formal and informal learning, the Commission prepared a draft Council recommendation on this subject[37]. The Commission is also working on a tool to help individuals record and present skills acquired throughout their lives, particularly in non-formal settings, and will provide soon an updated inventory.

4.2. Summary of initiatives and action at national level

This summary is primarily focused on non-formal learning issues, in line with the priorities of the EU Youth Strategy. It does not encompass all the priorities of the Education and Training Strategy.

4.2.1. Developing non-formal learning opportunities to address early school leaving

Responses in National Youth Reports || || || || ||

Has the Government of your country - existing or previous - taken concrete measures or carried out any specific policy initiatives to support the development of youth work and other non-formal learning opportunities as a way of addressing early school leaving? || Total || Belgium || Non-EU countries || EU countries excl. Belgium

YES, such measures had already been taken before the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010, no additional initiatives were necessary. || ■ || 24 || 1 || 2 || 21

YES, such measures/initiatives were taken after the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010. || ● || 7 || 2 || 1 || 4

NO, but we plan to take concrete measures in this field in 2012. || ▲ || 1 || || || 1

NO, we do not have any current plans to carry out measures in this field. || ♦ || 1 || || 1 || 0

Many countries present good practices around youth work activities targeting early school leaving. These include the Youth Coach initiative in Austria, the European Social Fund (ESF) co-funded ‘Developing youth work quality’ project in Estonia as well as youth centres in the Czech Republic, Latvia and Lithuania . Other examples include the project Learning for Young Adults in Slovenia, involvement of youth workers in the social guarantee scheme in Finland, special trainings for young people with fewer opportunities in KOMPrax project in Slovakia and activity agreements in the United Kingdom.

Germany, France and Romania mention second chance schemes, while the French Community of Belgium, Luxembourg, and Poland present specific voluntary services targeted at early school leavers (‘solidarcité’ in Belgium, ‘service Volontaire d'orientation’ in Luxembourg and ‘Voluntary Labour Corps’ in Poland).

The need for an individual follow-up of the early school leaver by youth workers is often underlined in the National Youth Reports, e.g. by France, Italy and Finland.

The Flemish Community of Belgium, Ireland, Spain and Sweden put a particular emphasis on supporting the youth organisations or youth projects which address early school leaving.

Countries such as Bulgaria (with a project ‘To make the school more attractive’), Greece, Italy (National Guidance Plan) and Malta (with initiatives using non-formal learning within schools) underline the development of specific programmes in schools to prevent early school leaving.

Denmark and Portugal underline activities in favour of validation and recognition of non-formal learning.

Belgium

Time-Out – swap school for non-formal learning

‘Time-Out Projects’ exist for young people that come into conflict with teachers, with other children in their class or for those who have problems with formal education. During this time-out period, formal education or employment is replaced by non-formal learning opportunities. Young people are supposed to return to class after this time-out period. For more information, click here.

4.2.2. Use of EU tools for the validation of skills and the recognition of qualifications

Responses in National Youth Reports || || || || ||

Has the Government of your country - existing or previous - taken concrete measures or carried out any specific policy initiatives to strengthen the use of the range of tools established at EU level for the transparency and validation of skills and the recognition of qualifications? || Total || Belgium || Non-EU countries || EU countries excl. Belgium

YES, such measures had already been taken before the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010, no additional initiatives were necessary. || ■ || 21 || 1 || 1 || 19

YES, such measures/initiatives were taken after the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010. || ● || 7 || 2 || 1 || 4

NO, but we plan to take concrete measures in this field in 2012. || ▲ || 2 || || || 2

NO, we do not have any current plans to carry out measures in this field. || ♦ || 3 || || 2 || 1

Many countries present the state of play regarding the preparation of their National Qualifications Framework[38], to be developed within the European Qualifications Framework (EQF)[39].

Besides the EQF, other European tools such as Europass, YouthPass, the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), and the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) are also often quoted.

The Czech Republic, Estonia, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia and the United Kingdom have chosen to focus their answer on validation of competences acquired through non-formal learning activities such as youth work, as there seem indeed to be many developments in this area. The Czech Republic has developed a Personal Competency Portfolio, which is a tool for recording key competences acquired in non-formal learning settings. Spain is currently working on the evaluation and recognition of competences gained via non-formal learning or work experience. A law on the validation and recognition of non-formal learning was adopted in February 2011 in Latvia. Non-formal education is being revised in Lithuania and the set of competences gained via these activities is being assessed. Slovenia also presents its ‘national occupational qualifications’, a scheme for recognition and assessment of non-formally obtained knowledge. In the United Kingdom, Wales has developed quality standards for youth work.

Estonia

Stardiplats – how to put non-formal learning into a CV

In 2010 the Estonian Youth Work Centre launched a non-formal learning recognition instrument ‘stardiplats’, which is a web-based online youth portal, where young people can gather and write down all of their formal education and working experiences and also all different kinds of non-formal education experiences. They can analyse and describe their non-formal learning experience in that portal and afterwards print them out on CV or Europass format if needed. The project is supported via the ESF co-funded state programme ‘Developing youth work quality’ initiated by the Youth Affairs Department of the Ministry of Education and Research and carried out by the Estonian Youth Work Centre. For more information, click here.

4.2.3. Promoting learning mobility of all young people

Responses in National Youth Reports || || || || ||

Has the Government of your country - existing or previous - taken concrete measures or carried out any specific policy initiatives to promote learning mobility of all young people? || Total || Belgium || Non-EU countries || EU countries excl. Belgium

YES, such measures had already been taken before the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010, no additional initiatives were necessary. || ■ || 25 || 1 || 2 || 22

YES, such measures/initiatives were taken after the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010. || ● || 6 || 2 || 1 || 3

NO, but we plan to take concrete measures in this field in 2012. || ▲ || 0 || || || 0

NO, we do not have any current plans to carry out measures in this field. || ♦ || 2 || || 1 || 1

More than half of the Member States mention the key role of Youth in Action and other EU programmes, such as the Lifelong Learning programme, with a particular focus on Erasmus and Comenius, for promoting learning mobility of youth.

Bulgaria concentrates on the promotion of Erasmus, providing also additional financial subsidies for young people with fewer opportunities. Spain on the other hand presents a variety of grant schemes offered by ministries and the Commerce Office for internships, research projects and language courses all over the world. The main actor in Sweden in this field is the International Programme Office for Education and Training. This government agency awards grants and project funding but also runs communication initiatives.

Ireland

National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) – sharing information on learning mobility

The Government provides and promotes learning mobility through support for agencies and in turn for young people to learn about each other in the form of national and international visits and cross cultural exchange and non-formal learning. The NYCI International Programme is supported to provide information and advice through sharing information, face to face meetings, development of partnerships and collaborations. It facilitates the learning mobility of young people and youth workers in youth organisations. NYCI shares information via youth.ie, e-newsletters, Facebook, Twitter, etc. NYCI works largely with youth organisations to ensure the learning mobility of young people. NYCI also works with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, and dáil na nÓg, the Youth Parliament, which gives young people in Ireland the opportunity to represent the views of those under the voting age of 18 at a national level, and to call for changes to improve the lives of young people in Ireland. For more information, click here.

4.2.4. Raising public awareness of the value of non-formal learning

Responses in National Youth Reports || || || || ||

Has the Government of your country - existing or previous - taken concrete measures or carried out any specific policy initiatives to make the broader public aware of the value of non-formal learning? || Total || Belgium || Non-EU countries || EU countries excl. Belgium

YES, such measures had already been taken before the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010, no additional initiatives were necessary. || ■ || 19 || 1 || 3 || 15

YES, such measures/initiatives were taken after the EU Youth Strategy came into force in January 2010. || ● || 11 || 2 || || 9

NO, but we plan to take concrete measures in this field in 2012. || ▲ || 3 || || 1 || 2

NO, we do not have any current plans to carry out measures in this field. || ♦ || 0 || || || 0

Non-formal learning activities are promoted broadly across the Member States. They are often conducted through web-portals (such as www.mitteformaalne.ee in Estonia and www.hrdauth.org.cy in Cyprus), special events (Youth Work Week in Wales, United Kingdom), campaigns (e.g. connected with the European Year of Volunteering, such as in Austria) or projects (Lithuania for instance mentions a pilot project launched in 2011 for non-formal education of children, including a scheme of individual vouchers; ‘changing mentalities’ project in Greece; ‘Youth information network’ in Latvia, ‘Year with Passion’ in Poland, ‘KOMPrax’ project in Slovakia).

In this context, the National Youth Reports often[40] seem to imply that a better assessment and quality of non-formal learning, as well as its improved recognition and validation, can support promotion and awareness-raising of its value.

Denmark and Sweden stress the very lively role of non-formal activities in their society (Folkbildning activities in Sweden, volunteering in Denmark).

Portugal and Hungary mention their activities regarding training of trainers or youth workers.

Ireland

National Quality Standards Framework for youth work

The National Quality Standards Framework (NQSF) aims to ensure that youth work organisations provide quality services to young people. It also provides an opportunity to articulate their practice through the development of a common language within a structured framework. The NQSF is intended to be both practical and developmental, in that it will enable youth work organisations to assess service provision and to identify areas for development. The values underpinning the development and implementation of the NQSF are: (i) a clear understanding of youth work's educational purpose, methodology and context; (ii) commitment to continual improvement and best practice; (iii) transparency of governance and operation; (iv) equality and inclusiveness embedded in policy and practice for staff, volunteers and young people; (v) promotion of the young person's well-being by ensuring safe learning environments. For more information, click here.

4.3. Youth-led initiatives and action

Youth organisations are a key provider of non-formal learning. Youth organisations and the European Youth Forum (YFJ) contributed to efforts for a better recognition and quality of non-formal education by implementing a pilot project on quality assurance of non-formal learning experiences in youth organisations. To explore spaces for flexibility between formal and non-formal education, the YFJ regularly organises a ‘Non-forma