COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the European Year of Youth 2022
Date: 2024-01-10
Institutions: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Commission
Subjects: EU policy, EU strategy, European cultural event, policymaking, promotion of the European idea, young person, youth policy

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 10.1.2024  SWD(2024) 1 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying the document   Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the European Year of Youth 2022 {COM(2024) 1 final}  
 
 
Contents 

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 5 

Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. 6 

1. Why was 2022 chosen as the European Year of Youth? ............................................................. 12 

1.1 Objectives of the European Year of Youth ................................................................................. 12 

2. Implementation of the European Year of Youth ......................................................................... 14 

2.1. Target group ............................................................................................................................... 14 

2.2. Surveys on young people’s expectations ................................................................................... 15 

2.2.1. Call for ideas on the European Year of Youth 2022 ........................................................... 15 

2.2.2 The 2022 Flash Eurobarometer on Youth and Democracy in the European Year of Youth 18 

2.2.3 Comparative analysis between the surveys .......................................................................... 20 

2.3 Key policy areas and initiatives .................................................................................................. 21 

2.4. Budget implementation and resources ....................................................................................... 24 

2.5 Co-creation process with stakeholders and multipliers ............................................................... 26 

2.5.1 Interservice steering group and the Commission Youth Network ....................................... 26 

2.5.2 The EYY national coordinators, national contact points and stakeholder group ................. 28 

2.5.3 National coordination grants ................................................................................................ 29 

2.6 The main EYY events ................................................................................................................. 31 

2.6.1 Traineeship and European Year of Youth welcome event ................................................... 31 

2.6.2 LevelUp! Accelerating change festival ................................................................................ 31 

2.6.3 Claim the Future EYY closing conference .......................................................................... 32 

3. Key results and key achievements ................................................................................................. 34 

3.1 The European Year of Youth communication campaign ............................................................ 34 

3.1.1 The EYY campaign in numbers ........................................................................................... 34 

3.1.2 Goals of the EYY campaign based on the four objectives of the Decision ......................... 36 

3.1.3 Look and feel of the European Year of Youth ..................................................................... 37 

3.1.3.1 Slogan and messaging ................................................................................................... 37 

3.1.3.2 Development of the visual identity ............................................................................... 37 

3.1.3.3 The hashtag: #EYY2022 ............................................................................................... 39 

3.1.4 European Youth Portal – EYY webpage ............................................................................. 39 

3.1.5 Communication material/stakeholder toolkit ....................................................................... 42 

3.1.6 Key statistics of the European Youth Portal ........................................................................ 42 

3.1.7 The European Year of Youth social media campaign.......................................................... 43 

3.1.8 Solidarity with Ukraine ........................................................................................................ 47 

3.2 What was achieved? Meeting the objectives of the European Year of Youth ............................ 48 

3.2.1 EYY Objective 1: highlighting how the green and digital transitions, and other EU policies, 
offer opportunities for young people after the COVID-19 pandemic ........................................... 50 

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3.2.1.1. Key achievements at EU level ..................................................................................... 50 

3.2.1.1.1 Mental and physical health .................................................................................... 50 

3.2.1.1.2 Green and digital transitions .................................................................................. 55 

3.2.1.1.4 Other institutions .................................................................................................... 63 

3.2.1.2. Examples of achievements at national level ................................................................ 64 

3.2.1.3. Examples of achievements at stakeholder level ........................................................... 67 

3.2.2 EYY Objective 2: empowering and supporting young people, including young people with 
fewer opportunities, to become active and engaged citizens and actors of change ...................... 67 

3.2.2.1. Key achievements at EU level ..................................................................................... 68 

3.2.2.1.1. European Commission .......................................................................................... 68 

3.2.2.1.2. Other EU institutions ............................................................................................ 83 

3.2.2.2. Examples of achievements at national level ................................................................ 85 

3.2.2.3. Examples of achievements at stakeholder level ........................................................... 91 

3.2.3 EYY Objective 3: promoting opportunities available to young people from public policies 
at all levels .................................................................................................................................... 92 

3.2.3.1. Key achievements at EU level ..................................................................................... 92 

3.2.3.1.1. European Commission .......................................................................................... 92 

3.2.3.1.2. Other EU institutions .......................................................................................... 100 

3.2.3.2. Examples of achievements at national level .............................................................. 102 

3.2.3.3. Examples of achievements at stakeholder level ......................................................... 111 

3.2.4 EYY Objective 4: bringing a youth perspective to the EU’s policies ................................ 112 

3.2.4.1. Key achievements at EU level ................................................................................... 115 

3.2.4.1.1. European Commission ........................................................................................ 115 

3.2.4.1.2. Other EU institutions .......................................................................................... 120 

3.2.4.2. Examples of achievements at national level .............................................................. 121 

3.2.4.3. Examples of achievements at stakeholder level ......................................................... 123 

4. Feedback on the results of the European Year of Youth .......................................................... 125 

4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 125 

4.2 Call for evidence ....................................................................................................................... 125 

4.2.1. Overall feedback ............................................................................................................... 126 

4.2.2. Recommendations ............................................................................................................. 127 

4.2.3. Sharing good practices and initiatives............................................................................... 127 

4.3. National coordinators ............................................................................................................... 128 

4.3.1 Sample composition ........................................................................................................... 128 

4.3.2. Executive summary ........................................................................................................... 129 

4.3.3. Survey results according to the European Year of Youth’s objectives ............................. 130 

4.3.3.1 European Year of Youth objectives ............................................................................ 130 

4.3.3.2 Outreach and engagement ........................................................................................... 131 

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4.3.3.3 Making young people’s voices heard .......................................................................... 133 

4.3.3.4 Contributing to the European Year of Youth .............................................................. 133 

4.3.3.5 Main achievements linked to the European Year of Youth according to national 
coordinators ............................................................................................................................. 134 

4.3.3.6 Activities that took place because 2022 was designated the European Year of Youth
 ................................................................................................................................................ 137 

4.3.3.7 Tools, resources or expertise from the European Commission ................................... 137 

4.3.3.8 Bringing a youth perspective across all relevant EU policy fields (EYY Objective 4)
 ................................................................................................................................................ 138 

4.3.4. National coordinators’ views on the European Year of Youth and recommendations for 
beyond 2022 ................................................................................................................................ 140 

4.4 Stakeholders’ survey ................................................................................................................. 142 

4.4.1 Sample composition ........................................................................................................... 143 

4.4.2. Executive summary ........................................................................................................... 146 

4.4.3. Survey results according to the European Year of Youth’s objectives ............................. 147 

4.4.3.1 European Year of Youth objectives ............................................................................ 147 

4.4.3.2 Outreach and engagement ........................................................................................... 149 

4.4.3.3 Making young people’s voices heard .......................................................................... 151 

4.4.3.4 EYY measures and activities ...................................................................................... 151 

4.4.3.5 Main achievements linked to the European Year of Youth according to stakeholders
 ................................................................................................................................................ 152 

4.4.3.6 Activities that took place because 2022 was designated the European Year of Youth
 ................................................................................................................................................ 155 

4.4.3.7 Tools, resources and expertise from the Commission................................................. 156 

4.4.3.8 Bringing a youth perspective across all relevant EU policy fields (EYY objective 4)157 

4.4.4. Stakeholders’ views on the European Year of Youth and recommendations for beyond 
2022............................................................................................................................................. 157 

4.5 Young people’s survey ............................................................................................................. 158 

4.5.1 Sample composition ........................................................................................................... 158 

4.5.2 Executive summary ............................................................................................................ 160 

4.5.3 Survey results in relation to the European Year of Youth’s objectives ............................. 161 

4.5.3.1 Benefits that the EYY brought to young people in line with the Year’s objectives ... 161 

4.5.3.2 Discovering the initiative ............................................................................................ 162 

4.5.3.3 Making your voice heard ............................................................................................ 162 

4.5.3.4 Young people’s participation in activities ................................................................... 163 

4.5.3.5 Young people’s opinion of the EU.............................................................................. 164 

4.5.4. Young people’s views on the European Year of Youth and recommendations for beyond 
2022............................................................................................................................................. 165 

4.6 Comparative analysis of the three surveys ................................................................................ 165 

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4.6.1. Sample composition .......................................................................................................... 165 

4.6.2 Survey results according to the European Year of Youth objectives ................................. 166 

4.6.2.1 Activities organised and participation ......................................................................... 166 

4.6.2.2 Benefits and achievements .......................................................................................... 167 

4.6.2.3 Making young people’s voices heard .......................................................................... 169 

4.6.3 Overall views on the European Year of Youth and recommendations for beyond 2022 ... 170 

5. Conclusion and next steps ............................................................................................................ 172 

6. Annexes .......................................................................................................................................... 173 

6.1 List of abbreviations ................................................................................................................. 173 

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Introduction 

Article  7  of  the  Decision 1  on  a  European  Year  of  Youth  2022  requires  the  European 
Commission to submit by 31 December 2023 a report to the European Parliament, the Council, 
the  European  Economic  and  Social  Committee  and  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  on  the 
implementation, results and overall assessment of the measures provided for in the Decision. 
That report is to include ideas for further common endeavours in the field of youth in order to 
create a long-lasting legacy for the European Year. 

This staff working document details the implementation, key results and achievements, and the 
feedback  on  the  European  Year  of  Youth  2022.  It  accompanies  the  Communication  on  the 
European Year of Youth, which proposes future follow-up actions in the field of youth to create 
the Year’s legacy. 

1 Decision (EU) 2021/2316 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 December 2021 on a European 
Year of Youth (2022). Available via: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec/2021/2316/oj.  

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Executive Summary 

The European Year of Youth 2022 (the EYY or the Year) was co-designed by EU institutions, 
Member  States,  youth  stakeholders  and  young  people.  The  co-creation  process  began  in 
October 2021. As required by Decision (EU) 2021/2316 of the European Parliament and of the 
Council of 22 December 2021 on a European Year of Youth (2022) and in order to optimise 
coordination, a group was created composed of 29 EYY  national coordinators from the EU 
Member States 2, 6 national contact points in Erasmus+ associated countries and more than 120 
European-level youth stakeholders. This group was animated by the EU Youth Coordinator. It 
met  nine  times  before  and  during  the  Year  and  exchanged  views  regularly  on  an  online 
platform. The European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the 
Committee of the Regions were part of this group and contributed actively. 

The  EYY  was  essentially  a  bottom-up  initiative  and  successfully  triggered  large-scale 
mobilisation and engagement. More than 2 700 stakeholders 3 across the EU and beyond 
implemented activities that helped meet the Year’s four objectives as set out in the Year’s 
Decision. 

Objective  1:  highlighting  how  the  green  and  digital  transitions  and  other  EU  policies 
provide opportunities to young people after the COVID-19 pandemic 

In the context of Objective 1, the Commission proposed a range of opportunities for youth to 
learn, exchange views and act. Acknowledging young people’s growing call for action on the 
climate and biodiversity crises, the Council Recommendation of 16 June 2022 on learning 
for the green transition and sustainable development 4 includes a clear roadmap for Member 
States to support learning and teaching for the green transition. Young people and stakeholders 
were consulted in the preparation of the Recommendation, which highlights the importance of 
youth involvement in the design of solutions related to learning for the green transition and 
sustainable  development.  The  Recommendation  went  hand  in  hand  with  the  Council 
Conclusions of 5 April 2022 on promoting engagement among young people as actors of 
change in order to protect the environment 5. These Council Conclusions included the ideas 
and opinions of young people that were shared at the EU Youth Conference under the French 
Presidency in January 2022, which launched the ninth cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue. 

In the context of the European Sustainable Energy Week, the Year was the occasion for the 
Commission to organise the European Youth Energy Day and youth policy labs, including 
conversations with young people and youth organisations about the EU’s energy independence 
and energy future. 

To promote a responsible digital transition and after consultation with more than 750 children 
and young people, the Commission adopted a new European strategy for a Better Internet 

2  Youth  policy  is  a  competence  of  the  three  Communities  in  Belgium,  which  therefore  appointed  three 
coordinators. 
3 Number of stakeholders who submitted activities on the EYY Activities map on the European Youth Portal.  
4 Council Recommendation of 16 June 2022 on learning for the green transition and sustainable development. 
Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32022H0627%2801%29. 
5 Conclusions of the Council and the representatives of the governments of the Member States, meeting within 
the Council – Promoting engagement among young people as actors of change in order to protect the environment. 
Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52022XG0412(01). 

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for Kids (BIK+) 6 with the aim of providing age-appropriate digital services in which every 
child in  the EU is  protected, empowered and  respected online guidelines for  teachers and 
educators 7.  These  were  reinforced  by  the  Council  Conclusions  of  28 November 2022  on 
supporting well-being in digital education 8. 

The development of well-being and environmental policy frameworks went hand in hand with 
participative initiatives such as: 

- 

- 

- 

- 

the HealthyLifeStyle4All Youth Ideas Labs, where young people put forward ideas 
to promote healthy lifestyles and remove barriers to youth participation; 
the Plastic Pirates – Go Europe! initiative, which is part of the EU Mission ‘Restore 
our Oceans and Waters’ and was expanded across the EU to inspire young people to 
tackle plastic pollution; 
the Green Track campaign, which was launched in the run-up to the UN Biodiversity 
Conference (COP15) and invited young people across the EU to voice their hopes and 
concerns about nature, biodiversity and the EU’s sustainable future and inspired them 
to be drivers of the process; 
the  EU  Teens4Green,  which  encouraged  young  people  to  design  and  implement 
projects to  address  challenges linked to the just transition towards climate neutrality 
and a greener EU. 

Objective  2:  empowering  and  supporting  young  people,  including  those  with  fewer 
opportunities, to become active and engaged citizens and actors of change 

The Year was for young people and was implemented with and by them. 92% of EYY national 
coordinators and the non-EU national contact points collaborated with national youth councils 
made up of young people. Of the 18 EYY steering groups/networks set up at national level, 
16 included national youth councils and 12 included other youth organisations. Thanks to the 
EYY, a larger number of young Europeans experienced first-hand how the EU adds value to 
their lives, supporting their personal development and equipping them with key resources and 
skills  to  become  active  citizens,  and  agents  of  solidarity  and  positive  change.  The  close 
collaboration with  young people and diverse youth  organisations was essential  for ensuring 
that the Year was a year for all young people including those with fewer opportunities. 

Young people’s highest expectation from the EYY was that society and decision-makers would 
listen  more  to  young  people’s  opinions  and  needs9. To  address  this  demand,  the  EU  and 
Member  States  gave  utmost  priority  to  the  topic  of  youth  participation.  It  emerged  as  the 
EYY’s top theme, with the largest number of activities (43%) on the EYY activities map on 
the European Youth Portal10. The Year coincided with the final stage of the Conference on 
the Future of Europe (April 2021-May 2022), which had a specific focus on youth. The Year 

internet 

strategy 

for  kids 

for  a  better 

(BIK+).  Available  at:  https://digital-

6 A  European 
strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/strategy-better-internet-kids. 
7 Guidelines  for  teachers  and  educators  on  tackling  disinformation  and  promoting  digital  literacy  through 
education and training, 2022. Available at: https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2766/28248. 
8 Council conclusions on supporting well-being in digital education. Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52022XG1209(01). 
9 Flash Eurobarometer survey 502 - ‘Youth and Democracy in the European Year of Youth’, May 2022 
10 Organisers, whether stakeholders or young individuals themselves from around Europe and beyond, were 
welcomed to showcase their European Year of Youth initiatives on the EYY Activities map. 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
to 

Policy 

Dialogues 

the  formulation  of 

One  successful  flagship  initiative  was  the 
Youth 
with 
to  300  young 
Commissioners.  Almost 
participants  took  part  in  26  exchanges  in 
Brussels, sharing their ideas and insights with 
the  Commissioners.  They  learned  about  the 
EU’s functioning, networked with their peers 
and  developed  their  expertise  in  various 
policy areas. 95% of the participants rated the 
dialogues  as  excellent  or  very  good.  The 
participants’  voices  were  further  amplified 
through  online  communication  campaigns 
around the dialogues. 

provided an extra boost in encouraging young 
people  to  speak  up  and  share  their  ideas 
through  new  participatory  formats  and  tools 
the 
with  a  view 
conference’s  final  proposals. As  part  of  the 
Year,  the  Commission  launched  high-level 
youth 
participation 
platforms,  learning  hubs,  new  programme 
actions,  Youth  Talks,  and  the  Youth  Voice 
Platform.  The  Commission  launched  youth 
networks  such  as  the  Bioeconomy  Youth 
Ambassadors 
the  Global 
network, 
Erasmus+  Alumni  Mentoring  Scheme,  the 
Network of Young European Ambassadors 
to promote Holocaust remembrance, the European Climate Pact Ambassadors and the 
Horizon Europe Young Observers, where the Commission invited over 127 masters-level 
students to attend and learn how EU research and innovation project proposals are evaluated 
and selected by the EU’s top scientists. 

dialogues, 

policy 

In 2022, the participation of young people from outside the EU was also highlighted as a key 
pillar  of  the  first  Commission  Youth  Action  Plan  in  EU  External  Action.  To  empower 
children  as  active  citizens,  the  Commission  launched  the  EU  Children’s  Participation 
Platform in September 2022. Co-designed with children and young people, its functions are 
to  connect  existing  child  participation  mechanisms  at  local,  national  and  EU  levels,  and  to 
involve children in decision-making processes at  the EU level. The ALMA initiative (aim, 
learn,  master,  achieve)  was  launched  to  help  young,  disadvantaged  people  aged  18–29  to 
integrate  into  the  society  and  labour  market  across  the  EU.  The  European  Youth  Forum 
organised  the  capacity-building  LevelUp!  Event  in  the  European  Parliament  on  28-
29 October 2022, involving more than 1 300 young change makers from over 50 countries in 
activities, boosting their communication, advocacy and organising skills. This initiative was 
part of a larger campaign to increase participation in elections, including the 2024 European 
Parliament  elections.  In  Austria,  Denmark,  Finland,  Germany,  Iceland,  Ireland  and  the 
Netherlands,  EYY  national  coordinators  set  up  micro  grants  schemes  to  provide  low-
threshold easy access to opportunities for the youth sector and young people  to deliver 
EYY projects and to build capacity. In the context of the Outermost Regions Strategy11 the 
Commission launched a EUR 1 million grant scheme to enable young people in the outermost 
regions  to  develop  and  implement  actions  to  improve  quality  of  life  tailored  to  their 
communities and regions.12  

11 Communication ‘Putting people first, securing sustainable and inclusive growth, unlocking the potential of the 
EU’s outermost regions’ COM(2022) 198 final.  
12 https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/whats-new/newsroom/05-04-2022-youth-for-outermost-regions-eur1-
million-to-support-youth-in-the-outermost-regions_en; https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/whats-
new/newsroom/03-08-2023-call-relaunched-youth-for-outermost-regions-eur1-million-to-support-youth-in-the-
outermost-regions_en  

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Almost to 90% of stakeholders in the youth sector and 66% of young people, who provided 
feedback on the EYY via online surveys, stated that young people had opportunities to make 
their voice heard during the Year. 

Objective 3: promoting the various opportunities available to young people from public 
policies at all levels 

The  EYY  reached  every  corner  of  the  EU  and  beyond.  Public  administrations,  youth 
organisations  and  networks,  universities  and  schools,  civil  society  and  intergovernmental 
organisations, which organised EYY activities, estimated overall outreach through events and 
social media campaigns at more than 150 million citizens and that the great majority of them 
were young people 13. The Year brought EU, national, regional and local institutions closer to 
young people. 83% of EYY activities took place face to face and this outreach effort played 
an important role in informing young people, including those with fewer opportunities, about 
various opportunities. 

Unprecedented outreach of the Year 

More than 13 000 activities across 
67 countries were submitted on the EYY map 
and contributed to the Year’s four objectives  
2700 stakeholders organised activities  
381 activities organised by Commission 
representations  
150 outreach activities by the EU Youth 
Coordinator  
Over 1 million pages views of the EYY page 
on the European Youth Portal 
Over 210 million impressions, over 10 million 
engagements, over 91.4 million reach on EU 
Youth social media channels 

More  than  half  of  the  organisers  of  EYY 
activities  who  provided  feedback  on  the 
Year agreed that most of their activities took 
place  because  2022  was  designated  as  the 
European  Year  of  Youth14.  70%  of  the 
young  people  providing  feedback  to  the 
EYY  survey  said  that  the  Year  positively 
changed  their  knowledge  or  view  of  the 
EU’s work. 

The Commission’s EU4Youth Days for the 
first  time  brought  together  young  people, 
and 
youth 
researchers  from  all  EU  neighbourhood 
regions (the Eastern Partnership region, the 
Western  Balkans,  Türkiye  and  the  Southern  Neighbourhood)  to  highlight  opportunities  and 
good  practices.  The  first  edition  of  the  EU  TalentOn  contest  challenged  young  talented 
researchers  to  find  solutions  to  the  most  pressing  global  issues,  with  the  overall  aims  of 
promoting  a  career  in  research,  facilitating  collaboration  and  promoting  the  entrepreneurial 
skills of young researchers. It was organised by the Commission and co-created by Leiden2022 
European City of Science. 

policymakers 

workers, 

Thanks to a partnership between the Commission, the European Festivals Association (EFA) 
and  YOUROPE,  73  festivals  from  25  countries  embraced  the  EYY  through  the 
#ImpossibleWithoutYouth campaign. The European Parliament launched the Youth Hub 
website to promote its comprehensive and diverse youth offer among young people, educators 
and youth organisations. 

13 Estimated number of participants, by organisers who submitted activities on the European Youth Portal’s EYY 
Activities map. 
14 53% of respondents in the stakeholder survey agreed that the majority of activities they organised and 
submitted on the EYY map took place because 2022 was designated as the European Year of Youth. 77% of 
EYY national coordinators and national contact points shared this opinion. 

9 

 
 
 
The EYY national coordinators have highlighted many examples of EYY outreach events in 
Member States. At least 13 Member States set up dedicated webpages to promote the EYY. 
In Austria, the State Secretary for Youth toured provinces to meet young people and discuss 
their  expectations  for  the  future.  In  Ireland,  two  national  ‘All Aboard’  youth  events  were 
hosted on moving chartered trains. In Italy, an EYY truck tour raised awareness and promoted 
opportunities for young people. A similar tour took place in Romania, mainly targeting young 
people from rural areas. The Year also managed to reach out to citizens and organisations that 
had not previously taken up opportunities provided by the EU. Of the stakeholders who replied 
to the EYY stakeholders’ survey, more than a third contributed to an EU initiative for the 
first time. Thanks to the Year, young people acquired a better understanding of the various 
public policies opportunities available to them at EU, national, regional and local levels. 

Objective 4: bringing a youth perspective across all relevant Union policy fields 

Many policy initiatives and decisions have an impact on the lives of young people. This is also 
shown in the European Youth Goals, which provide a vision and guide for young people in the 
EU Youth Strategy. Taking better account of the youth dimension in all relevant policy areas 
and ensuring that young people have a say in these policy areas that affect them has therefore 
been a priority for EU youth policy cooperation since 2001, with the White Paper on a new 
impetus for European youth 15 and the current 2019-2027 EU Youth Strategy 16. The EYY is 
cross-sectoral 17 in nature and mainstreaming the youth perspective across policy fields is one 
of  its  key  objectives.  The  EYY  created  a  large  interservice  mobilisation  within  the 
Commission. More than 30 departments and services contributed to the Year, with over 130 
policy initiatives for young people, many of which were developed in cooperation with 
youth.  An  estimated  indicative  amount  of  around  EUR 140  million 18  was  identified  in 
relevant EU programmes and instruments for the implementation of the Year’s objectives, such 
as via campaigns, events or calls for proposals. 

The  Commission  Youth  Network, 
which  is  coordinated  by  the  EU  Youth 
Coordinator  is  an  internal  network  for 
capacity  building, 
and 
collaboration  on  youth  related  issues 
between 
of 
representatives of different services, the 
Network was a key enabler of the Year’s 
strong cross-sectoral dimension.   

services.  Composed 

exchange, 

At  national 
level,  81%  of  EYY  national 
coordinators  and  national  contact  points  reported 
that  they  collaborated  with  ministries  or  public 
bodies  other  than  those  responsible  for  youth 
policy. 69% set up steering groups / networks for 
the  Year.  Ministries  or  public  bodies  other  than 
those  responsible  for  youth  policy  were  part  of 
61% of these groups. 

impetus 

for  European  youth.  Available  at: 

15  European  Commission  white  paper  –  A  new 
https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/a3fb3071-785e-4e15-a2cd-51cb40a6c06b. 
16 Resolution of the Council of the European Union and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member 
States meeting within the Council on a framework for European cooperation in the youth field: The European 
Union 
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
Strategy 
content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A42018Y1218%2801%29. 
17  The  Year  was  structured  around  nine  policy  areas  of  special  interest  to  young  people:  European  learning 
mobility, employment and inclusion, policy dialogues and participation, green, digital, culture, health, well-being 
and sports, youth and the world and solidarity with Ukraine.  
18 More explanation on this estimated figure can be found in Section 2.4, pp. 23-25. 

2019-2027. 

Available 

Youth 

at: 

10 

 
 
 
This wide mobilisation of diverse stakeholders in the Year’s preparation and implementation 
resulted in new partnerships at EU, national and regional levels. This should boost youth 
cooperation for years to come. 

11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1. Why was 2022 chosen as the European Year of Youth? 

On 15 September 2021, President von der Leyen announced in her State of the European Union 
Address 19 that the Commission would propose to make 2022 the European Year of Youth ‘a 
year dedicated to empowering those who have dedicated so much to others’. President von der 
Leyen added that ‘… if we are to shape our Union in their mould, young people must be able 
to shape Europe’s future’. 

The EYY 2022 was launched at a critical time when young people and the youth sector were 
struggling to rebound from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The pandemic had an unprecedented – and uneven – impact on the education, employment, 
social  inclusion  and  mental  health  of  young  people  worldwide  and  across  the  EU.  The 
pandemic disrupted their education, training and transition to employment, and many young 
people experienced feelings of social isolation, anxiety and depression. Children, adolescents 
and young adults have been extremely affected by disruptions of family and social ties, and the 
economic crisis provoked by lockdowns has hit young Europeans in particular 20. 

At  the  same  time,  young  people  have  shown  remarkable  intergenerational  solidarity  and 
support, while being forced to sacrifice valuable ‘youthful moments’ in their daily lives. Young 
people have shown great resilience and have helped to mitigate the pandemic’s impact. 

President von der Leyen stated that ‘being young is normally a time of discovery, of creating 
new experiences. A time to meet lifelong friends, to find your own path. And what did we ask 
this generation to do? To keep their social distance, to stay locked down and to do school from 
home. For more than a year’ 21. 

Against  this  backdrop,  the  Year  mobilised  the  EU’s  institutions,  Member  States’  public 
authorities at different levels and youth stakeholders to seek new and effective ways to honour, 
support and engage young people. The EYY encouraged the EU’s young people to provide 
contributions and insights to shape the EU’s development and society at large. The Year was 
also an occasion to raise awareness of the opportunities that lie ahead for young people. 

1.1 Objectives of the European Year of Youth 

Decision (EU) 2021/2316 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 December 2021 
on a European Year of Youth (2022) 22 (the Decision) laid down four objectives in its Article 2. 
These objectives aimed both to highlight the issues facing youth and to help tackle them: 

(a) renew the positive perspectives for young people, with a particular focus on the negative 
effects  that  the  COVID-19  pandemic  had  on  them,  while  highlighting  how  the  green 
transition,  the  digital  transition  and  other  Union  policies  offer  opportunities  for  young 
people and for society at large, drawing inspiration from the actions, vision and insights 

19 2021 State of the Union Address by President von der Leyen  
20 ‘Youth and COVID-19. Response, Recovery and resilience’ (OECD, 2020); ‘Youth and COVID-19. Impacts 
on Jobs, Education, Rights and mental Well-being’ (ILO, 2020); ‘Being young in Europe today – health. Statistics 
Explained. EU Youth report 2021’ (Eurostat, 2020). 
21 2021 State of the Union Address by President von der Leyen 
22 Decision (EU) 2021/2316 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 December 2021 on a European 
Year of Youth (2022). Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec/2021/2316/oj. 

12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
of young people to further strengthen and invigorate the common European project and 
listening to young people, taking into account their needs and concerns, and support young 
people  in  developing  concrete,  inclusive  opportunities  and  deliverables,  while  making 
optimal use of Union instruments; 

(b) empower  and  support  young  people,  including  through  youth  work,  especially  young 
people  with  fewer  opportunities,  young  people  from  disadvantaged  and  diverse 
backgrounds,  young  people  belonging  to  vulnerable  and  marginalised  groups,  young 
people from rural, remote, peripheral  and less-developed areas  and young people from 
outermost regions, to acquire relevant knowledge and competences and thus become active 
and engaged citizens and actors of change, inspired by a European sense of belonging, 
including  additional  efforts  at  building  capacity  for  youth  participation  and  civic 
engagement among young people and among all stakeholders that work to represent their 
interests and involving the contribution of young people from diverse backgrounds in key 
consultation processes, such as the Conference on the Future of Europe and the EU Youth 
Dialogue process; 

(c)  support  young  people  to  acquire  a  better  understanding  of,  and  actively  promote  the 
various opportunities available to them from, public policies at Union, national, regional 
and local level support their personal, social, economic and professional development in a 
green, digital and inclusive world, while aiming to remove the remaining barriers thereto; 

(d) mainstream youth policy across all relevant Union policy fields in line with the 2019–2027 
European  Union  Youth  Strategy  to  encourage  the  bringing  of  a  youth  perspective  into 
policymaking at all levels. 

The  context  surrounding  the  Year’s  creation  and  implementation  was  further  impacted  by 
Russia’s  illegal  full-scale  invasion  of  Ukraine  on  24 February 2022,  which  exacerbated  the 
situation  and  challenges  faced  by  young  people,  education  systems,  youth  work  and  civil 
society organisations across the EU. 

As European young people woke up to the horrors of a full-scale war and its consequences on 
the EU’s borders, it became clear that the safeguarding of the EU’s liberal and humanist values 
(solidarity, peace, unity, democracy, justice, dignity, safety and security, rule of law, freedom 
and the fight against disinformation) needed to be included in the themes of the Year. Solidarity 
was  a  key  driver  in  the  EU’s  response  to  the  Russian  war  of  aggression  against  Ukraine. 
Mobilising the EU’s young people around these values and showing solidarity with Ukraine 
and its young people was therefore of utmost importance. 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2. Implementation of the European Year of Youth 

2.1. Target group 

The Year was  aimed at  all young people in  the EU and beyond. The 2019-2027 EU Youth 
Strategy23 does not include an official definition of when a person is considered to be ‘young’. 
This definition is different from one Member State to the other. At EU level, the 15-29 age 
range is often used for statistical purposes. 

In  fulfilling  its  objectives  and  in  line  with  Commission  Implementing  Decision  (EU) 
2021/1877(22)24, the EYY aimed to be fully inclusive and actively promote the participation 
of young people. It included a particular focus on young people with fewer opportunities, from 
disadvantaged backgrounds and belonging to vulnerable groups. Such criteria include young 
people with disabilities, young people with migrant, Roma or LGBTIQ backgrounds, young 
people belonging to vulnerable groups, young people with reduced mobility and young people 
living  in  remote  areas  (e.g.  the  outermost  regions)  or  facing  economic  obstacles.  Efforts  to 
include all young people in the EU and beyond also strove to achieve gender balance and the 
representation of diverse backgrounds. 

To  achieve  these  aims,  the  campaign  took  several  measures  to  promote  inclusiveness  and 
representation. 

All the campaign’s written communication published on the EYY’s web page was available in 
all 24 EU official languages. Through multilingual content, the campaign aimed to reach young 
people  speaking  different  languages  and  ensure  that  language  barriers  did  not  hinder  their 
participation. This approach enabled young people to access information and engage with the 
campaign  in  their  preferred  language,  promoting  a  sense  of  inclusion  and  enabling  wider 
participation. 

In  addition  to  linguistic  inclusivity,  the  Years’  visuals  placed  particular  emphasis  on 
representing all groups of young people. By showcasing diversity in race, ethnicity, gender, 
ability and socio-economic backgrounds, the campaign sought to reflect the rich tapestry of 
young  people’s  experiences  across  Europe.  This  visual  representation  aimed  to  ensure  that 
every  young  person,  regardless  of  their  background,  could  see  themselves  reflected  and 
acknowledged in the campaign’s visuals. 

Overall,  the  EYY  communication  campaign’s  inclusive  approach  aimed  to  create  an 
environment where all young people could feel valued, heard and represented. By providing 
multilingual  content,  embracing  diverse  visual  representation,  and  collaborating  with 
stakeholders, the campaign actively worked towards dismantling barriers and promoting equal 
opportunities for young people from all walks of life. 

Youth 

23 Resolution of the Council of the European Union and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member 
States meeting within the Council on a framework for European cooperation in the youth field: The European 
Union 
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
Strategy 
content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A42018Y1218%2801%29  
24 Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1877 of 22 October 2021 on the framework of inclusion 
measures of the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps Programmes 2021-2027. Available via: https://eur-
lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32021D1877. 

2019-2027. 

Available 

via: 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
2.2. Surveys on young people’s expectations 

Two surveys were conducted as part of the groundwork for the Year. They aimed to examine 
young people’s anticipations and expectations about the Year. The surveys helped identify the 
policy areas of special interest to young people. The first survey, the Call for Ideas, was carried 
out at the end of 2021 by the Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport 
and  Culture  (DG  EAC).  The  second  survey  was  a  Eurobarometer  survey,  the  2022  Flash 
Eurobarometer  on  Youth  and  Democracy  in  the  European  Year  of  Youth  (‘Flash 
Eurobarometer survey 502’), which was carried out at the beginning of 2022 at the request of 
DG EAC25.  

2.2.1. Call for ideas on the European Year of Youth 2022 

The call was launched on the European Youth Portal in October 2021 and remained open until 
November  2021.  The  survey  was  promoted  via  social  media  ad  campaigns  on  Instagram, 
Facebook  and  Twitter  (now  X)  and  was  also  shared  with  key  stakeholders  and  multipliers. 
EUSurvey, the Commission’s web application for online survey creation and publication, was 
used to collect the ideas. The call received 4 686 replies overall. Most of the respondents were 
between 18 and 24 years old (55.5%). Of the respondents, 81.1% were living in cities or towns 
and 16.3% in villages and rural areas. The survey report was published on the Youth Portal in 
December 2021. 

Key outcomes and results of the survey 

The report26 on the results of the Call for Ideas on the EYY showed that young people: 

•  were eager to participate in the Year; 

Figure 1. ‘Would you like to actively contribute to the European Year of Youth?’ 
Source: Report on the results of the Call for Ideas on the EYY 

25 Youth and Democracy in the European Year of Youth - May 2022 - - Eurobarometer survey (europa.eu). 
26 Report on the Call for Ideas: https://youth.europa.eu/d8/sites/default/files/inline-files/Co-creation survey 
report.pdf.  

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
•  wanted to make their voices heard to have an impact on policymaking but did not know 

how to do this; 

Figure 2. ‘If you want to make your voice heard/to express your opinion, do you know how to do so?’ 
Source: Report on the results of the Call for Ideas on the EYY 

• 

identified debates and interactive dialogues as the preferred way of making their voices 
heard; 

Figure 3. ‘What is/would be your preferred way of making your voice heard?’ 
Source: Report on the results of the Call for Ideas on the EYY 

• 

indicated the following themes as the most important and interesting:  education and 
training, climate change/environment, health/mental health, and inclusive societies; 

Figure 4. ‘What themes do you think the European Year of Youth should focus on?’ 
Source: Report on the results of the Call for Ideas on the EYY 

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
•  wished to interact with young people from other European countries and emphasised 

the need for communication on the EU and youth; 

Figure 5. ‘Who would you like to interact with during the European Year of Youth?’ 
Source: Report on the results of the Call for Ideas on the EYY 

•  suggested  social  media,  podcasts  and  digital  tools  as  a  means  of  informing  and 

involving young people; 

Figure 6. ‘How would you like to stay informed on developments of the European Year of Youth?’ 
Source: Report on the results of the Call for Ideas on the EYY 

•  wanted  to  take  part  in  the  following  activities:  festivals,  workshops,  debates  and 

training. 

Figure 7. ‘What kind of activities do you think should absolutely be part of your European Year of Youth?’ 
Source: Report on the results of the Call for Ideas on the EYY 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.2.2 The 2022 Flash Eurobarometer on Youth and Democracy in the European Year of 

Youth 

The Flash Eurobarometer survey 502 was conducted by Ipsos European Public Affairs at the 
request of DG EAC. They interviewed a representative sample of young people aged 15 to 30 
in each of the 27 Member States. Between February and March 2022, 26 178 young people 
were surveyed via computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI) using Ipsos online panels and 
their partner network. The survey report27 was published in May 2022. 

Key outcomes and results of the survey 

The Flash Eurobarometer survey 502 executive summary report showed that young people: 

•  expected  the  EYY  to  lead  to  society  and  decision-makers  listening  more  to  young 

people’s opinions and needs; 

Figure 8. ‘What do you most expect from the European Year of Youth? You can select up to three answers.’  
(% - EU27) 
Source: 2022 Flash Eurobarometer on ‘Youth and Democracy in the European Year of Youth’ 

27 Flash Eurobarometer survey 502 – ‘Youth and Democracy in the European Year of Youth’, May 2022. 

18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
•  considered voting in local, national or European elections to be the most effective way 

for their voices to be heard by decision-makers; 

Figure 9. ‘In your opinion what are the most effective actions for making young people’s voice heard by 
decision-makers? You can select up to three answers.’ (% - EU27) 
Source: 2022 Flash Eurobarometer on ‘Youth and Democracy in the European Year of Youth’ 

•  selected the top four EYY priorities:  

1.  improving mental and physical health and well-being; 
2.  protecting the environment and fighting climate change; 
3.  improving education and training; 
4.  fighting poverty and economic and social inequalities; 

Figure 10. ‘The European Commission has decided to make 2022 the “European Year of Youth” to support the 
generation that has sacrificed the most during the COVID-19 pandemic. What are the key themes you think the 
European Year of Youth should focus on?’ (% - EU27) 
Source: 2022 Flash Eurobarometer on Youth and Democracy in the European Year of Youth survey report 

19 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
•  wanted  to  participate  in  festivals,  artistic  performances,  concerts,  meet-ups  and 
exchanges with young people from other European countries, conferences, workshops 
and training; 

Figure 11. ‘In the context of the European Year of Youth, activities will be organised on topics that affect young 
people. In which activities, if any, would you be most interested in participating? Activities can take place 
online and offline.’ (% - EU27) 
Source: 2022 Flash Eurobarometer on Youth and Democracy in the European Year of Youth survey report 

•  were well aware of the Erasmus+ programme but did not have much knowledge about 

other EU-funded opportunities to stay in another EU country. 

Figure 12. ‘Below are some EU-funded opportunities for young people to stay in another EU country. Which, if 
any, have you heard of?’ (% - EU27) 
Source: 2022 Flash Eurobarometer on Youth and Democracy in the European Year of Youth survey report 

2.2.3 Comparative analysis between the surveys 

Youth participation in civic life 

The two surveys clearly demonstrated that young people’s major expectation for the Year was 
youth participation. Respondents had a fundamental desire to engage in policymaking. Young 

20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
people  were  concerned  that  their  voices  remained  unheard.  They  wished  to  connect  with 
policymakers and showed interest in contributing to EU policymaking and decision-making. 

Young people’s views on the European Year of Youth 

Responses in the two surveys about young people’s views on the EYY also overlapped. The 
themes  young  people  showed  most 
in  were  mental  health,  education, 
interest 
environment/climate  change  and  inclusive  societies.  The  two  surveys’  responses  on  young 
people’s preferred activities were also similar: festivals, workshops, debates and training were 
the top four activities. 

While the Call for Ideas included a question directly related to communication (‘Who would 
you  interact  with  during  the  European  of  Youth?’),  the  Flash  Eurobarometer  survey  502 
touched upon young people’s awareness of EU opportunities for them. 

The two surveys provided some valuable insights that helped select the Year’s themes most 
relevant  to  young people. This  facilitated the Commission’s efforts to  meet  young people’s 
expectations throughout the Year. It also enabled the subsequent development and introduction 
of new formats  and tools  for youth  participation, such as the Youth Voice Platform,  policy 
dialogues with European Commissioners, the Youth Talks and the Pool of European Young 
Journalists. 

2.3 Key policy areas and initiatives 

Apart from the Year’s four objectives, eight policy areas were identified for the Year. Based 
on the Commission’s political priorities, these areas were identified as being of special interest 
to young people. More than 130 Commission policy initiatives of relevance to young people 
were identified as contributing to the Year’s four objectives and framed under the policy areas. 

The eight policy areas were: European learning mobility; employment and inclusion; policy 
dialogues and participation; the green and digital transitions; culture; health, well-being and 
sports; youth and the world. A ninth area, solidarity with Ukraine, was added in February 2022. 

The Year’s key policy areas and main policy initiatives are described in more detail below. In 
Chapter 3 ‘Key results and key achievements’, you will find a more detailed explanation of 
the main initiatives. 

1.  European learning mobility and education 

The pandemic had an unprecedented impact on mobility activities, particularly those organised 
under the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes. In 2020, 50% fewer learners 
started a mobility abroad compared with 201928. Nevertheless, young people can be confident 
that  the  new  Erasmus+  and  the  European  Solidarity  Corps  programmes  for  2021-2027 
specifically  dedicated  to  young  people  have  returned  with  more  improvements.  These  new 

28 Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social 
Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation of the EU Youth Strategy (2019-2021), 
p.10. Available via: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52021DC0636. 

21 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
programmes not only provide new opportunities for inclusion, cultural enrichment and unique 
learning experiences, but also contribute to the EYY’s objectives. 

In  2022,  the  Erasmus+  programme  marked  its  35th  anniversary.  The  EYY  was  a  great 
opportunity  to  celebrate  the  participation  of  more  than  13 million  young  people  in  the 
programme since 1987 and promote the new edition of the programme, covering education, 
training, youth and sport. The European Solidarity Corps also entered its fifth year in 2022. 

Main  initiative  under  this  policy  area:  Global  Erasmus+  Alumni  Mentoring  Scheme29 
(DG EAC). 

2.  Employment and inclusion 

The economic crisis provoked by the pandemic and lockdowns hit young people in particular. 
As a result, youth unemployment rates in the EU grew from 11.9% in 2019 to 13.3% in 202030 
31.  The  EYY  therefore  focused  heavily  on  increasing  employment  opportunities  for  young 
people and promoting youth entrepreneurship as part of the post-pandemic recovery, including 
through  vocational  education  and  training  (VET).  The  Year  included  a  series  of  initiatives, 
events, and activities for young people. These aimed to boost the efforts of Member States and 
regional  and  local  authorities  in  supporting  and  engaging  with  young  people  as  part  of  the 
economic and social recovery. 

Main initiative under this policy area: ALMA32 (DG EMPL). 

3.  Policy dialogues and participation 

Strengthening young people’s democratic participation and providing youth spaces in all areas 
of society is key to maintaining an active civil society in Europe. It is also crucial for the EU 
and its democratic societies today and in the future. The EU promotes youth participation in 
policymaking  globally,  building  on  the  experience  of  the  EU  Youth  Dialogue.  This  is  a 
mechanism that ensures that young people’s needs, views and opinions are taken into account 
when drawing up the EU’s youth policies. The EU Youth Dialogue is a tool to bring young 
people’s  voices  closer  to  decision-makers  by  consulting  with  them  and  listening  to  their 
recommendations. These efforts were further boosted in 2022. 

Main initiative under this policy area: ‘Family of policy dialogues’: Members of College 
in conversation with youth33 (Secretariat-General). 

4.  Green 

Young  people  will  be  affected  the  most  by  the  climate  crisis  and  biodiversity  loss.  Of  the 
challenges faced by the EU, climate change is one of the three main concerns highlighted by 

29 Global Erasmus+ Alumni Mentoring Scheme.  
30 Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social 
Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation of the EU Youth Strategy (2019-2021), 
p.2. Available via: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52021DC0636. 
31 Eurostat on 'Youth unemployment by sex, age and educational attainment level'. 
32 ALMA. 
33 ‘Family of policy dialogues’: Members of College in conversation with youth. 

22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
young  Europeans34.  Since  2019,  young  people’s  civic  participation  and  engagement,  in 
particular through the global climate movement, shows the importance they give to tackling 
climate change and achieving climate justice. Therefore, it is crucial to involve and prepare the 
next generations for the green transition. In the context of the EYY, the EU proposed several 
opportunities under its green priority for young people to engage, act and learn about topics 
related to climate and the environment. 

Main initiative under this policy area: The Green Track campaign35 (DG ENV). 

5.  Digital 

96%36  of  young  Europeans  use  the  internet  daily37.  The  COVID-19  pandemic  led  to  an 
acceleration  in  digital  trends.  Despite  being  digital  natives,  young  people,  especially  those 
under 18, deserve support and empowerment in a world where the distinction between online 
and offline is increasingly blurred. Rapidly advancing digital technologies present both new 
opportunities and challenges for young people, especially on digital skills, the digital divide 
and the potential exposure to harmful online content. To address these issues, there is an urgent 
need for education and capacity building to accelerate the digital transition and equip young 
people with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a digitalised world. 

Main  initiative  under  this  policy  area:  Updated  Better  Internet  for  Kids  (BIK+) 
Strategy38 (DG CNECT). 

6.  Culture 

When asked about what creates a sense of community in the EU39, 29% of young Europeans 
indicated culture as playing a significant role. Europe’s cultural heritage is a rich and diverse 
mosaic  of  cultural  and  creative  expressions,  an  inheritance  from  previous  generations  of 
Europeans and a legacy for those to come. Cultural heritage and creativity enrich the individual 
lives of people, drive the cultural and creative sectors, and help create and increase Europe’s 
social  capital.  The  EYY  connected  young  people  to  culture  through  music  and  encouraged 
them to visit cultural heritage sites around Europe. 

Main initiative under this policy area: Culture Moves Europe new mobility scheme for 
artists in the EU (DG EAC). 

7.  Health, well-being and sports 

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about an unprecedented increase in mental health distress, 
particularly  among  young  people.  Addressing  well-being  calls  for  a  comprehensive  policy 
approach, bringing together sport, health, food and other policies. A healthy lifestyle is first 
and  foremost  about  being  aware  of  its  importance.  However,  many  people  face  different 
barriers,  for  instance,  due  to  their  financial  situation  or  a  lack  of  information.  Promoting  a 

34 Eurobarometer Survey – ‘Youth Survey 2021’, October 2021.  
35 The Green Track. 
36 According to Eurostat, Internet use and activities.  
37 Eurobarometer – ‘Youth Survey 2021’, October 2021. 
38 Updated Better Internet for Children Strategy. 
39 Eurobarometer – ‘Youth Survey 2021’, October 2021. 

23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
healthy and active lifestyle from a young age is essential in helping reduce non-communicable 
diseases later in life. 

Main  initiative  under  this  policy  area:  HealthyLifeStyle4All  Youth  Ideas  Labs40 
(DG EAC). 

8.  Youth and the world 

The EYY was not only relevant to European youth but also to young people all over the world. 
Through specific initiatives, the EU aims to provide opportunities for education, learning and 
exchanges,  partnerships  and  dialogue  between  young  people  from  the  EU  and  partner 
countries, such as from the Eastern Partnership, the Western Balkans and Africa. The EU also 
seeks  to  increase  the  role  of  youth  engagement  in  strategic  communication  and  public 
diplomacy action. 

Main initiative under this policy area: Youth action plan (EEAS/DG INTPA/DG NEAR, 
DG ECHO, FPI). 

9. Solidarity with Ukraine 

A ninth policy area, solidarity with Ukraine, was added in February 2022, following Russia’s 
full-scale invasion  of  Ukraine. Chapter  3.1.8 Solidarity with Ukraine describes  the Year’s 
many initiatives related to supporting the Ukrainian people. These initiatives were promoted 
through the EYY’s communication campaign. 

All the Year’s initiatives fell under one or more of the above policy areas. The Year’s policy 
initiatives,  in  line  with  its  objectives,  provided  many  opportunities  for  young  people  from 
Europe and beyond to engage in learning and civic engagement activities. This enabled them 
to  gain  the  knowledge,  skills,  values  and  attitudes  needed  to  move  forward  in  life  with 
confidence. The initiatives aimed to help young people become more familiar with politics at 
EU, national, regional and international levels. 

Most of the initiatives are published on a special section of the European Youth Portal41 where 
young people can access them. The content is written in a language adapted to young people 
and describes the benefits for them. 

At the Commission level,  31 DGs, agencies and services contributed  to  the Year with  their 
programmes, policy initiatives and communication channels. 

2.4. Budget implementation and resources 

A budget mapping exercise was carried out during the Year. This gave an estimation of the 
Commission’s  indicative  investment  in  actions  mainly  targeting  youth  (but  not  always 
exclusively) under different EU programmes and budgets. 

As laid down in recital 30 of the Decision, the financial allocation required to implement the 
Decision had to come from the budget of the contributing programmes in line with the 2021-

40 HealthyLifeStyle4All Youth Ideas Labs 
41 https://youth.europa.eu/year-of-youth_en#eu-policies  

24 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2027 EU long-term budget (also known as the multi-annual financial framework). Subject to 
the availability of funding, co-financing activities in support of the Year from the EU budget 
had to comply with the rules and procedures of the relevant programmes, including Erasmus+, 
the European Solidarity Corps and other EU programmes. EU programmes with objectives in 
line with the goals of the Year were examined to identify activities and initiatives that could 
contribute to the Year’s objectives, thus contributing to its overall success. 

From  a  technical  and  operational  point  of  view,  there  was  no  transfer  of  funds  from  one 
instrument to another, and each programme implemented activities in line with its own rules 
and decision-making procedures. However, to better assess the Year’s impact and have an idea 
of how much these activities contributed to its objectives, examples of relevant activities and 
corresponding estimates were mapped in the programmes involved. 

In  its  conciliation  procedure  (concluded  on  15 November)  for  the  revised  2022  budget,  the 
budgetary authority provided for additional budget for the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity 
Corps programmes. Part of this budget was earmarked for preparing and carrying out activities 
in line with the EYY, namely EUR 5 million for Erasmus+ and EUR 3 million for the European 
Solidarity Corps. 

In  the  budget  negotiations  with  Parliament  and  the  Council,  the  Commission  made  the 
following statement: ‘The Commission will carry out a mapping exercise throughout the Year 
and will regularly update it outlining the possible and actual contributions by EU programmes 
and instruments to the implementation of the Year and reporting on the activities. The progress 
in the deployment of contributions by the Union programmes will be regularly presented to the 
European  Parliament  and  the  Council.  These  contributions  should  be  considered  as 
complementary and above the minimum operational budget of EUR 8 million’42. 

On four occasions, the Commission shared an update on the indicative estimates of the budget 
mapping and the initiatives with Parliament and the Council (in December 2021, May 2022, 
October 2022 and May 2023). The budget mapping exercise could not be exhaustive as certain 
actions were not directly managed by the Commission (e.g. shared management); other actions 
might have included young people among the target population or beneficiaries but may not 
have focused exclusively on them. As a result, the indicative amounts are estimates rather than 
precise amounts. 

An estimated indicative amount of around EUR 140 million was identified in the following 
participating EU programmes, schemes and instruments for the implementation of the Year’s 
objectives,  for  example,  via  calls  for  proposals,  campaigns  and  events.  Apart  from  the 
Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps programmes, relevant actions to achieve the EYY 
objectives were identified in Creative Europe, Horizon Europe, European Social Fund+, the 
Just  Transition  Fund/REACTEU,  the  European  Regional  Development  Fund,  the  European 
Maritime  Fisheries  and  Aquaculture  Fund,  the  Citizens,  Equality,  Rights  and  Value 
programme,  the  Single  Market  programme,  Digital  Europe,  the  Justice  Programme,  the 
Connecting  Europe  Facility,  NDICI  Global  Europe,  the  Foreign  Policy  Instrument,  the  
Programme for Environment and Climate Action, activities  supporting  EU transport policy, 
transport security  and passenger rights, including  communication activities, EU4Health,  the 
Technical Support Instrument (TSI), ESTAT budget, DG Communication’s budget (citizen’s 
dialogues and visitor’s centre), Finance, Learning, Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights 

42 Statement by the Commission (2021/C 523/02). Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32021C1228(02). 

25 

 
 
 
for cultural and creative sectors preparatory action (FLIP), EU Datathon, the Internal Security 
Fund – Police, the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs. 

2.5 Co-creation process with stakeholders and multipliers 

The Year was created in a spirit of co-creation. Once the Commission adopted its proposal for 
a  Decision  on  the  Year,  it  immediately  kicked  off  a  co-creation  process  with  other  EU 
institutions, Member States, youth stakeholders and young people. Recital 27 of the Decision 
emphasises  the  need  for  collaborative  creation  in  coordinating  the  EYY  at  EU  level.  To 
effectively  execute  and  co-create  the  Year,  the  Commission  arranged  joint  meetings  and 
individual ones with stakeholders, representatives from youth organisations  and bodies, and 
national coordinators (‘NCs’). In these gatherings, the EU Youth Coordinator assumed a vital 
role,  actively  engaging  with  diverse  stakeholders  and  representatives  of  youth-focused 
organisations or bodies. 

Furthermore, Article 6 of the Decision underscores the importance of efficiently implementing 
the  Year  by  maximising  its  international  outreach  and  leveraging  existing  delivery 
mechanisms. To optimise the added value and ensure a bigger impact on young people, it was 
crucial  to  create  synergies  and  complementarities  between  the  EYY  and  EU  programmes, 
particularly those with an international dimension, including programmes in cooperation with 
the Youth Partnership Council of Europe. This cooperation encompassed joint participation in 
stakeholder meetings and the exchange of valuable studies issued by the Youth Partnership 
Council of Europe.  

Additionally,  a  series  of  events  was  organised  to  promote  studies  on  youth  political 
participation, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on democratic youth participation, 
new  forms  of  youth  civic  engagement  and  critical  thinking  in  citizenship  education.  These 
collaborative  efforts  further  boosted  the  Year’s  effectiveness  in  addressing  the  needs  and 
aspirations of young people across Europe and beyond. 

2.5.1 Interservice steering group and the Commission Youth Network 

An interservice steering group (a Commission cross-department group) on the European Year 
of Youth was set up immediately after the Year was announced. In total, eight meetings took 
place  with  31  departments  (Directorate-Generals  or  DGs)  participating  and  consulted 
throughout the Year. 

In  the  Commission,  a  new  Youth  Network  was  created,  coordinated  by  the  EU  Youth 
Coordinator.  The  Commission  Youth  Network  enabled  continuous  exchanges  between  the 
DGs  on  youth-related  initiatives  and  was  a  key  enabler  of  the  Year’s  strong  cross-sectoral 
dimension. Nine meetings have taken place since its establishment, listed in detail in the table 
below. 

26 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23 June 2021 

28 October 2021 

8 December 2021 

3 February 2022 

30 March 2022 

3 June 2022 

17 October 2022 

16 December 2022 

25 May 2023 

1st Commission Youth Network Meeting: 9 DGs attended (ENV, 
CLIMA,  COMM,  ENER,  INTPA,  MARE,  MOVE,  REGIO, 
RTD), presenting information on practical  matters related to the 
functioning of the informal network. 

2nd  Commission  Youth  Network  Meeting:  12  DGs  attended. 
Discussion  on  the  role  of  the  Youth  Network  in  the  EYY  and 
Commission EYY policy initiatives. 

3rd Commission Youth Network Meeting: DGs were updated and 
had  the  chance  to  discuss  the  timeline  and  main  points  of  the 
negotiations on the Decision on the Year, the EU survey and visual 
identity, the EYY budget mapping and policy initiatives. 

4th Commission Youth Network Meeting: EYY updates, a demo 
of the EYY site, and 3-minute updates from each DG on upcoming 
EYY plans. 

5th  Commission  Youth Network  Meeting:  EYY  updates  (policy 
fiches, reporting exercise, etc.) and change of narrative linked to 
the war in Ukraine. 

6th  Commission  Youth  Network  Meeting:  16  DGs  and  services 
legacy,  and 
attended.  EYY  updates,  reflections  on  EYY 
presentations  on  the  Green  Track  campaign  (ENV);  the  Council 
Recommendation  on  learning  for  the  green  transition  and 
sustainable development (EAC); Youth Climate and Sustainability 
Roundtables  (EESC);  the  Better  Internet  for  Kids  Strategy 
(CNECT); and ALMA (EMPL).  

7th  Commission  Youth  Network  Meeting:  EYY  updates, 
presentations  from  DGs  on  EYY  activities  and  events  and  its 
legacy (RTD, NEAR, EAC, D3).  

8th  Commission  Youth  Network  Meeting:  EYY  updates 
(activities, closing conference, EYY reporting) and presentations 
by  European  Youth  Forum  on  the  outcomes  of  EU  Youth 
Dialogue;  REGIO  on  the Youth4Cooperation  initiative;  CLIMA 
on  #MyEUClimatePact  campaign;  SG/EAC  on  youth  policy 
dialogues with Commissioners; and EMPL on the European Year 
of Skills 2023. 

9th  Commission  Youth  Network  Meeting:  EYY  updates  and 
presentation of legacy – ‘the way forward.’ Presentations by SG 
on ‘EU Democracy in Action – Have Your Say with the European 
Citizens’ Initiative’; INTPA on the Youth Action Plan and youth 
initiatives  for  international  partnerships’;  EU-Council  of  Europe 
Youth Partnership  on  the  EU  Youth  Dialogue  evaluation  and 
findings on inclusion; and EMPL on the European Year of Skills 
2023. 
Table 1. Meetings of Commission Youth Network 

27 

 
 
 
2.5.2 The EYY national coordinators, national contact points and stakeholder group 

As mentioned in recital 27 and in Article 5 of the Decision, the Commission set up a group of 
European  Year  of  Youth  national  coordinators,  national  contact  points  and  stakeholders 
(‘EYY NCs/SH group’) as soon as the Commission proposal for a Decision on the Year was 
published in mid-October 2021. 

The  EYY  NCs/SH  group  was  open  to  any  EU-level  non-profit  organisation,  network  or 
platform, which was led by young people or worked with them. Any organisations interested 
were  invited  to  express  interest  to  be  part  of  the  group  via  an  online  form.  More  than  120 
stakeholders at European level were part of the group. The organisations work in a wide range 
of policy fields, contributing to a fully cross-sectoral approach to the EYY. 

The  Commission  set  up  an  online  collaboration  space  on  Microsoft  Teams  for  regular 
exchanges  on  the  Year.  Stakeholders  used  this  space  to  ask  questions  about  the  Year  and 
promote  their  projects  and  activities.  The  space  was  also  used  to  share  all  the  reports  and 
presentations  from  the  EYY  NCs/SH  group  meetings.  On  2 June 2023,  the  space  had  216 
members (including 19 Commission staff). 

Members of the group participated in co-creating and implementing the EYY. They organised 
activities  linked  to  the  Year’s  objectives  and  promoted  youth  participation.  They  acted  as 
multipliers and represented their organisations and the interests of their members in meetings 
at EU level and in the EYY NCs/SH group. 

Nine meetings took place before, during and after the Year (and there was an additional meeting 
before the Year on Youth Councils). Two preparatory meetings took place in November and 
December 2021 to exchange ideas on the Years’ policy areas and activities. Representatives of 
the European Parliament, the  European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European 
Economic and Social Committee (EESC) also  attended.  In 2022, the Commission  held  five 
other  meetings  with  this  group  to  discuss  the  Year’s  implementation.  The  Commission 
organised two more meetings with the group in 2023 (February and May) to discuss the Year’s 
reporting, follow-up and legacy. At these meetings, the EYY team provided general updates 
on the Year, followed by contributions from keynote speakers and presentations on plans for 
the Year and policy initiatives by other DGs. There were also group discussions/brainstorming 
in breakout sessions on certain topics. 

16 November 2021 

1st Joint Meeting, online 

17 December 2021 

2nd Joint Meeting, online 

9 February 2022 

3rd Joint Meeting, online 

29 March 2022 

4th Joint Meeting, online 

2 June 2022 

5th Joint Meeting, online 

18 October 2022 

6th Joint Meeting, online 

5 December 2022 

7th Joint Meeting, in person, Brussels 

16 February 2023 

8th Joint Meeting, online 

3 May 2023 

9th Joint Meeting, online 

Table 2. EYY NCs/SH group meetings 

28 

 
 
 
2.5.3 National coordination grants 

In November 2021, Member States were invited to appoint a NC, responsible for coordinating 
relevant activities and all the EYY policy areas at national, regional and local levels, as set out 
in Article 4 of the Decision. The NCs were expected to have a cross-programme and cross-
field coordination role of national activities. The aim was to ensure the close involvement of 
national  youth  councils,  youth  civil  society  organisations,  Erasmus+/European  Solidarity 
Corps  National  Agencies  and  Creative  Europe  Desks,  youth  workers,  organisations 
implementing EYY activities and young people during the Year. These activities were intended 
to contribute directly to the four objectives of the EYY. 

It was proposed that the NCs would closely involve national youth councils, youth civil society 
organisations and young people in the Year. 

The NCs were therefore expected to: 

represent their country in meetings at EU level; 
organise or act as a multiplier at national, regional and local meetings and events; 
raise awareness and communicate on EYY national, regional and local activities; 
encourage a broad involvement in the Year, beyond the youth policy focus; 

• 
• 
• 
• 
•  work  closely  and  promote  synergies  with  different  national  stakeholders  in  fields 

relevant to young people. 

To ensure a smooth implementation at national level, the Commission allocated grants to the 
NCs  under  the  Erasmus+  programme  for  a  total  amount  of  EUR 4.5 million.  A  call  for 
proposals  for  national  coordination  grants  opened  on  15 December 2021  and  closed  on 
1 February 2022. In March 2022, the evaluation took place, and then information on the results 
were issued. 

The call for proposals for grants to the NCs included the following requirements based on the 
types of measures set out in Article 3 of the Decision: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

promote  an  inclusive  and  accessible  debate  on  challenges  that  young  people  face 
(including those with fewer opportunities and belonging to vulnerable groups) and on 
potential  courses  of  action;  this  includes  addressing  the  impact  of  the  COVID-19 
pandemic; 

promote  youth  participation  and  improve  existing  tools,  channels  and  programmes, 
enabling  young  people  to  reach  policymakers  by  identifying,  collecting  and  sharing 
experiences and good practices; 

gather ideas using participatory methods to co-create the Year; 

support  information,  education  and  awareness-raising  campaigns  to  convey  values, 
such as equality, solidarity, volunteering, a sense of belonging and safety, a feeling of 
being heard and respected, in order to inspire young people to actively help to build a 
society that is more inclusive, green and digital; 

create  a  space  for  an  exchange  on  turning  challenges  into  opportunities  in  an 
entrepreneurial spirit; 

29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
•  carry out studies and research on the situation of young people in the EU, including by 
producing  European  harmonised  statistics,  and  promoting  and  disseminating  these 
results at European, national and regional levels; 

•  promote  programmes,  funding  opportunities,  projects,  activities  and  networks  of 

relevance to youth, including through social media and online communities. 

A particular emphasis was placed on ensuring that the events and activities organised would 
be environmentally friendly. 

The award criteria for the call were as follows: 

•  Relevance: clarity and consistency of the project, objectives and planning; the extent 
to which they match the themes and priorities and objectives of the call; contribution to 
the  EU  strategic  and 
legislative  context;  European/transnational  dimension; 
impact/interest for a number of countries (EU or eligible non-EU countries); possibility 
to  use  the  results  in  other  countries;  potential  to  develop  mutual  trust/cross-border 
cooperation (34 points) 

•  Quality – project design and implementation: technical quality; logical links between 
the  identified  problems,  needs  and  solutions  proposed  (logical  frame  concept); 
methodology  for  implementing  the  project  (concept  and  methodology,  management, 
procedures,  timetable,  risks  and  risk  management,  monitoring  and  evaluation); 
feasibility  of  the  project  within  the  proposed  time  frame;  cost  effectiveness 
(sufficient/appropriate  budget  for  proper  implementation;  best  value  for  money)  (33 
points) 

•  Impact: ambition and expected long-term impact of results on target groups/general 
public;  appropriate  dissemination  strategy  for  ensuring  sustainability  and  long-term 
impact; sustainability of results after EU funding ends (33 points). 

Following the evaluation, 28 national coordination grants were signed (Level 2 commitments). 
The maximum Commission contribution per Member State is listed in the table below. 

Member State 

Max. 
Commission 
grant amount 
(EUR) 

Member State 

Max. 
Commission 
grant amount 
(EUR) 

BE 
BG  
CZ  
DK  
DE  
EE  
IE  
EL  
ES  
FR  
HR  

319 404   LT  
142 985 
LU  
143 089  HU  
107 430  MT  
286 174  NL  
130 212  AT  
PL  
143 089 
PT  
100 000 
RO  
286 174 
SI  
286 176 
SK  
143 088 

143 089 
71 542 
114 471 
71 542 
143 016 
143 089 
226 953 
143 079 
143 089 
143 089 
143 089 

30 

 
 
 
IT  
CY  
LV  

286 174 
143 089 
143 089 

FI  
SE  

143 089 
142 207 

Table 3. Maximum Commission contribution for national coordination grants per Member State 

Several of the grants awarded to the NCs continued into 2023. Many of these grants had an end 
date between March and May 2023, enabling many events to take place in the first part of 2023. 

With  the  aid  of  these  Commission  grants  under  Erasmus+,  Member  States  organised 
meaningful projects and launched new initiatives, youth structures and strategies. These are a 
major legacy of the Year at national, regional and local levels. 

2.6 The main EYY events 

2.6.1 Traineeship and European Year of Youth welcome event 

On 21 March 2022, an informal and interactive online welcome event was held to inaugurate 
the EU institution’s 2022 traineeship session, with a focus on the EYY. The primary objective 
of the event was to promote meaningful connections among trainees, providing an opportunity 
to  highlight  the  European  vision  for  the  future,  driven  by  democratic  principles,  solidarity, 
peace and European values. The participants included trainees from the Commission and other 
EU  institutions,  such  as  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council,  CoR,  the  EESC  and  the 
European Ombudsman. In total, the event hosted approximately 1 000 participants. 

2.6.2 LevelUp! Accelerating change festival 

Focusing on the second objective of the EYY – supporting young people to help them gain 
knowledge  and  skills  –  the  European  Youth  Forum  organised  the  LevelUp! Accelerating 
change festival in cooperation with the Commission and the European Parliament. 

Figure 13. LevelUp! 
Source: European Youth Forum 

31 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On 28 and 29 October 2022, more than 1 330 young people participated in over 220 workshops 
to  boost  their  skills  and  accelerate  change  in  their  communities.  The  interest  shown  was 
impressive as there were more than 3 000 applications for attendance of the festival at the time 
of registration. 

Young  people  with  diverse  experiences  and  backgrounds  from  more  than  50  countries, 
including the 27 Member States, gathered at the heart of Europe. The President of the European 
Parliament  Roberta  Metsola  opened  the  event  in  Brussels  encouraging  young  people  from 
across Europe to bring the promise of Europe wherever they go. More than 25 trainers and 
more than 10 partners made the event happen. The training areas focused on three meta-skill 
sets: communication, advocacy and organising. 

2.6.3 Claim the Future EYY closing conference 

On 6 December 2022, the EYY’s closing conference, on the theme ‘Claim the Future’, took 
place  in  the  European  Parliament  in  Brussels.  The  event  was  jointly  organised  by  the 
Commission, the European Parliament and the Czech Presidency of the Council. As Michaela 
Šojdrová, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), pointed out after the event, it was the 
first time all three main EU institutions had jointly organised an event on such a scale. 

Figure 14. Claim the Future EYY closing conference 
Source: European Commission 

The conference was an ideal opportunity to reflect on the legacy of the Year and how youth 
policy could remain high on the political agenda after 2022. Over 700 people, including MEPs, 
Commissioners,  Czech,  Swedish  and  French  ministers  or  state  secretaries,  civil  society 
representatives and many young people  participated. They all  had the opportunity to  attend 
thematic sessions on education and mental health, participate in the discussions and leave their 
mark  on  the  Year’s  legacy.  At  the  closing  session,  former  Commissioner  Mariya  Gabriel 
reaffirmed the need to listen to, engage with and support young people. This kicked off the 
Year’s legacy process. 

32 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 15. Claim the Future EYY closing conference 
Source: European Commission 

33 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3. Key results and key achievements 

3.1 The European Year of Youth communication campaign 

3.1.1 The EYY campaign in numbers 

During the communication campaign that started in January 2022 and lasted until 8 May 2023, 
various promotional activities and initiatives were carried out. These activities were aimed at 
creating awareness, generating interest, and engaging the target audience. 

Article 3 of the Decision lays out the ‘Types of measures’ to be taken to achieve the Year’s 
objectives.  In  short,  various  activities  and  measures  were  undertaken  at  different  levels, 
including EU, national, regional, and local levels, as well as in partner countries, all related to 
the goals of the EYY. 

These  activities  encompassed  conferences,  cultural  events  and  policy  initiatives  aimed  at 
engaging young people in inclusive discussions about the challenges they faced, such as the 
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, covering areas such as their social circumstances, access 
to education and training and working conditions. The aim was to identify courses of action 
that stakeholders at different levels could take. 

Additionally, efforts were made to promote youth participation and utilise innovative tools and 
programmes to enable young people to communicate their experiences and best practices to 
policymakers, raising awareness of these channels. Participatory methods were employed to 
gather ideas and involve young people in co-creating and implementing the EYY. Information 
campaigns,  educational  initiatives,  and  awareness-raising  activities  were  conducted  to  instil 
values like respect, equality, justice, solidarity, volunteering and a sense of belonging among 
young people. The objective was to motivate their active contribution to building an inclusive, 
environmentally friendly and digitally advanced society. 

Moreover,  spaces  and  tools  were  created 
to  facilitate  exchanges,  encouraging  an 
entrepreneurial  spirit,  promoting  creativity,  community,  and  cooperation,  and  turning 
challenges into opportunities. Studies and research were conducted to assess the situation of 
young people in the EU, with a particular focus  on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
This involved producing and utilising standardised European statistics and disseminating the 
findings at EU, national and regional levels. 

34 

 
 
 
 
 
•  More than 13 000 activities in 67 countries and territories were published on the EYY Activities 
map on the Youth Portal contributing to the objectives of the Year. The most popular topic was 
youth participation and engagement. 

•  More than 150 million Europeans were reached via the published engagement and awareness 

raising activities*.  

•  Young journalists who are part of the European Pool of Young Journalists have published and 
distributed  55 different  pieces,  33  articles,  16 podcast  episodes,  5  episodes  of  a digital  video 
series and 1 interview. 

•  More than 700 000 visits were made to the EYY page on the Youth Portal, with over 1 million 

page views 

• 

• 

1 792 voices were submitted to the Youth Voice Platform 

Increased engagement on social media: 

o 

Instagram: 100 445 followers (increase of 66%) 

o  Facebook: 299 401 followers (increase of 13%) 

o  Twitter: 48 780 followers (increase of 7.9%) 

• 

Since the launch of EYY and until 8 May 2023:   

o 

Impressions: 210 048 049 

o  Engagements: 10 108 236 

o  Reach: 91 489 429 

• 

Instagram Live series: 10 live sessions took place - each interview averaging almost 60 000 post 
interview  views.  What’s  Up  LIVE  episodes:  (1)  Ukraine  -  #youth4regions;  (2)  Civic 
Participation;  (3)  EU  Solidarity  Corps;  (4)  Youth  Employment;  (5)  Inclusivity;  (6)  Arts  & 
Culture; (7) European Week of Sports; (8) Mental Health & Well-being; (9) Sustainability (10) 
Volunteering in Humanitarian Aid 

•  Social  media  activation:  #TheEuropeIWant:  115  highly  creative  entries,  winner  received  an 

interrail ticket 

•  58 EYY Instagram REELS published on the @european_youth_eu account (not counting the 

What’s Up episode recaps that are posted as REELS too) 

•  LevelUp! Event Bootcamp/become an #EYYAmbassaddor contest: 350 comments (around 

120 quality entries); 19 200 likes to the post 

•  EYY hashtags (#EYY2022, #EuropeanYearOfYouth, #EUYearOfYouth, #EUYouth): 

o  11 200 unique authors 

o  255 400 engagements 

•  New Discord community launched with more than 2 000 participants by 8 May 2023 

* This is an estimation based on what event organisers have provided as info on the interactive map on the Portal. This estimation includes 
online and physical interactions. 

Table 4. EYY communication campaign in numbers 

Lastly, efforts were made to  promote relevant  programmes, funding opportunities, projects, 
actions,  and  networks  for  young  people,  utilising  social  media  platforms  and  online 
communities. Additionally, the Commission, Member States, and other institutions and bodies 

35 

 
 
 
 
of the EU and Member States could identify additional activities that contributed to the Year's 
objectives and use references to the EYY as a label to promote those activities. 

3.1.2 Goals of the EYY campaign based on the four objectives of the Decision 

The Year’s communication campaign focused on achieving several specific goals in relation 
to its four objectives. These goals included: 

•  Celebrating  young  people:  The  campaign  aimed  to  honour  young  people  by 
highlighting their contributions to society, the green transition, the digital transition and 
other  EU  policies.  It  showcased  their  aspirations,  talents,  insights,  and  enthusiasm, 
recognising  and  appreciating  their  efforts,  particularly  in  the  context  of  the  post-
pandemic context. 

•  Engaging in society to become active citizens: Another objective of the campaign was 
to help young people become familiar with the political landscape at the EU, national 
and  regional  levels.  The  campaign  aimed  to  encourage  their  active  involvement  in 
shaping  the  development  of  the  EU  and  society  by  proving  their  contributions  and 
insights. 

•  Promoting  opportunities:  The  campaign  sought  to  raise  awareness  of  various 
opportunities  available  to  young  people,  including  employment  prospects  and 
opportunities in areas such as sustainability and digitalisation. The campaign aimed to 
empower young people to actively participate in building a greener, more inclusive, and 
digitally advanced society. 

•  Bringing  a  youth  perspective  to  the  EU’s  policies:  The  communication  campaign 
aimed to promote and establish connections between youth policy and all EU policies 
across the Commission’s portfolio. 

•  Solidarity with Ukraine: The campaign aimed  to show solidarity with Ukraine and 

celebrate European values related to democracy. 

Overall, the communication campaign aimed to create awareness, inspire action, and promote 
unity and solidarity among young people, while promoting their active participation in society 
and the European project. 

Young  people  are  considered  ‘digital  natives’,  having  grown  up  in  a  world  surrounded  by 
digital technology. Therefore, digital formats were the primary means of reaching out to them 
for various purposes, such as raising awareness and promoting active citizen participation. The 
campaign approach was based on the findings of the Call for Ideas survey (see Chapter 2.2.1 
Call for Ideas on the European Year of Youth), which indicated that digital tools are viewed 
as the most effective and relevant way to engage with youth. It acknowledges young people’s 
preference  for  digital  platforms  and  the  potential  of  these  tools  to  capture  their  attention, 
connect with them, and convey messages or information effectively. 

By utilising digital formats, such as social media, websites, mobile apps and online campaigns, 
the campaign successfully engaged with the target audience, facilitated meaningful interaction 
and ensured the content was delivered in a manner that resonates with their digital lifestyles. 

36 

 
 
 
 
 
3.1.3 Look and feel of the European Year of Youth 

3.1.3.1 Slogan and messaging 

The EYY campaign made adjustments in its slogan, messaging, and visuals due to the political 
circumstances  surrounding  Russia’s  illegal  invasion  of  Ukraine.  The  slogan  ‘Voice  your 
Vision’ became the key message of the campaign. The original slogan, ‘Claim the Future’, was 
later used for the closing event of the Year, marking the beginning of the Year’s legacy period. 

The ‘Voice your Vision’ slogan aimed to empower young people, providing them with various 
formats and avenues to express themselves and ensure that their voices were heard. One such 
tool was the EYY Youth Voice Platform, which offered an immersive digital experience where 
young  individuals  could  record  their  voices  and  share  their  views,  visions  and  thoughts  on 
topics related to the EU. The campaign employed several communication strategies to drive 
young people to the Voice Platform through various channels, including the Youth Portal, EYY 
website, and social media channels. 

The  communication  team  developed  a  system  to  organise  user  traffic  across  all  digital  and 
offline components of the campaign. By defining a dedicated user journey and establishing a 
matching link structure for each element, the team aimed to encourage long-term engagement 
and interaction with the EYY campaign throughout the Year. 

3.1.3.2 Development of the visual identity 

The  main  element  of  the  visual  identity  of  the  Year  was  the  EYY  logo  and  hashtag 
(#EYY2022). The logo was designed to be a similar size to the EU emblem. 

Figure 16. European Year of Youth logo and font. European Year of Youth 2022 – Communication material 
Source: European Youth Portal, European Commission 

37 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 17. European Year of Youth logo and colours. European Year of Youth 2022 – Communication material 
Source: European Youth Portal, European Commission 

The  visual  concept  incorporated  a  ‘double  bubble’  effect,  representing  movement  without 
excessive joyfulness, out of respect for the difficult situation in Ukraine. The concept involved 
overlaying a bubble-shaped cutaway of a selected image on top of the original photo, with no 
changes in transparency or colour. 

Figure 18. European Year of Youth sample of all elements. European Year of Youth 2022 – Communication 
material 
Source: European Youth Portal, European Commission 

The  campaign  featured  examples  of  the  visual  identity,  including  the  logo  and  slogan 
translations in different languages. 

A comprehensive style guide43 on the visual identity  was published and made accessible to 
stakeholders and the public. Translations of the logo in 28 languages (all EU languages plus 
Icelandic, North Macedonian, Norwegian and Turkish), along with different colour variations, 
were uploaded to the EYY website under the ‘communication material’ section. 

43The EYY style guide is available at: https://youth.europa.eu/d8/sites/default/files/inline-
files/EYY_Guidelines_220217_0.pdf.  

38 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.1.3.3 The hashtag: #EYY2022 

The hashtag #EYY2022 was included in all social media postings. It was clickable, enabling 
users to discover and explore other posts that also include the same hashtag. 

Figure 19. Examples of hashtags used during the Year 
Source: Monthly EYY social media report produced by ICF Next 

During the EYY, the use of hashtags would typically coincide with peak activities and events 
related  to  the  campaign.  Hashtags  serve  as  a  way  of  generating  online  discussions,  raising 
awareness and engaging the public in conversations surrounding the EYY. 

The  impact  and  success  of  using  hashtags  during  the  EYY  campaign  were  remarkable, 
significantly increasing the engagement, reach and visibility of the campaign’s messages and 
activities. In turn, this resulted in increased awareness and greater community engagement. 

The tracking and analytics enabled us to gather data and insights, and analytics tools provided 
information on the reach, impressions and engagement levels of posts containing the campaign 
hashtags. This data proved instrumental in evaluating the campaign’s performance, identifying 
trends and making informed decisions for future activities. 

3.1.4 European Youth Portal – EYY webpage 

The EYY campaign created a dedicated webpage on the Youth Portal in January 2022. This 
webpage served as the primary communication hub for the Year, providing young people with 
essential information, opportunities and activities related to youth policy initiatives. 

Figure 20. Header from European Year of Youth page 
Source: European Youth Portal, European Commission 

39 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Additionally, the webpage gave young people a space to make their voices heard. It enabled 
them to share their perspectives, thoughts and visions on youth-related topics and the EU. This 
interactive feature aimed to empower young people, encourage their active participation and 
ensure that their voices were taken into account. 

The dedicated webpage on the Youth Portal was organised into five major content blocks: 

1.  Activities 

An interactive activities map on the EYY webpage (EYY activities map) served as a visual 
representation  of  the  geographical  distribution  of  activities  related  to  the  Year.  It  enabled 
visitors to explore and discover events happening in different countries in Europe and beyond, 
providing a comprehensive overview of the campaign’s reach and impact. As of 8 May 2023, 
the total number of activities submitted was 13 020. 

In line with the concept of the EYY’s co-creation, activities took place all around the world. 
The  majority  were  organised  by  EU  Member  States,  including  the  outermost  regions 
Guadeloupe,  Mayotte  and  French  Guiana  (France)  and  the  autonomous  Swedish-speaking 
region of Finland, Åland. 

Among  the  non-EU  countries  that  carried  out  EYY  activities  were  Afghanistan,  Albania, 
Algeria,  Armenia,  Bosnia  and  Herzegovina,  Brazil,  Congo,  Ecuador,  Egypt,  Georgia, 
Indonesia,  Iraq,  Kazakhstan,  Kosovo,  Kyrgyzstan,  Lebanon,  Moldova,  Mongolia,  Nepal, 
Niger,  Nigeria,  North  Macedonia,  Peru,  Senegal,  Serbia,  Sri  Lanka,  Swaziland,  Tunisia, 
Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States and Uzbekistan. 

One of the Year’s objectives was to honour young people from a post-pandemic perspective, 
and this  was reflected in the fact  that the predominant  activity format was face  to  face. An 
impressive 10 768 face-to-face activities were  organised, followed by 1 481 online and 769 
hybrid activities. 

The  three  most  common  types  of  activities  during  the  Year  were  workshops  (2 112), 
conferences (1 729) and meetups (1 491). The other types of the activities, in descending order, 
were  artistic  performances  (717),  training  sessions  (624),  debates  (533),  webinars  (516), 
festivals (433), exhibitions (360), activities related to studies and results (85), hackathons (31) 
and surveys (28). 

Among  the  submitted  activities,  2 556  were  registered  as  ‘other’,  as  they  either  combined 
several categories or didn’t fall within the listed ones. Among these were award ceremonies, 
youth-themed weeks, EU-themed games and quizzes and info-sessions about EU opportunities. 
Themes such as participation & engagement, youth and the world, culture, inclusion & equality 
and education were prominent, showcasing the commitment to addressing the challenges faced 
by young people from a post-pandemic perspective. 

2.  ‘Voice Your Vision’ 

This external 3D platform facilitated an immersive audio experience that enabled young people 
to join in and record their voices to express their visions for the future of the EU. 

The  Youth  Voice  Platform  enabled  young  individuals  to  contribute  their  thoughts  and 
perspectives on various topics relevant to the EU, such as employment, peace and security, 
climate change, education, inclusion and mental health. By using the Voice Platform, young 

40 

 
 
 
 
people had the opportunity to actively engage in shaping the future of the EU by sharing their 
unique  insights  and  aspirations.  The  immersive  audio  experience  provided  a  dynamic  and 
engaging way for young people to express themselves. By recording their voices, they could 
communicate their ideas, concerns and suggestions on the given topics. This approach aimed 
to ensure that the opinions of young people were heard and taken into account in the decision-
making processes and policy development of the EU. 

In  total,  1  792  voice  recordings  were  posted  on  the  Youth  Voice  Platform  within  the  EYY 
campaign, representing the individuals who actively used the platform to record their voices. 

3.  Voices of young European journalists 

The Pool of Young European Journalists consisted of 11 young journalists from across Europe 
who  were  selected  to  contribute  opinion-based  articles,  videos  and  podcasts.  The  young 
journalists in the pool had the opportunity to use their storytelling skills to give young people 
a voice. Through  their articles, videos and podcasts, they aimed to  capture the experiences, 
concerns and aspirations of young individuals all over Europe. In addition to producing content, 
the Pool of European Young Journalists had the opportunity to cover the main European events 
happening during the EYY. By covering these events, they could report on the experiences and 
perspectives of young people participating in or affected by these activities. 

Within a collaboration with the Joint Research Centre (JRC), a section called ‘Views and Hopes 
for the Future’ was created on the dedicated EYY webpage to highlight stories from young 
people.  The  ‘Views  and  Hopes  for  the  Future’  section  provided  a  platform  for  young 
individuals to communicate their perspectives, aspirations and visions for the future. 

4.  The ‘News’ section 

A dedicated 'News' section on the Year's webpage served as a valuable resource for young 
people to stay informed about the latest news and developments related to European youth 
and the Year itself, offering timely and relevant information on a wide range of youth-related 
topics, initiatives, events, and updates within the EU, including youth policies, opportunities, 
projects, and success stories. 

5.  The ‘We Count on You’ section 

The 'We Count on You' section comprised a digital video gallery highlighting numerous videos 
associated  with  the  campaign  and  its  events.  These  videos  included  introductions  and 
promotions about the Year and its activities, as well as specific content addressing themes like 
solidarity, democracy, interculturality, and support for Ukraine. 

This section also featured the ‘Youth Talks’, which covered various important topics, including 
solidarity, democracy, interculturality and more. These Youth Talk videos aimed to facilitate 
meaningful  conversations  and  discussions  among  young  people,  promoting  their  active 
engagement and participation. More information about ‘Youth Talks’ can be found in Chapter 
3.2.2.1.1 European Commission. 

41 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.1.5 Communication material/stakeholder toolkit 

An  additional  page  section  was  created  on  the  Youth  Portal  to  serve  as  a  repository  for  all 
communication materials.  This  page  gave stakeholders and organisations easy access  to  the 
Year’s visuals, guidelines and branding material. The communication material page included 
various  resources  such  as  logos,  banners,  slogans,  videos  and  other  promotional  materials 
available in all official languages of the EU. By providing a central location for accessing these 
materials,  it  ensured  that  everyone  involved  in  promoting  the  Year  could  easily  utilise  the 
approved visuals and guidelines in their communication efforts. 

To facilitate the participation of stakeholders, a stakeholder toolkit44 was developed and made 
available  on  the  EYY  webpage  as  a  separate  PDF  document.  Additionally,  the  stakeholder 
toolkit emphasised the promotion of the Youth Voice Platform. The toolkit was divided into 
two sections. 

•  The first section outlined the reasons for stakeholders to participate in the EYY and the 
benefits  they  could  gain  from  it.  It  aimed  to  motivate  and  encourage  their  active 
involvement in the campaign. 

•  The  second  section  focused  on  providing  various  ways  in  which  stakeholders  could 

participate. 

To support stakeholders  in  their communication efforts, the EYY webpage provided all the 
necessary visual assets, including visuals, fonts, logos, Word and PowerPoint templates and 
social media assets for the Voice Platform. These visual assets were accompanied by visual 
guidelines, terms and conditions and a privacy statement for youth stakeholders. Translations 
in all 24 EU languages were provided where necessary. 

3.1.6 Key statistics of the European Youth Portal 

The dedicated EYY webpage and its communication campaign achieved significant 
engagement and visibility throughout the year 2022. Listed below are some key highlights 
and statistics. 

Website traffic: 

•  The page received nearly 600 000 visits and over 1 million page views. 
•  The positive bounce rate of 36.34% indicates that visitors engaged with the content and 

explored multiple pages. 

•  78%  of  the  visitors  were  new,  suggesting  successful  communication  and  outreach 

efforts. 

Geographical distribution: 

•  The top  five  countries  from  which visitors came  were Türkiye  (14%), Spain  (10%), 

Italy (10%), Germany (6%) and France (4%). 

•  This  indicates  a  broad  reach  and  interest  in  the  Year  across  different  European 

countries. 

44 EYY stakeholder toolkit available from: https://youth.europa.eu/d8/sites/default/files/inline-
files/EYY_Guidelines%20for%20Stakeholders%27%20Engagement.pdf. 

42 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Devices used: 

•  Desktops accounted for 49% of visits, smartphones for 44% and phablets for 6%. 
•  The popularity of desktop and smartphone access highlights the importance of ensuring 

a responsive and user-friendly design across devices. 

Most viewed pages: 

•  The  homepage  received  over  650 000  page  views,  indicating  its  significance  as  the 

main entry point for visitors. 

•  Activities’ pages were also popular, with over 265 000 page views, demonstrating the 

interest in participating in and learning about the various activities. 

•  News pages received more than 38 000 page views, and the contributions from young 
journalists  received  over  24 000  page  views,  showcasing  engagement  with  the 
campaign’s content and updates. 

Activities: 

•  Over 13 020 activities took place in 67 countries during the Year, showing a widespread 

mobilisation of the youth sector and beyond. 

•  The most common activity topic was youth participation and engagement, indicating 
the  focus  on  empowering  young  people  and  involving  them  in  decision-making 
processes. 

Pool of Young European Journalists: 

•  A total of 49 articles, 10 podcast episodes, five episodes of a digital video series and 

one interview were published. 

•  The  articles  received  more  than  22 000  page  views,  with  the  highest-viewed  article 
being ‘Ukraine and the others: the environmental impacts of war’ with over 2 000 page 
views. 

•  The Young Journalists covered a wide range of topics, including physical and mental 
health,  climate  change,  LGBTQ  rights,  Ukraine,  reflections  on  the  COVID-19 
pandemic, democracy, education, culture and social media. 

‘Views and hopes for the future’: 

•  This  section  featured  20  stories  from  young  people,  providing  insights  into  their 

perspectives and aspirations. 

Overall, the EYY webpage achieved significant engagement and reach, attracting visitors from 
various countries and generating interest in the campaign’s activities, news, Young Journalist 
contributions and personal stories shared by young individuals. 

3.1.7 The European Year of Youth social media campaign 

For the EYY social media campaign, a multi-touchpoint strategy was implemented to target all 
young people but emphasising the core demographic of 18-24-year-olds. This strategy focused 
on strong digital support and utilised various tactics to reach the target audience effectively. 

43 

 
 
 
 
 
 
1.  Breakdown of the key aspects: 

The social media campaign employed a variety of strategies: paid promotion on platforms like 
Facebook,  Instagram,  and  Twitter  to  promote  key  events,  regular  organic  content  and 
community  engagement  to  promote  a  sense  of  community  and  loyalty,  and  regular  content 
boosting  to  enhance  visibility  and  overall  campaign  effectiveness.  Additionally,  influencers 
with significant followings were utilised to ensure effective communication to each country’s 
audience, boosting engagement and the campaign’s success. By combining these strategies and 
tactics,  the  campaign  aimed  to  create  a  strong  digital  presence,  capture  the  attention  of  the 
target audience and drive engagement with the desired messaging. 

The planning for the Year was divided into different phases. In the first  half-year, the main 
goal was to create awareness of the Year. This phase took place before the events on 9 May. 
Following this, the second phase focused on engaging with the target audience. The last month 
of the year was dedicated to celebrating the Year, culminating in a closing event. After that, 
the initiative entered a legacy phase starting in January 2023. 

The  design  for  the  digital  outreach  of  the  Year  has  been  based  on  smart  objectives.  This 
approach  ensures  that  the  objectives  set  for  the  digital  campaign  are  clear,  quantifiable, 
attainable, relevant to the goals of the Year and  time bound. To evaluate the success of the 
digital  campaign,  various  key  performance  indicators  were  set  in  advance  for  each  digital 
activation. These indicators serve as metrics to  measure the effectiveness and impact of the 
digital outreach efforts. The social media outcomes can be seen in Chapter 3.1.1 The EYY 
campaign in numbers. 

2.  Social media adjustments – Ukraine in the EYY communication strategy 

In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Commission adjusted the EYY communication 
campaign. The overall strategy, messaging matrix and tone were reviewed and toned down, in 
light  of  the  situation.  It  was  more  crucial  than  ever  to  uphold  and  promote  EU  values, 
demonstrate solidarity and support young people who were already dealing with the impact of 
the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The social media strategy of the campaign  was revised to  reflect  messages of unity, peace, 
freedom, solidarity, democracy and a sense of belonging. It aimed to convey a strong sense of 
support for Ukraine. 

The European External Action Service (EEAS) stepped up its efforts through EUvsDisinfo 
project, now linked to the European Youth Portal, to better forecast, address, and respond to 
disinformation  campaigns  affecting  the  European  Union,  its  Member  States  and  partner 
countries, including in social media. The project has been marked wth a more intensive work 
since 2022, especially in terms of raising awareness of Russia’s disinformation and information 
manipulation in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

3.  Social media features 

Stories were a significant tool for engaging the audience during the initial 6-8 months of the 
campaign,  providing  a  dynamic  and  immersive  way  to  share  content.  The  campaign  also 
incorporated  interactive  features  like  GIFs,  quizzes,  and  stickers  to  enhance  engagement, 

44 

 
 
 
 
offering a fun and participatory experience, entertaining the audience while encouraging their 
active involvement. 

EYY  Stickers  were  creatively  used  to  emphasise  the  Year’s  themes  and  enhance  brand 
visibility. These visual representations aimed to create a recognisable and memorable visual 
identity  that  resonated  with  the  audience,  contributing  to  the  campaign's  impact  and 
recognition. 

Reels,  a  short  video  format,  proved  highly  engaging  during  the  EYY  campaign,  with  the 
audience responding positively to their captivating and interactive nature. Notably, followers 
actively  contributed  to  the  campaign  by  creating  their  own  reels  as  part  of  the 
#TheEuropeIWant  activation,  generating  around  130  high-quality  entries.  This  not  only 
showcased the audience’s enthusiasm for the campaign but also the effective use of reels to 
promote engagement and interaction, underscoring the campaign’s impact and reach. 

Instagram  Lives  were  employed  effectively  in  the  EYY  social  media  campaign  to  engage 
young people and create an appealing channel. These live sessions featured discussions with 
experts, such as European Solidarity Corps volunteers, a mental health specialist, and a green 
influencer.  What  set  them  apart  was  the  incorporation  of  audience  questions,  promoting 
participation and engagement. In sum, the use of Instagram Lives showcased a tailored and 
interactive approach, addressing young people’s interests, providing valuable information, and 
cultivating a sense of connection and engagement. 

The  Discord  Server’s  launch  and  its  subsequent  growth  in  membership  are  notable 
achievements. It was created to align with the interests and digital habits of the target audience, 
leveraging Discord’s popularity among young people to engage them in a familiar and actively 
used  space.  With  over  2 100  members  by  May  2023,  the  EYY  Discord  Server’s  success  is 
evident in attracting and retaining an active community. 

The Voice Your Vision Feedback Loop was created to address young people’s concerns about 
their involvement in EU decision-making, aiming to boost their sense of ownership and co-
creation. This initiative led to the establishment of the Youth Helpdesk, which operated from 
October  to  December  2022,  providing  information  on  ideas  already  under  consideration  by 
European institutions in carousel format. Those linked young people’s ideas with ones already 
considered at Commission level and aimed to show that the ideas had already been taken into 
consideration 

The EYY Youth  Voice  Platform video compilation played a vital  role in  gathering  voice 
recordings and ideas from young people. The campaign aimed to showcase some of the best 
ideas collected through social media and events, to demonstrate that young people’s ideas were 
being  heard  and  to  encourage  more  contributions.  Selected  voices  from  the  Platform  were 
reposted on social media channels to highlight the ideas and inspire others to participate. 

Three  compilation  videos  were  created,  featuring  a  broader  selection  of  ideas  from  the 
platform, and were shown at stakeholder events. The final video, featuring the best ideas, was 
presented at the EYY Closing Conference ‘Claim the Future’. Sharing these videos at events 
amplified  young  people’s  ideas,  empowering  and  recognising  their  contributions.  It 
exemplified  the  campaign's  commitment  to  valuing  young  voices  and  motivated  others  to 
participate and share their perspectives on the Voice Platform. 

The  EEAS  launched  the  campaign  page  of  Our  Voice  Our  Future,  which  was  a  major 
contribution to the EYY 2022. #OVOF has a global scope, has evolved organically on social 

45 

 
 
media, creating a network of young leaders and is essentially a youth-led campaign, with youth 
and for the youth. 

4.  Social media activations 

The following four activations were organised during the key phases of the year, to support 
their launch and reach a maximum number of young Europeans: 

•  The What’s Up Live Instagram Series 

The topics in the series comprised: Ukraine – #youth4regions, Civic Participation, European 
Solidarity Corps, Youth Employment, Inclusivity, Arts and Culture, European Week of Sports, 
Mental Health and Well-being and Sustainability. 

•  The Europe I Want 

A contest was organised to allow young Europeans to express their hopes for Europe’s future 
through Instagram reels. The contest encouraged participants to showcase their creativity and 
ideas. As an incentive, three winners received two Interrail passes each, offering unlimited train 
travel across Europe and a chance to explore various EU countries and cultures. 

•  Become an #EYYAmbassador at the LevelUp! conference 

An Instagram contest selected four winners to become EYY Ambassadors, rewarded with an 
all-expenses-paid trip to Brussels. During their visit, they attended workshops at DG EAC and 
the  LevelUp!  conference  in  the  European  Parliament,  gaining  insights  into  youth-related 
initiatives and engaging with key stakeholders. This opportunity allowed them to amplify their 
voices and contribute their perspectives as Youth Ambassadors. 

•  #BeyondEYY2022 contest 

An Instagram contest encouraged young people to use pre-made templates on Instagram Stories 
to express their creativity and ideas. Prizes like a podcast kit, vlogging camera and a public 
speaking course incentivised participation and skills development. 

•  Influencer activations 

The activation of 22 national influencers from 19 EU Member States during the communication 
campaign served several purposes, including the following. 

o  Amplifying reach and engagement: Influencers have a significant online presence and 
a dedicated following. By involving them in the campaign, the reach and engagement 
of  the  campaign  messages  were  amplified.  Influencers  shared  content  related  to  the 
EYY with their followers, increasing the visibility and impact of the campaign. 

o  Youth  representation:  Activating  influencers  from  different  EU  Member  States 
ensured that the campaign represented the diversity and perspectives of young people 
across  Europe.  The  influencers’  involvement  helped  to  reflect  the  interests  and 
aspirations of young people from various cultural backgrounds and countries. 

46 

 
 
 
 
Figure 21. EYY audience per gender and age groups 
Source: EYY Influencer report produced by ICF Next 

o  Encouraging  participation:  Influencers  are  known  for  their  ability  to  inspire  and 
motivate their followers. Their involvement in the campaign aimed to encourage young 
people  to  actively  participate  in  EYY  activities  and  initiatives,  such  as  encouraging 
them to record their voices on the Youth Voice Platform. 

The  results  of  the  influencer  activation  for  the  EYY  campaign  demonstrate  its  success  in 
achieving the set goals. 

•  Publications:  They  published  a  total  of  217  posts  across  various  social  media 

platforms, ensuring consistent visibility and engagement with their followers. 

•  Impressions: With 4.03 million impressions, the campaign successfully reached a wide 

audience, increasing awareness of the Year and its objectives. 

•  Reach: With a reach of 3.79 million, the campaign successfully reached a significant 

number of people, expanding the visibility and impact of the messages. 

•  Engagements: With 38 200 engagements, the campaign successfully promoted active 
participation and involvement from the audience, indicating that the content resonated 
with them and sparked their interest. 

3.1.8 Solidarity with Ukraine 

Many initiatives of the Year related to solidarity with the people of Ukraine  were promoted 
through the digital media campaign. 

•  The  European  Solidarity  Corps,  through  its  volunteering  projects,  contributed 

directly to showing solidarity with the Ukrainian people. 

•  Other  DGs  were  asked  to  keep  DG  EAC  informed  of  any  upcoming  youth-related 
policy initiatives in support of Ukraine. The launch of such initiatives was featured and 
promoted in the policy section of the EYY webpage. 

• 

In  cooperation  with  Eurodesk,  the  Pool  of  Young  European  Journalists  created 
content  underlining  solidarity  and  promoting  democracy  and  European  values.  Two 
young journalists, living in Lithuania and Poland – two countries neighbouring Ukraine 
– reported from the ground on the situation and the needs of Ukrainian refugees. 

•  NCs were encouraged to dedicate some of their activities for the Year (as part of the 

grants) to assist Ukrainian youth. 

47 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
•  DG EAC was in close contact with the Commission Representations in the Member 

States regarding their activities to support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. 

•  National  Agencies  were  encouraged  to  promote  relevant  topics  (integration  of 
refugees, values, disinformation) in ongoing Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps 
projects and disseminate information broadly through their channels. 

•  Youth  stakeholders  were  encouraged  to  organise  activities,  such  as  debates  on 
European values, democracy and freedom, in response to the ongoing war and to help 
the Ukrainian people and refugees. 

The remodelling of the EYY communication campaign sharpened the focus on the values at 
the heart of the EU: solidarity, peace, unity, democracy, justice, dignity, security, safety, rule 
of law, freedom and fighting disinformation. 

An example of these initiatives in solidarity with Ukraine is the following: 

•  The Network of Safer Internet Centres (SICs – DG CNECT) rallied throughout 2022 
to provide support for all those affected (including organising an online event with the 
participation  of  Ukrainian  schools  and  inviting  a  Ukrainian  non-governmental 
organisation (NGO) to the Safer Internet Forum). Moreover, SICs quickly responded 
with articles and resources on how to help children and young people deal with war-
related content. 

3.2 What was achieved? Meeting the objectives of the European Year of Youth 

The  EYY  reached  every  corner  of  Europe:  the  Year  had  an  estimated  overall  outreach  that 
exceeded  150  million  citizens,  most  of  them  young  people45.  This  was  achieved  through 
activities organised by public administrations, youth organisations and networks, universities 
and  schools,  civil  society  and  intergovernmental  organisations.  The  Commission  welcomes 
these contributions from all institutions and organisations working together with and for young 
people. 

The  achievements  of  the  Year  are  collective.  In  the  feedback  surveys46,  the  EYY  NCs,  the 
national contact points47 and the stakeholders agreed that the objectives of the EYY have been 
largely achieved. 

This chapter aims to give a broad overview of the achievements of the Year, as reached by its 
various  contributors:  EU  institutions,  actors  at  national  and  regional  levels  and  the  Year’s 
stakeholders. At EU level, the EU institutions engaged in a wide range of activities related to 
the Year. At national level, with the help of national coordination grants from the Commission 
(Erasmus+), Member States organised a wide range of events and activities and launched new 

45 This is an estimation based on what event organisers have provided as information on the EYY Activities map 
on the Portal. This estimate includes online and physical interactions. 
46 The feedback on the Year is analysed in Chapter 4 on the assessment of the Year. 
47 29 EYY national contact points (NCs) were appointed by EU Member States (one for each EU country, 
except Belgium where three NCs were appointed). Six national contact points were appointed in non-EU 
countries associated with Erasmus+ (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Türkiye and Serbia). 
Full list of contacts is available here: https://youth.europa.eu/year-of-youth/national-coordinators_en. 

48 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
initiatives, youth structures and strategies which will constitute a major legacy of the Year at 
national, regional and local level. 

Nevertheless, all levels were involved in a wide variety of activities: training seminars, debates, 
interactive  workshops,  TED-style  talks,  conferences,  lecture  series,  competitions,  award 
ceremonies,  cultural  and  artistic  works  and  workshops,  theatre  plays,  and  school/university 
visits were but a few of the events organised. These events often strove to be interactive and 
dynamic in set-up; some engaged participants with – among other features – live music, photo 
booths, 3D animations and TikTok stations. 

The objectives of the EYY were at the heart of these efforts. Young people, university students 
and graduates, government and European officials, policymakers, representatives of youth and 
civil society organisations and members of NGOs dealing with youth issues from across Europe 
and beyond came together to reflect on the challenges that young people – including those most 
vulnerable and marginalised – face. They also reflected on the future-proof skills that young 
people will need to exploit the potential of the green and digital transitions and to meet the 
demands of rapidly evolving  economies,  and the ways in  which they can be empowered to 
become active and engaged EU and global citizens. 

Remarkable diversity is to be observed in the participants and audiences that the EU institutions 
and  Member  States  targeted  with  these  activities.  From  pupils  and  students  of  all  ages  to 
soldiers and recent school-leavers, people with disabilities and from vulnerable groups as well 
as those engaged in lifelong informal and non-formal learning, the Year’s general priority of 
inclusion was well-reflected in the organisation of events and activities. 

This part of the Staff Working Document gathers evidence and input on the key areas of impact 
and the key results and achievements of the EYY, as they relate to the four objectives of the 
Year, which were: 

•  highlighting  how  the  green  and  digital  transitions,  and  other  EU  policies,  offer 

opportunities for young people after the COVID-19 pandemic 

•  empowering and supporting young people, including those with fewer opportunities, to 

become active and engaged citizens and actors of change; 

•  promoting opportunities available to young people from public policies at all levels; 

•  bringing a youth perspective into policymaking at all levels. 

DISCLAIMER 

Please note that the sections below provide an overview of the key achievements during the 
Year  –  at  EU  level,  at  national  and  regional  level  and  at  stakeholder  level.  The  list  of 
initiatives at national and stakeholder level is not exhaustive. 

At national level, the document provides examples of major and innovative achievements 
and results, but of course not all. 

At stakeholder level, the document selectively highlights three to five exemplary initiatives 
per objective, specifically chosen from the diverse EYY stakeholders. 

All initiatives follow the objectives of the Year, with many fulfilling more than one. When 
categorising the initiatives, we aimed to ensure a balanced distribution between the various 
objectives. 

49 

 
 
 
3.2.1 EYY Objective 1: highlighting how the green and digital transitions, and other EU 
policies, offer opportunities for young people after the COVID-19 pandemic 

The Year’s first objective was about renewing positive perspectives for young people after the 
COVID-19  pandemic  and  highlighting  how  the  green  and  digital  transitions  and  other  EU 
policies could offer them new (professional and educational) opportunities. 

Therefore,  under  this  objective,  this  document  focuses  on  the  key  achievements  in  three 
subject-specific sections: mental health, the green transition and the digital transition. 

3.2.1.1. Key achievements at EU level 

3.2.1.1.1 Mental and physical health 

Introduction 

The pandemic was a serious threat to mental health, especially among young people and those 
with pre-existing mental health conditions. During the pandemic, people in the EU affected by 
loneliness  doubled  compared  to  pre-pandemic  years,  reaching  26%  across  some  regions48. 
Increased loneliness and reduced social interaction, concerns about one’s own health and that 
of loved ones, uncertainty about the future and anxiety caused by fear and loss all generated 
post-traumatic stress disorders49. Children, adolescents and young adults have been extremely 
affected  by  disruptions  of  family  and  social  ties,  and  the  economic  crisis  provoked  by 
lockdowns has hit young Europeans particularly hard50. 

At the outset of the EYY, improving mental and physical health and well-being was the fastest 
growing priority for young people in the EU. The Year therefore focused on re-establishing a 
positive outlook for young people and included a wide range of activities in the field of mental 
health and well-being.  

More than 2 300 activities on mental health and well-being in 40 countries were uploaded to 
the EYY activities map for the EYY. 

The policy initiative of the Year in the area of mental health was the  HealthyLifeStyle4All 
Youth Ideas Labs (DG EAC), which was launched at the EU Sport Forum in June 2022 in 
Lille (France). The aim of the initiative was to encourage young people to explore new ideas 
collectively  and  to  challenge  them  to  come  up  with  innovative  proposals  to  entice  all 
generations  to  change  their  lifestyle  and  promote  inclusive  approaches,  in  particular  in  the 
context of the pandemic recovery. The Youth Ideas Labs gathered young students, researchers, 
athletes, experts and other interested young people from fields contributing to and/or promoting 

48 New report: Loneliness doubles in Europe during the pandemic (europa.eu). 
49 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and 
Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a comprehensive approach to mental health. Available 
via: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52023DC0298. 
50 Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social 
Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation of the EU Youth Strategy (2019-2021). 
Available via: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52021DC0636. 

50 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
healthy lifestyles and well-being. During the Forum, the youth participants were asked to think 
of ideas and to identify challenges. Afterwards, they developed their ideas into fully fledged 
proposals and selected some to be presented during the European Week of Sport in September 
2022.  Entertaining  and  sport-inspired  activities  were  organised  and  keynote  high-level 
speakers were invited (EU Commissioner and French Minister of Sport, representatives from 
the European Parliament and international organisations, etc.). 

School education is key to helping all children and young people reach their full potential and 
grow as responsible, engaged and active citizens. When all children and young people have 
access to a quality and inclusive education, societies become fairer, more inclusive, prosperous 
and economies stronger. Two new Commission initiatives, Pathways to School Success and 
the Expert Group on enhancing supportive learning environments for vulnerable learners 
and for promoting well-being and mental health at school (DG EAC), were launched in 
2022  as  part  of  the  Year  and  aim  to  make  an  impact  on  the  learning  experience  of  young 
Europeans. 

•  Based  on  a  Commission  proposal,  the  Council  adopted  the  Recommendation  on 
Pathways  to  Schools  Success  on  28 November 2022.  The  Council  Recommendation 
aims to promote better educational outcomes for all learners, regardless of their socio-
economic, cultural, or personal backgrounds, thereby making school education more 
equitable and inclusive. It aims to  address EU-level targets on basic skills and early 
leaving from education and training simultaneously, ensuring that all learners develop 
the skills they need for learning and in life, including through promoting positive, safe 
and  supportive  learning  environments.  The  Council  Recommendation  acknowledges 
the complex, multifaceted nature of the challenges and the close link between academic 
achievement, learners’ well-being, and mental health. It recognises school success as a 
broad, systemic, and inclusive concept, considering not only academic results but also 
the  learners’  personal,  social,  and  emotional  development.  Its  policy  framework 
outlines a systemic approach to school success and identifies key conditions and a wide 
range  of  prevention,  intervention  and  compensation  measures  to  develop  a 
comprehensive response for better educational outcomes. The Commission is currently 
supporting the implementation of the Council Recommendation through monitoring, 
reporting, peer learning, information exchange, and funding opportunities. 

•  The call for applications for the Expert Group on supporting well-being at school was 
published  in  September  2022  and  the  expert  group  started  work  in  March  2023. 
Comprised of 19 EU experts with a wide range of expertise (academics and researchers; 
teachers, school leaders and teacher trainers; school/child psychologists; experts active 
in  organisations such  as Learning4Wellbeing,  ETUCE,  ESHA,  EUNI Well-Alliance, 
OBESSU), the expert group pays specific attention to well-being and mental health in 
a ‘whole system, whole school’ approach to build positive learning environments for 
all learners and their teachers. Expected to run for 15 months, the group is outlining 
policy guidance on developing supportive learning environments (with special attention 
to groups at risk), promoting mental health and physical and emotional well-being, and 
preventing bullying and violence at school, as well as proposals for effective uptake of 
successful practices in schools and recommendations for awareness-raising activities at 
EU and national level. 

Both Pathways to School Success and the Expert Group on supporting  well-being at school 
involve  to  some  extent  consultations  and/or  discussions  with  young  people  to  hear  their 
opinions and raise awareness of the policy initiative in the field of inclusive education. 

51 

 
 
The Ethical guidelines on the use of AI and data in teaching and learning for educators 
(DG EAC/DG CNECT), part of Action 6 of the Digital Education Action Plan 2021-202751, 
were  published  on  25 October 2022.  They  address  the  use  of  emerging  technologies  in 
education  and  support  educators  to  understand  the  potential  benefits  and  risks  of  artificial 
intelligence (AI) and data use. With this, they aim to ensure an innovative, engaging and safe 
educational experience for all learners. Developed by a dedicated Commission expert group, 
the Guidelines have been translated into all EU languages. They have been accompanied by a 
communication and awareness-raising campaign. More info: Digital Education Action Plan – 
Action 6. 

With the contribution of the Youth Wiki Network (EACEA), the Commission published an 
analysis report on ‘The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of young people: 
policy responses in European countries’, to identify the specific policy actions that have been 
implemented to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. The research is part of the Commission’s 
efforts to improve mental well-being and reduce the stigma of mental health issues.  

It illustrates the pandemic’s effects on young people’s mental health. Based on the evidence 
provided and analysis conducted, the report can serve as inspiration for further action such as 
peer learning and exchange of good practice. The Youth Wiki is an online platform presenting 
information on European countries’ youth policies. The main objective of the Youth Wiki is to 
support evidence-based European cooperation in the field of youth.  It does so by providing 
information on national policies in support of young people in a user-friendly and continuously 
updated way. 

Several activities on threats affecting youth well-being were run by the JRC during the Year. 
An online seminar was organised to bring awareness to loneliness among young people and to 
discuss actions to be taken. The seminar’s main outcomes were summarised in a report. A first 
research activity, investigating how schools can mitigate young people’s feelings of loneliness, 
was  concluded  in  2022  with  a  policy  brief.  ‘Young  people’s  lives  during  COVID-19’ 
investigated the impact of COVID-19 induced school closures on learning outcomes in Europe. 
‘Kids  digital  lives  during  COVID-19  (KiDiCoTi)’  provided  a  better  understanding  of  what 
happened in households during the pandemic.  

The report on ‘Artificial intelligence and the rights of the child’ focused on how researchers, 
policymakers and industry should involve children and their caregivers when designing new 
policies  and  initiatives  dealing  with  artificial  intelligence.  researchers,  policymakers  and 
industry  should  involve  children  and  their  caregivers  when  designing  new  policies  and 
initiatives dealing with artificial intelligence. 

In  2021,  DG  REFORM  proposed  an  initiative  to  support  the  implementation  of  the 
European  Child  Guarantee  with  the  help  of  the  Technical  Support  Instrument.  In  the 
context  of  this  flagship  initiative,  which  was  reconducted  in  2022  due  to  its  success,  DG 
REFORM offered a wider range of technical support measures to 10 EU Member States for 
implementing specific measures and policies that prevent and combat child poverty and social 
exclusion.  

The  support  covered  areas  such  as:  reviewing  or  developing  legislative  frameworks  to 
implement the European Child Guarantee: developing strategies and funding mechanisms for 
delivering better services for children; designing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and 

51 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and 
Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027, Resetting 
education and training for the digital age. Available via: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52020DC0624 

52 

 
 
 
tools  to  assess  the  effectiveness  of  child-related  policies  and  measures;  benchmarking 
exercises, capacity building and stakeholder engagement at local, regional and national level. 
The  aim  was  to  ensure  that  the  most  vulnerable  children,  such  as  the  children  of  migrants, 
children with  disabilities and children at  risk of  poverty or social  exclusion, have  access  to 
basic rights like childcare, education, social benefits and healthcare. 

In 2022, DG REFORM put forward, in the context of the Year, the YOUTH FIRST initiative, 
supported by the Technical Support Instrument. The purpose of this flagship initiative was to 
help  Member  States  design  policies  that  improve  children  and  young  people’s  well-being, 
education, training/skills, social services, and access to finance and financial literacy. Under 
this initiative, DG REFORM is supporting seven EU Member States in the following areas: 
quality  of  education  systems,  healthy  nutrition,  healthy  lifestyle  and  mental  health,  youth 
networks and voluntary engagement of youth in society, access to housing and social security 
schemes, and financial literacy.  

Among  these  projects,  the  multi-country  project  involving  Slovenia,  Italy,  Cyprus  and  the 
regional authority of Andalusia aims to strengthen the mental health and care of vulnerable 
children and young people. The project intends to enhance cross-sectoral collaboration on this 
topic  and  give  extra  training  to  professionals  dealing  with  mental  health  issues,  in  close 
cooperation with youth and children. It is intended to consult and engage youth organisations 
during the project’s implementation.  

In  2024,  DG  REFORM  will  continue  to  support  EU  Member  States  in  the  context  of  a 
dedicated flagship initiative on mental health. The flagship intends to help Member States 
strengthen  the  capacity  of  health,  social  and  education  systems  to  deal  with  mental  health 
issues,  including  through  increased  availability,  accessibility  and  quality  of  mental  health 
services. 

On  7 June 2023,  the  Commission  adopted  the  Communication  on  a  comprehensive 
approach to mental health (DG SANTE), after extensive consultation with Member States, 
stakeholders  and  citizens.  It  helps  to  implement  a  new  approach  to  mental  health  that  goes 
beyond  health  and  includes  areas  such  as  education,  digitalisation,  employment,  research, 
urban development, environment and climate.  

The Communication has three guiding principles to help Member States:  

i. 

ii. 

better access for all to adequate and effective prevention;  

access to high-quality, affordable mental healthcare and treatment; 

iii. 

social reintegration after recovery.  

The Communication has 20 policy initiatives, EUR 1.23 billion in funding opportunities and a 
focus on vulnerable groups, such as children and young people.  

Four  specific  flagship  initiatives  have  been  identified  in  a  dedicated  chapter  on  ‘Boosting 
mental health of children and young people’: 

•  setting up a child and youth mental health network; 

•  developing a prevention toolkit, addressing key health determinants; 

•  developing tools, e.g. on healthy lifestyle and mental health resilience; and 

•  better protection for children in the digital sphere, online and on social media. 

53 

 
 
 
The Promoting Mental Health project (DG SANTE) provides support for stakeholders to 
implement best practices that promote the mental health of children and adolescents, with a 
focus on vulnerable groups such as children living in deprived areas. It helps give young people 
more and better opportunities for the future, in line with the activities of the EYY. Two projects, 
“Ice hearts” and “Let’s talk about children” started in 2023, each supported with EUR 4 million 
under the EU4Health programme. 

In  February  2022,  under  Europe’s  Beating  Cancer Plan (one of  the  Commission’s  policy 
initiatives  and  a  main  priority  in  the  area  of  public  health)  the  Commission  announced  the 
launch of work on the EU Network of Youth Cancer Survivors (DG SANTE). The main aim 
of the initiative is to connect young cancer survivors, their families and informal and formal 
carers.  

The  Network  strengthens  long-term  follow-up  in  cancer  care  plans  at  national  and  regional 
level.  Children,  adolescents  and  young  adult  survivors  are  nominated  as  network 
representatives in Member States. Two projects (EU CAYAS NET and OACCUS) kicked off 
the network in September 2022. In addition, the conference ‘Addressing the needs of young 
cancer survivors’ took place on 7 February 2023. 

Over 50% of smokers start before age 18. To protect young Europeans from nicotine addiction, 
the  Commission  must  enforce  EU  tobacco  control  and  adapt  to  new  trends,  including 
introducing strict rules on emerging products. Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan has put forward a 
series of measures to help create a Tobacco-Free Generation (DG SANTE), where less than 
5% of the population uses tobacco by 2040, compared to around 25% today52.  

The initiative was launched in 2021 and will run until 2025. In June 2022, the Commission 
adopted  a  Delegated  Directive  on  the  withdrawal  of  certain  exemptions  for  heated  tobacco 
products. It extends, to heated tobacco products, the prohibition on selling tobacco products 
with  a  special  flavour  or  containing  flavourings  in  any  of  their  components  and  removes 
Member States’ ability to grant exemptions from certain labelling requirements.  

Under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, DG SANTE will also, at the beginning of 2024, present 
a prevention package consisting of a Commission proposal for a Council Recommendation on 
vaccine-preventable  cancers,  which  aims  to  help  Member  States  boost  the  uptake  of 
vaccination against human papillomaviruses and Hepatitis B, and a Commission proposal to 
revise the 2009 Council Recommendation on smoke-free environments, which mainly aims to 
better protect people in the EU from exposure to second-hand smoke and aerosols.  

A study on smoke-free environments and advertising tobacco and related products has been 
conducted  and  the  report  was  published  online  to  make  the  case  for  revising  the 
Recommendation. 

 In  December  2022,  the  HEALTH4EUkids  joint  action  was  launched  (DG  SANTE).  This 
project aims to implement health promotion and prevention strategies for child obesity across 
European countries. It seeks to share best practice and research findings, particularly focusing 
on the initiatives Grunau Moves53 from Germany and Smart Family54 from Finland.  

The  project  involves  knowledge  transfer,  cooperation  between  Member  States,  policy 
development and the promotion of healthy lifestyles in families and communities. Its goal is to 

52 Special Eurobarometer 506 – ‘Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes’, February 
2021 
53 Verhältnisprävention bei Adipositas - Entwicklungsförderung für alle Kinder (europa.eu) 
54 Smart Family - What is it? (europa.eu) 

54 

 
 
 
prevent  childhood  obesity,  increase  physical  activity,  promote  healthy  diets  and  ensure  the 
sustainability and transferability of successful practices to other Member States.  

The expected results of the joint action are:  

i. 
ii. 

iii. 

identifying specific challenges in the prevention of non-communicable diseases; 
identifying policy solutions in the form of best practices and innovative solutions for 
collective action between Member States and the Commission  
tackling the main public health challenges. 

In  the  Western  Balkans,  the  Western  Balkan  Youth  Labs  initiative  (DG  NEAR)  was 
instrumental  in  strengthening  formal  and  informal  mechanisms  for  youth  participation  by 
mobilising and connecting young people and policymakers. Youth Policy Labs provide a safe 
space for young people to  participate on an equal  footing with policymakers and to  engage 
meaningfully in policymaking based on the principles of co-management and co-production.  

A Youth Lab on mental health was launched in Tirana in December 2021. Six working groups 
worked in each economy throughout 2022 to identify ways to raise mental health awareness 
and  support  measures  to  address  mental  health  issues  among  young  people.  The  solutions 
identified  and  the  results  achieved  were  presented  at  a  mid-term  conference  organised  in 
Pristina in November 2022. The final results and next steps for continued cooperation between 
young people and policymakers were presented at a final conference in Belgrade in June 2023. 

3.2.1.1.2 Green and digital transitions 

Introduction 

When  announcing  the  Year  in  her  State  of  the  Union  address  in  2021,  the  President  of  the 
Commission highlighted that Europe needs to give young people opportunities for the future, 
a future that is greener, more digital and more inclusive. 

The Decision states that the Year should help to build climate- and nature-related action into 
all policies, implementing the objectives in the 2019 European Green Deal and the Fit for 55 
package, and delivering the EU’s 2030 Climate Target. All this should be done in a fair and 
inclusive manner. These goals reflect the importance of tackling climate and nature crises and 
are in accordance with the EU’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement. 

In  January  2022,  the  European  Parliament  and  Commission  released  a  joint  Special 
Eurobarometer on the Future of Europe55, which showed that 9 out of 10 young Europeans 
agree that tackling climate change can help improve their own health and well-being (91% of 
15–24 year-olds) while 87% of all respondents also share this sentiment. Young people will be 
the most impacted by the effects of the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. Therefore, it is key 
to involve and prepare the new generations for the green transition. Young people are at the 
heart of climate action, engaging in a variety of ways, such as through street demonstrations 
and local beach clean-ups. 

One of the objectives of the EYY was therefore to further increase the role of young people in 
the  green  transition.  In  this  context,  the  Year  focused  on  encouraging  young  people  to 

55 Future of Europe 2021 - January 2022 - - Eurobarometer survey (europa.eu) 

55 

 
 
 
 
 
formulate  their  own  initiatives  and  creative  ideas  to  achieve  relevant  targets,  thereby 
recognising the creative and innovative potential and abilities of young people. 

Achievements on the green transition 

In the context  of EYY, the Commission  proposed a range of opportunities under its  Green 
priority for youth to exchange, act and learn about climate and environment-related topics. 
More than 2 000 activities on the environment and climate in 49 countries were uploaded on 
the EYY Activities map. 

The  Commission  policy  initiative  under  this  objective  was  the  Green  Track  Campaign 
(DG ENV), launched in the run-up to the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15). The campaign 
invited young people to join the debate on the future of our planet through a series of events to 
be organised by young people, dedicated to nature and other environmental subjects. The Green 
Track events inspired projects across Europe that helped to make the deal for nature a reality. 
37  youth  events,  which  reflected  the  EYY  principles  of  inclusiveness,  co-creation  and  a 
bottom-up approach, were selected in January and announced in February 2022. They covered 
a variety of topics and themes and were well spread out across the EU.  

The Green Track campaign was launched on 8 March 2022 and the events took place across 
Europe  between  March  and  June  2022.  They  included  both  larger  events  addressing  wider 
audiences and more targeted measures engaging local communities, always empowering young 
people as the drivers of the process. One key component of the Green Track focused on the 
new EU forest strategy for 2030 and the role that young people can play in contributing to the 
EU’s commitment to plant at least 3 billion additional trees in the EU by 2030. 

In  June  2022,  acknowledging  young  people’s  growing  calls  for  action  on  the  climate  and 
biodiversity crises, Member States adopted a Council Recommendation on learning for the 
green transition and sustainable development (DG EAC). The Recommendation aims to 
strengthen  efforts  to  embed  sustainability  in  national  education  and  training  systems.  It 
provides  a  clear  roadmap  of  how  Member  States  can  support  learning  and  teaching  for  the 
green transition at all levels. It also aims to boost the involvement of young people in teaching 
and learning for the green transition and sustainable development at EU level.  

Linked to the Recommendation, the Commission has, together with academia, educators, youth 
representatives and Member States, developed a Competence framework on sustainability 
for the development and assessment of knowledge, skills and attitudes for sustainability 
(DG  EAC).  There  is  tremendous  interest  in  the  framework,  which  is  now  being  used  by 
schools, in teacher education programmes, curriculum design and in Erasmus+ and Horizon 
projects.  In  April  2023,  the  Commission  launched  a  community  of  practice  for  ministries, 
schools  and  research  and  training  bodies  using  the  new  GreenComp  framework  on 
sustainability competences. More than 100 organisations and individuals have signed up so far. 

As part of the EYY, the European Solidarity Corps programme (DG EAC) contributed to 
the  EU  Forest  Strategy  and  the  3  billion  trees  initiative  (DG  ENV).  Projects  involving 
reforestation are already possible through the European Solidarity Corps and some forest and 
orchard projects (including cleaning up forests, planting new trees, etc.) already exist.  

To  encourage  the  integration  of  tree  planting  into  more  ongoing  or  planned  environmental 
sustainability projects, further awareness raising by the Commission and the National Agencies 
was done in 2022. Action included identifying best practices, showcasing specific ideas and 
disseminating materials on the 3 billion trees initiative.  

56 

 
 
 
The National Agencies also undertook targeted outreach. The Commission is working closely 
with the National Agencies to promote the 3 billion trees initiative. They are promoting it to 
the National Agencies’ networks and to organisations working with the European Solidarity 
Corps that are active on environmental issues. Since May 2022, there has been an online tree 
counter. 

Farming’s  Got  Talent!  Vocational  education  and  training  (VET)  for  agriculture  in 
transition (DG AGRI) was a successful event that brought together over 100 participants in 
person and engaged more than 1 200 online. The objectives were to promote networking among 
teachers, students, training providers, and EU and national level bodies and to emphasise the 
role of VET in preparing the farming sector for the green and digital transitions.  

The event received significant attention on social media through AGRI’s Twitter and Facebook 
accounts, using the hashtag #FarmingSkills. The outcomes of the event were reflected on in a 
report and contribute to the implementation of the common agricultural policy and its future 
development. The event was organised under the EYY with a focus on vocational education 
and skills, aligning with the priorities of the European Year of Skills 2023. AGRI is exploring 
potential follow-up initiatives in the context of the European Year of Skills. 

The  European  Climate  Pact  (DG  CLIMA)  is  a  pact  with  and  for  citizens  and  civil  society 
organisations with the aim of supporting existing initiatives on climate action and facilitating 
the  creation  of  new  ones.  The  Climate  Pact  was  set  up  in  December  2020  as  part  of  the 
Commission’s  Green  Deal.  Youth  organisations  and  youth  activists  often  work  on  similar 
challenges and may also struggle to find partners to disseminate their work.  

To attempt to remedy this, the Climate Pact facilitates the production and promotion of best 
practice models for communication, event formats and campaigns on climate action. This can 
be useful for the daily work of climate activists and organisations. In an attempt to not ‘recreate 
the wheel’ and to step up capacity building among young activists, the Climate Pact equips 
them with the right tools to communicate on climate issues to a wide audience.  

If a young person is already a climate leader and familiar with all these proposals to become 
more  sustainable,  they  are  encouraged  to  take  the  ultimate  step  and  become  an  official 
European Climate Pact Ambassador. The European Climate Pact Ambassador initiative is 
also  mentioned  in  detail  under  Chapter  3.2.4.1.1.  EYY  Objective  4:  bringing  a  youth 
perspective to the EU’s policies.  

An action toolkit called Don’t Look Up was put together and published on 3 March 2022. The 
toolkit aims to assist young people in their action and support them in inspiring action in their 
community. The Don’t Look Up toolkit is translated into all EU languages. 

As a centrally organised EYY activity in Brussels, the European Climate Pact also co-organised 
a Youth Summit (DG CLIMA) around youth engagement and climate action on 1 February 
2023,  ‘The  European  Climate  Pact:  Together  in  Action’.  This  summit  organised  by  the 
Commission offered young participants the chance to learn about the interlinkages between 
social justice, the environmental crisis and the climate emergency. The interdisciplinary event 
featured inspiring keynotes, passionate debates and exciting participatory formats and spaces 
where the young audience and policymakers, youth and climate initiative leaders, Climate Pact 
business pledgers and others could exchange views. 

A prominent section of the 2022 European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) was dedicated 
to  young  people  and  clean  energy:  the  European  Youth  Energy  Day  (DG  ENER  with 
DG CINEA), on 26 September 2022. It gave young participants (aged 18-34) the chance to 

57 

 
 
get involved in Europe’s sustainable energy transition. A dialogue between Commissioner for 
Energy Kadri Simson and young representatives took place on that day, followed by a series 
of presentations of cutting-edge technologies, significant for clean energy advancement and 
young people.  

Altogether  1 100  people  participated  in  the  European  Youth  Energy  Day.  In  addition,  the 
EUSEW Policy Conference hosted Youth Policy Labs, which were sessions involving youth 
organisations and/or addressing topics relevant for a young audience, proposed in an open call.  

These workshops were designed to  involve young people in  policy  conversations about  the 
energy future of Europe. The labs facilitated connections between the different stakeholders, 
youth  and  non-youth,  and  created  value  for  both.  For  its  third  edition,  the  EUSEW  Young 
Energy Trailblazer Award was given to Timea Farkas, a young Romanian engineer advising 
small firms on the benefits of energy efficiency. 

In partnership with the ILO, UNEP and UNICEF, under a cooperation agreement with the ILO, 
the Green Jobs for Youth Pact was launched in 2022 at COP27 in Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt.  

Together  with  the  ILO,  DG  EMPL  is  implementing  a  pilot  project  on  supporting  youth 
employment initiatives and capacity building, to close green skills gaps for young people as 
part of the Pact. This ambitious and unique partnership works with and for young people to 
take action to address the green skills gap, focusing on sectors that are vulnerable to climate 
change and pushing for systemic change that benefits people, the planet, and prosperity.  

The main goal is to increase commitments and speed up action to create green jobs for young 
people and close the skills gap so we can reap benefits for the environment, society and the 
climate in a way that encourages more and better jobs for young people. 

Two  Youth  Dialogues  with  Virginijus  Sinkevičius,  Commissioner  for  Environment, 
Oceans and Fisheries, took place in the context of the EYY. The first Dialogue took place on 
30 May 2022 as part of the youth segment of the 2022 edition of the Green Week (DG ENV). 
It  gathered  Green  Track  campaign  events  organisers,  Climate  Pact  Ambassadors  and  other 
young  activists  from  all  over  Europe  for  a  debate  titled  ‘Youth  action  for  nature’  ahead  of 
COP15.  The  second  Dialogue  took  place  on  25 January  2023  as  part  of  the  EYY  Policy 
Dialogues with  Commissioners.  It  brought  together a group of 12 young designers,  content 
creators, Climate Pact Ambassadors and other environmental activists to discuss the topic of 
sustainable and circular textiles. 

Contributing to the legacy of the EYY, the dialogue was part of the launch of ReSet the Trend 
–  #ReFashionNow  (DG  ENV).  This  campaign  aimed  to  raise  public  awareness  of  the  EU 
Strategy  for  Sustainable  and  Circular  Textiles,  which  is  one  of  the  policy  initiatives  of  the 
Circular Economy Action Plan and the European Green Deal.  

The  campaign  promoted  the  environmental,  social,  economic  and  health-related  benefits  of 
measures proposed in the Strategy. It invited citizens, in particular young Europeans, to become 
role models and to make fast fashion a thing of the past. The initiative, which ran until the end 
of April 2023, offered practical solutions available at all stages of the life cycle of textiles and 
accessible to individual consumers, all designed to help achieve the vision of the EU Textiles 
Strategy.  The  campaign  was  a  contribution  to  the  legacy  of  the  Year  of  Youth,  as  it  was 
empowering young Europeans to participate in transforming the sector. 

The New European Bauhaus (JRC) creates the space to explore and test policy, funding and 
other tools for designing and building a better everyday life for all generations, where the role 

58 

 
 
of young people is fundamental. The New European Bauhaus expresses the EU’s ambition to 
create beautiful, inclusive and sustainable places and lifestyles. Sustainability is a major focus 
for  EU  youth  and  education  policy,  allowing  for  many  synergies  with  the New  European 
Bauhaus initiative. Social inclusion and a better quality of life for all citizens are likewise key 
priorities.  

In February 2022, the Commission also launched a Call for the Transformation of Places of 
Learning, which invited educators, activists, architects and artists to propose initiatives that i) 
transform a place of education and knowledge (such as public libraries, schools and community 
centres), (ii) introduce new teaching methods and (iii) involve local communities. 

A  New  European  Bauhaus  route  (DG  EAC)  was  developed  as  part  of  the  Erasmus+ 
DiscoverEU programme in 2022. DiscoverEU is for 18-year-olds travelling across Europe. The 
route aims to encourage young travellers to reflect on their future by taking them to sustainable, 
beautiful and inclusive places and projects throughout Europe. 

Every  year,  the  EU  organises  the  #EUBeachCleanup  Campaign  (DG  MARE),  an  ocean 
activism and awareness-raising campaign featuring events across the world. In 2022, a Special 
Youth Edition took place. The younger generations can turn activism into social and political 
change  and  help  protect  our  oceans,  rivers  and  beaches  from  plastic  pollution.  A  targeted 
toolkit with guidelines was created for young people wishing to organise their own events and 
activities. The campaign finished at the end of October 2022. 

The  Youth4Ocean  Forum  encompasses  a  variety  of  activities.  It  offers  connections  and 
networking  opportunities  to  young  people  interested  in  ocean  sustainability.  In  general,  the 
EU4Ocean Coalition (DG MARE), of which the Youth4Ocean Forum is part, offers many 
opportunities  related  to  ocean  literacy.  Further  to  the  work  of  the  Coalition,  DG  MARE 
organised  the  Hack4Oceans  2022  event  on  23  and  24 November.  This  hackathon  enabled 
European university students to work with blue economy professionals and experts to learn, 
explore  and  co-create  opportunities  for  prosperity  through  ocean  conservation  and  the 
sustainable use of marine resources. 

In November 2021, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) adopted a Youth Strategy for 
2030 (DG NEAR). The UfM Youth Strategy is fully in line with the 2030 UN Youth Strategy 
and the EU Youth Strategy. It identifies human development and sustainable development as 
two  distinct  yet  interconnected  dimensions  for  the  inclusion  of  young  people  and  their  full 
participation in the region.  

Each one of these two dimensions tackles various topics, including climate action and energy, 
environment, urban and rural development, economic development, education and training and 
social inclusion. The UfM Youth Strategy is operationalised through an action plan. The action 
plan is devised and formulated by the UfM Working Group on Youth and divided into priority 
areas. The first priority areas are youth, climate action and energy. 

The  Commission,  in  cooperation  with  young  people,  piloted  a  core  group  who  further 
developed  the  Interreg  Youth  Manifesto  (DG  REGIO),  a  manifesto  for  young  people  by 
young people to shape the European cooperation policy by making 12 recommendations.  

This  was  done  by  collecting  their  ideas  on  how  to  improve  territorial  cooperation,  to  make 
young generations feel heard by policymakers at EU, national, regional and local levels as well 
as by managing authorities, project beneficiaries and civil society organisations.  

Based on the ideas collected by Commission staff, young people consider that macro-regional 
strategies and Interreg programmes can make a difference in five main fields: improving young 

59 

 
 
people’s skills and increasing access to training opportunities; boosting employment for young 
people; simplification of rules and better communication via digital tools; addressing climate 
change, and boosting citizens’ engagement in policymaking and implementation.  

This youth-oriented and democratic exercise has been in progress since 2020. The aim is to 
debate and listen to top EU decision-makers’ reactions to the manifesto throughout the current 
EU budget period  (2021-27). Most of the 12 recommendations have been implemented and 
therefore the group is now exploring possible next steps. The core group of the manifesto has 
been meeting every month since its creation in 2020. It is possible to join the LinkedIn group 
to take part in the discussions. 

Young people learn and act to tackle plastic pollution through the European Research Area’s 
(ERA) Plastic Pirates – Go Europe! (DG RTD). In 2022, to support the EU Mission Restore 
our Ocean and Waters by 2030, the campaign was expanded to the whole of Europe. This was 
done with the support of the Commission’s framework research programme – Horizon Europe.  

The  citizen  science  campaign  involves  young  Europeans  tackling  the  sources  of  plastic 
pollution, finding measures to mitigate the problem and raising awareness of plastic pollution 
in rivers, seas and oceans. Thanks to the initiative, schoolchildren can access sampling kits and 
educational material on plastic pollution, which helps them connect with science in action.  

The Plastic Pirates – Go Europe! Initiative is part of the European Research Area action plan 
‘Bring Science closer to Citizens’ for 2022-24. Germany, Portugal and Slovenia are actively 
participating  in  the  initiative.  Lithuania,  Austria,  Hungary,  Italy,  Norway,  Malta,  France, 
Belgium, Greece, Bulgaria and Croatia have been involved in coordinated and synchronised 
Plastic Pirates pilot samplings since autumn 2022. 

The  All-Atlantic  Ocean  Youth  Ambassador  Programme  (DG  RTD)  supports  young 
generations’ engagement with promoting a healthy ocean while developing their professional 
skills. It actively contributes to the objectives of the Year. The summer school took place at the 
same  time  as  the  signing  of  the  All-Atlantic  Ocean  Research  and  Innovation  Alliance 
Declaration.  

The  network  has  been  enlarged  by  an  Arctic  Ambassador  and  an  Ambassador  from  the 
Indigenous  Communities.  As  part  of  the  EYY,  a  Youth  for  a  Healthy  Ocean  session  was 
organised during the European Research and Innovation Days in September 2022. It brought 
together, for the first time, the Youth Ambassadors of the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black 
Sea  basins,  as  well  as  representatives  from  the  Plastic  Pirates  citizen  campaign.  The  All-
Atlantic Ocean Youth Forum has promoted young people’s skills and motivation, as well as 
increasing communication and outreach to young people on environmental topics that are of 
concern for them. 

The EUTeens4Green (DG REGIO) is a unique Commission Technical Assistance resource 
that gives young people up to EUR 10 000 for climate initiatives in the Just Transition regions, 
which  are  regions  with  a  high  dependence  on  fossil  fuels.  In  doing  so,  it  promotes  young 
people’s participation in designing and implementing cohesion policy and in the fair transition 
towards climate neutrality and a greener Europe.  

By  March  2022,  a  beneficiary  was  selected  to  organise  and  manage  a  call  for  projects 
dedicated  to  young  people  who  are  willing  to  develop  and  implement  ideas  that  enable 
persons with limited awareness and understanding of the impact of ‘green transition’ to benefit 
from it.  

60 

 
 
In  June  2022,  the  grant  agreement  was  signed  with  a  consortium  composed  of  the  Startup 
Europe  Regions  Network  (SERN),  Youth  and  Environment  Europe  (YEE)  and  CEE 
Bankwatch Europe. More than 70 projects started in April 2023 and are running for 12 months 
until  April  2024.  Building  on  the  EUTeens4Green  project,  REGIO  also  launched 
Youth4OutermostRegions, a grant scheme that enables young people in the outermost regions 
to develop projects tailored to their regions, to improve the quality of life there. 

Achievements on the digital transition 

More than 1 500  activities addressing  digital issues in  50 countries  were uploaded on the 
EYY  Activities  map  for  the  EYY.  Moreover,  more  than  800  activities  were  uploaded  on 
media literacy and disinformation issues, in 37 countries. 

The  Commission’s  initiative  for  the  EYY  in  the  area  of  the  digital  transition  was  the 
Communication  on  the  new  European  strategy  for  a  better  internet  for  kids  (BIK+) 
(DG CNECT), which was adopted on 11 May 2022. The new BIK+ strategy aims to provide 
age-appropriate  digital  services,  with  no  one  left  behind  and  with  every  child  in  Europe 
protected, empowered, and respected online. 

Child participation is a key feature under BIK+: children and young people were extensively 
consulted during the design of the strategy and supported its launch. They are now actively 
involved in its implementation through the BIK Youth Ambassadors network (DG CNECT), 
youth panels, peer-to-peer activities, focus groups, campaigns and co-creation with industry.  

They also help assess the implementation of the strategy. Youth participation featured high at 
the launch event of the new strategy, as well as in other main events such as Safer Internet Day 
and the Safer Internet Forum. For the 19th edition of the Safer Internet Day, held on 8 February 
2022  and  celebrated  around  the  world  in  190  countries,  young  people  were  involved  in  a 
campaign on social media, including through videos with politicians at national level and with 
Vice-President Šuica and Commissioner Breton at EU level.  

The Safer Internet Forum, the annual international and multistakeholder conference on child 
online safety  under BIK, held  on 27 October 2022, was youth-led. Young people played an 
active role in the planning, preparation and delivery of the event. They were also active in the 
session  on  BIK+  at  the  Digital  Assembly  under  the  French  presidency  in  Toulouse,  and  in 
preparing the child-friendly version of BIK+, which is now available online in all EU languages 
and more, including Ukrainian.  

A wealth of resources and support is available to children and young people, their parents and 
educators  –  via  the  co-funded  network  of  the  Safer  Internet  Centres  and  the  BIK  portal 
(betterinternetforkids.eu) – to promote the creative and responsible use of digital services. This 
includes information and training on the risks facing children as young consumers, as explained 
below. 

The new campaign How to avoid becoming broke online? Know how to recognise online 
marketing traps (DG CNECT and DG JUST) ties in with the consumer-related objective of 
the Single Market programme to increase awareness of unfair commercial activities targeting 
children and young people online. It also ties in with the above-mentioned aims of the BIK+ 
strategy to protect and empower children online.  

These commercial practices are often not transparent: for example, influencers’ blogs, targeted 
and  manipulative  recommendations,  use  of  virtual  currencies  on  social  media  and  online 
games,  etc.  Furthermore  the  increased  ‘gamification’  of  online  commercial  activities,  and 

61 

 
 
 
developments such as virtual reality, generate new fairness challenges, with both opportunities 
and risks.  

In  September  2022  there  was  a  first  roundtable  on  ‘Children  and  young  people  consumer 
protection in digital markets’ bringing together both child safety and consumer safety experts 
for the first time. Building on the round table, the upcoming campaign is run by DGs CNECT 
and JUST, in cooperation with the Safer Internet Centres and the European Consumer Centres.  

The latter provide free advice to consumers who are making purchases across borders and run 
information  campaigns  to  complement  the  work  of  national  consumer  law  enforcement 
authorities, who will pay particular attention to advertising practices targeting children56. 

Erasmus+  financed  and  continues  to  finance  Virtual  exchanges  in  higher  education  and 
youth (DG  EAC)  with  the  Southern  Mediterranean,  the  Western  Balkans,  the  Eastern 
Neighbourhood  and  Sub-Saharan  Africa.  The  first  13  selected  projects  (based  on  a  call  for 
project proposals in 2021) started their activities in December 2022 and January 2023, and 15 
projects were selected for funding under the 2022 call for proposals.  

They  will  enable  the  creation  of  virtual  exchanges  that  will  promote  intercultural  dialogue, 
critical  thinking,  media  literacy,  digital  and  soft  skills  development,  employability  and 
citizenship. The geographic reach of the projects selected will strengthen the youth dimension 
in  relations  between  the  EU  and countries not associated to  the programme. They will also 
enable  young  people  who  otherwise  would  not  have  the  possibility  of  participating  in  the 
Erasmus+ programme to participate in it virtually. 

JRC  has  developed  two  tools,  promoting  inclusion  and  youth  engagement.  Firstly,  JRC 
researchers implemented accessibility features into the creative edutainment  Happy Onlife. 
This tool promotes safe and responsible uses of ICT among adults and children (8-12 years 
old) and enhances dialogue among children and adults. Happy Onlife is now available for a 
larger  audience,  including  people  with  low  vision,  people  with  various  types  of  relevant 
disability/deficiency  (colour  vision  deficiency,  relying  on  screen  magnification,  relying  on 
custom font settings, using screen readers and not being able to use a mouse). 

Secondly, during 2022, the Cultural Gems platform was used in the context of the EU-funded 
project  to  engage  young  people  with  European  cultural  heritage  ‘Behind  the  walls’. 
Additionally, Cultural Gems has been featured in a 2022 European Week of Regions and Cities 
session  exploring  the  role  of  online  platforms  in  engagement  and  sense  of  belonging  with 
regions within and at the border of the EU. 

The EU Datathon (OP) is the open data competition organised by the Publications Office of 
the EU. It invites people who are passionate about data to develop new, innovative apps that 
make good use of the EU’s numerous open datasets and demonstrate the power of open data. 
These apps should showcase opportunities for specific business models or social enterprises.  

Young people are particularly encouraged to participate and display the potential that open data 
presents in today’s society and, of course, to show their creativity and talent. The 6th 2022 EU 
Datathon  was  launched  in  February  2022  and  the  announcement  of  the  awards  took  place 
during a final  event  in  Brussels  in  October.  It featured  four challenges, one of which was 
specifically  focused  on  youth  issues.  The  total  prize  fund  for  the  winning  teams  was 
EUR 200 000. Of the 156 proposals submitted from 38 countries, 12 were selected for the final 

56 Safer Internet Centres - BIK Portal (betterinternetforkids.eu) 

62 

 
 
 
event pitch on 20 October 2022. A panel evaluated them and announced the winners. Around 
80% of the finalists were under the age of 35. 

3.2.1.1.4 Other institutions 

On climate and sustainability, the EESC continued the work in 2022 that it started a few years 
before,  actively  engaging  with  young  people  through  the  projects  Youth  Climate  and 
Sustainability Round Tables, EESC Youth Delegate to COP and European Circular Economy 
Stakeholder Platform (ECESP). 

In June 2022, the EESC co-organised the partnership event Towards a Circular Economy: 
Competences  for  Youth.  This  interactive  conference  brought  together  experts  in  circular 
economy skills, youth representatives, policymakers, academics and business representatives 
to  explore  the  outcomes  of  the  Circular  Economy  -  Sustainable  Competences  for  Youth 
(CESCY) project.  

The event witnessed the participation of 40 individuals on-site, while many others joined online 
to follow the web stream. The conference produced several concrete deliverables, including a 
skills  framework  on  circular  economy  and  sustainability  for  youth  work,  a  manual  to  help 
practitioners  use  the  framework  effectively  and  a  Massive  Open  Online  Course  (MOOC) 
focused on circular economy and sustainability skills. These resources were published on the 
European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP) webpage, ensuring accessibility 
and widespread dissemination. 

Building on the previous successful Youth Climate and Sustainability Round Tables, the 
EESC,  in  collaboration  with  the  European  Youth  Forum  and  Generation  Climate  Europe, 
organised  the  third  EU  Youth  Round  Table  on  30 November 2022.  Commissioner 
Wojciechowski actively engaged in discussions with the 15 youth representatives, focusing on 
the critical topics of food security and sustainable food systems. The event garnered significant 
attention as it was web streamed. As a concrete outcome, the youth representatives officially 
submitted  an  outcome  document  outlining  specific  policy  demands  to  the  Commissioner, 
eagerly awaiting his written response. 

The European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ECESP) held its annual event in 
February 2023. Its organisation and content were developed in the context of the Year with an 
active  involvement  of  young  people.  The  event  promoted  a  meaningful  intergenerational 
dialogue, with young people prominently driving the conversation on innovative solutions and 
practical implementation of the circular economy. The event saw a significant participation of 
1 000 individuals online, while approximately 300 attendees were present on-site on the second 
day. Reports from the event are accessible on the conference webpage, as well as a compilation 
of video interviews conducted during the event. 

As  the  first  EESC  youth  delegate  to  the  UNFCCC  Conference  of  the  Parties  (COP), 
Ms Sophia  Wiegand,  ended  her  mandate  after  COP27,  the  new  EESC  youth  delegate, 
Ms Diandra  Ní  Bhuachalla,  was  selected  in  March  2023  through  a  transparent  process, 
organised in collaboration with the youth organisations European Youth Forum and Generation 
Climate Europe. The EESC youth delegate is a full member of the EESC delegation to COP 
meetings and is supported by a wide network of youth organisations to facilitate the inclusion 
of their insights in the EESC contribution to COP. 

63 

 
 
 
 
 
3.2.1.2. Examples of achievements at national level 

To contribute to the first EYY objective, a few examples are presented that show the Member 
States’ achievements at national, regional, and local level. 

Belgium  organised  the  Go  Strange  event  for  youth  workers  and  young  people:  a  large 
two-day event on 28-29 October 2022. It offered a mixture of inspirational training, networking 
workshops  and  community  building  to  young  people,  youth  organisations  (cultural 
organisations, organisations working with young people who are neither in employment nor in 
education  or  training  (NEETs)  and  organisations  working  with  cultural  minorities,  partner 
network of international mobility organisations, etc.) and policymakers. The event aimed to 
support, in the light of the COVID-19 crisis, the ‘relaunch’ of international mobility. It also 
aimed to increase trust in European programmes and to help to mark 35 years of Erasmus and 
the EYY. 

Bulgaria  organised  a  national  contest  for  design  of  youth  prize  from  16 September  to 
26 October 2022 with the objective to engage young people as active and committed citizens 
at  European,  national,  and  local  level.  Young  participants  had  to  use  natural,  recycled  or 
environmentally friendly materials in their design. The prototype that won the contest was then 
produced and awarded to nominees during the National Youth Conference A Project for Future, 
which marked the closing of EYY in the country. 

Additionally, Bulgaria encouraged young people to share their vision for Europe’s future in 
2050 through cultural and artistic expression by organising a Youth Biennale in three cities in 
(8  October  2022)  and  Sofia 
the  country:  Burgas 
(12 November 2022). Overall, the three events gathered more than 180 participants aged 15-
29 years. The three events showcased visual and performance arts and provided an opportunity 
for young people to socialise and network after a long period of COVID-19 restrictions. 

(1 October 2022),  Plovdiv 

On 10 October, Croatia held the high-level conference Take a Chance – European Year of 
Youth 2022 in the Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb. The choice of date was significant 
as  it  marked  World  Mental  Health  Day.  The  conference  was  attended  by  around  330 
participants. Among the key speakers who delivered an opening speech was the Commission 
Vice-President for Democracy and Demography Dubravka Šuica. The topics of the lectures, 
panel discussions and workshops included entrepreneurship, acquiring knowledge and skills, 
and preserving mental health. The conference served as an auspicious occasion to introduce 
young  people  to  EU  opportunities  such  as  the  Erasmus+  programme,  DiscoverEU  and  the 
European  Solidarity  Corps.  The  conference  included  an  exhibition  space  where  schools, 
ministries, public institutions, and agencies presented their work. To attract and entertain the 
young  audience  the  organisers  installed  a  photo  booth  at  the  event  and  included  a  dance 
performance, a concert, and a meet-up with eminent athletes in the conference programme. 

In Cyprus, the ‘Mind Your Mind’ TedX-Style Talk, which took place at the University of 
Cyprus on 1 November 2022 and was broadcast live on Facebook, well-known young Cypriots 
–  including  the  Olympian  Milan  Trajković  –  addressed  the  negative  effects  of  the  C-19 
pandemic on young people’s mental  health by speaking  on the topic  and sharing their own 
stories of overcoming difficulties to inspire other young people to do the same. 

In April 2022, Czechia launched the competition My Vision for Europe? This is what I want 
to change! Its aim was to give young people the opportunity to share their opinion on issues 

64 

 
 
 
 
such as climate change, digitalisation, well-being, employment, and inclusion and to offer their 
solutions.  Young  people  were  invited  to  express  themselves  in  two  formats  -  an  essay  or  a 
video. A committee was appointed to evaluate the best pieces and award the winners with a 
trip to the Year closing conference in December in Brussels. 

In Estonia, the Teeviit Youth Area was organised at the 10th Opinion Festival in Paide on 
12 and 13 August 2022. The Opinion Festival brought discussions and debates to life in the 
ideal environment, inspiring people to create new ideas and deeds and bringing them together. 
The  festival  aimed  to  develop  a  culture  of  discussion  within  society.  Within  the  context  of 
EYY, the festival had nearly 10 000 visitors. The Teeviit Youth Area aimed to inform and raise 
awareness  of  youth-related  issues  and  young  people’s  challenges  after  the  COVID-19 
pandemic and of young people’s involvement and participation in society amongst different 
groups  (regular  visitors,  decision-makers,  politicians,  people  working  with  young  people, 
youth  service  professionals,  parents,  teachers,  hobby  education  and  hobby  workers,  young 
people, etc.). The specific thematic priorities of the festival were related to the focus of EYY, 
such  as  education  and  training,  unemployment  prevention,  mental  health,  digitalisation 
(including  cyber  security),  environment,  youth  information,  participation  and  involvement, 
youth mobility, the integration of non-formal and informal learning and its importance for the 
development of young people’s independence and personality. Area discussions took place in 
cooperation  with  young  people, youth  agencies,  organisations, and youth  field  experts. The 
most relevant and important discussions were saved in the form of podcasts. 

Greece launched four nationwide surveys between May 2022 and January 2023: (1) Good 
practices of municipalities implementing European policies for young people living in their 
area;  (2)  Young  people  and  Europe:  how  young  people  perceive  Europe  and  their  identity 
within it – Sustainable Development Goals and young people; (3) Perceptions of democracy in 
school decision-making; and 4) Mental health in the post-COVID-19 era. 

Hungary launched a new electronic and offline youth book series the "Hungarian Youth" book 
series, edited by renowned experts, which presents the current situation of Hungarian young 
people from an aspect related to the goals of EYY. 

In Italy, special attention was given to the promotion of debate to promote the potential of the 
green and digital transitions among young people, reflecting the Youth Goal #10 Sustainable 
Green Europe, the European Green Deal and the pillars of NextGenerationEU. In this sense, 
an important role was played by the new National Youth Card – an online card to facilitate 
the access of young people to benefits and opportunities, encouraging them to get involved in 
training  and  cultural  and  social  activities,  with  a  specific  focus  on  digital  transition  and 
sustainability. 

Latvia implemented a well-being campaign to promote public awareness of the importance 
of the physical and mental health of young people and to break some of the myths in society – 
especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign lasted four weeks and each week of 
the campaign was dedicated to a specific topic: physical health, stress and how to manage it, 
panic and anxiety attacks and communication with parents and peers about psycho-emotional 
health. 

In  Malta,  the  Year  was  officially  launched  during  a  seminar  aptly  entitled  Reconnecting 
Youth Organisations: Building hope in a post-pandemic future together. During this event, 
organised by Aġenzija Żgħażagħ, around 50 youth organisations got together to discuss youth 
policy  priorities  and  work  together  to  propose  ideas  for  a  strategy  to  develop  further  youth 
opportunities within the current post-pandemic context. 

65 

 
 
In June 2022, the Netherlands held the Nature Dialogue sustainability event. The event was 
co-organised  by  the  Dutch  Youth  Representatives  for  Biodiversity  and  Food.  Youngsters, 
academics  and  decision-makers  in  the  fields  of  nature,  food  and  biodiversity  engaged  in 
dialogues on these topics. 

The  Netherlands  also  ran  events  that  brought  young  people  together  to  talk  about  mental 
health. The event on stigma around mental health, Stigmaatjes, organised in July 2022, was 
co-organised by youngsters of the Mental Health Youth Panel (a project of the Youth Council) 
to  raise  awareness  and  break  the  stigma  around  mental  health.  The  event  consisted  of 
workshops and panel discussions. In October 2022, the International Day of Mental Health 
campaign  was  launched  and,  for  one  day,  active  youngsters  from  Great  Minds  (a  Youth 
Council project) initiated a campaign to talk with peers on the streets of Utrecht about their 
mental health. The youngsters who were interviewed got a postcard and stickers to share with 
a loved one. 

The Netherlands organised the National Youth Climate Conference in November 2022. This 
event was co-organised by the Young Climate Movement, EU Climate Pact NL and Bildung 
Nijmegen.  Young  people  discussed  the  challenges  posed  by  climate  change  and  followed 
interactive workshops on how they can make a positive contribution. 

Poland created and ran the Concepts for a Youth-Friendly Local Government competition. 
The competition had several objectives such as advocating key themes highlighted during the 
Year,  such  as  green  and  digital  transformation,  opportunities  within  the  EU  for  young 
individuals, the career prospects of young people within the EU, active engagement in societal 
affairs, and mental well-being. 

In  Poland  on  28 April 2023,  a  Summary  Conference  took  place.  The  event  focused  on 
promoting  volunteerism,  adopting  a  green  lifestyle,  and  environmental  protection  among 
young people. It provided a platform for young individuals to engage with NGO employees 
and volunteers, inspiring them to take action in assisting others. 

During  the  EYY,  Slovenia  organised  13  regional  events  to  prepare  the  Resolution  on  the 
National  Youth Programme and  10 local youth  initiatives  and dialogues  on the topic of a 
sustainable and inclusive Europe, in collaboration with the Representation of the Commission 
in Slovenia. 

The central event in Slovenia was the festival Sound of Youth. On 27 May 2022, a full-day 
programme took place, stretching from the Square of the French Revolution to the main stage 
at  Križanke.  It  included  youth  dialogues  on  sustainable  development,  climate  change  and 
digitalisation,  plus  educational  content,  interactive  workshops  and  a  culture  and  music 
programme.  All  activities  at  the  event  were  presented  with  a  focus  on  sustainability  and 
ecology, delivered to young people in an interactive, informative, educational and entertaining 
manner. 

Slovakia  organised  the  Climate  Education  seminar  between  24 January 2022  and 
26 January 2022. The aim of the seminar was not only to obtain a theoretical basis of climate 
education supported by research, but also to experience practical methods and activities that 
can serve as inspiration for educational practice. Participants addressed various topics, such as 
how  to  work  with  the  emotions  that  the  climate  crisis  evokes  in  us,  what  are  the  different 
approaches  to  solving it and their starting points, how to  talk about  of power, or to  expand 
imagination, and last but not least – what can we do in times of climate crisis. 

66 

 
 
 
3.2.1.3. Examples of achievements at stakeholder level 

DISCLAIMER 

The  following  section  contains  a  selection  of  key  achievements  forwarded  by  EYY 
stakeholders. It aims to give a snapshot of the types of activities organised by stakeholders 
under  this  specific  objective.  All  achievements  of  EYY  stakeholders  can  be  found  in  the 
EYY Activities map. 

The Federation of Young European Greens (FYEG) launched the EU and You! project, 
which involves offering grants to its member organisations. The purpose of these grants was to 
support  the  design  and  execution  of  campaigns  and  dissemination  activities  that  aim  to 
promote, analyse and raise awareness of EU-funded projects and actions at local, regional or 
national level. Besides learning about the impact of EU policies and plans on their daily lives, 
the awarded youth-led organisations also developed their capacities in project and volunteer 
management, networking, and financial management and reporting. 

MeetEU  organised  digital  events  and  campaigns  promoting  democratic  participation 
opportunities for young Europeans from more than 30 countries. Following the association’s 
goal of connecting Europeans across generations, countries, and political opinions, MeetEU’s 
activities  served  a  broader  intergenerational  dialogue  on  topics  relevant  to  Europe’s  young 
people. MeetEU organised an event in collaboration with the Commission and ENER, aimed 
at promoting collaboration and addressing the issue of energy dependency on Russia. 

The UN in Brussels organised a youth-led event, Advancing the Sustainable Development 
Goals through the Global Gateway. During the event in June 2022 supported by the United 
Nations  and  the  European  Union  as  part  of  the  2022  European  Development  days,  youth 
representatives  called  for  action 
their 
recommendations to both entities. 

the  SDGs  and  shared 

to  rapidly  advance 

Youth  For  Exchange  and  Understanding  International  (YEU)  organised  online 
workshops  for  young  people  with  fewer  opportunities  and  online  Coffee  With  events 
featuring prominent European-level politicians. They implemented KID_ACTIONS, a project 
aimed  at  addressing  cyberbullying  among  children  and  adolescents  through  interactive 
education  and  gamification  and  spearheaded  the  ‘Superheroes  of  Climate  Change’  project, 
which welcomed young people from all walks of life and across Europe to become leaders of 
climate in their local communities. 

3.2.2 EYY Objective 2: empowering and supporting young people, including young people 
with fewer opportunities, to become active and engaged citizens and actors of change 

The highest expectation of young people about the EYY was that society and decision-makers 
listened more to young people’s opinions and needs57. To address this demand, the EU and 
Member States gave utmost priority to the topic of youth participation. It emerged as the top 
theme of the Year, with the largest number of activities (43%) on the EYY Activities map. 

57 Youth and Democracy in the European Year of Youth - May 2022 - - Eurobarometer survey (europa.eu) 

67 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EU  institutions,  stakeholders  and  NCs  launched  new  formats,  tools  and  networks  for 
participation  to  give  young  people  space  to  speak  up,  to  influence  and  inspire  their  peers, 
decision-makers and society at large. 

In correlation with the 2019-2027 EU Youth Strategy58, the empowerment of young people 
was a key objective of the EYY. It was seen as essential to equip all young people, including 
those  with  fewer  opportunities,  with  the  skills  to  become  active  and  engaged  citizens  and 
participate in policymaking on every level. 

The active participation of young people in democratic processes is crucial for the present and 
future of Europe and its  democratic societies. The Year therefore aimed to  boost the active 
involvement of young people in Europe’s democratic life, including by supporting participation 
activities for young people from diverse backgrounds in processes such as the Conference on 
the Future of Europe and by promoting civic engagement and volunteering initiatives. These 
actions  raised  awareness  of  EU  values  and  fundamental  rights  and  European  history  and 
culture, brought together young people and decision-makers at local, regional, national and EU 
levels and contributed to the process of European integration. 

This  section  contains  all  measures  targeting  young  people  which  have  a  lasting  impact 
(‘empower’)  on  participants,  an  education/training  element  or  request  the  commitment  of 
young  people.  These  include  programmes,  networks,  learning  hubs  and  young  ambassador 
schemes,  for  example,  the  European  Solidarity  Corps’  Humanitarian  Aid  strand,  the  Youth 
Talks and the Pool of European Young Journalists. 

3.2.2.1. Key achievements at EU level 

3.2.2.1.1. European Commission 

Strengthening young people’s democratic participation is  key to  maintaining  an active civil 
society in Europe. This is what the Commission aims to do through Strengthening Outreach 
and Inclusion of the EU Youth Dialogue (DG EAC). It is also crucial for the present and 
future  of  the  EU  and  its  democratic  societies.  The  EU  promotes  youth  participation  in 
policymaking globally, building on the experience of the EU Youth Dialogue – a mechanism 
that ensures that the opinions, views and needs of young people are taken into account when 
setting  the  EU’s  youth  policies.  The  EU  Youth  Dialogue  works  as  a  tool  to  bring  young 
people’s  voices  closer  to  decision-makers  by  consulting  them  and  passing  on  their 
recommendations.  These  efforts  by  the  EU  were  further  boosted  by  the  Year  in  2022.  The 
dialogue with policymakers and other dialogue activities happened in 18-month work cycles. 
Each cycle focuses on a different theme set by the Council of Youth Ministers. The current one 
(from the beginning of 2022 to mid-2023) is ‘Engaging together for a sustainable and inclusive 
Europe’. The Youth Dialogue aims to address all young people, including those with fewer 
opportunities and those currently not involved and active. In every Member State, the process 
is  organised  by  national  working  groups  that  are  in  charge  of  conducting  consultations  and 
activities in their country with young people, youth organisations and policymakers. The Trio 

58 Resolution of the Council of the European Union and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member 
States meeting within the Council on a framework for European cooperation in the youth field: The European 
Union Youth Strategy 2019-2027. Available via: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A42018Y1218%2801%29. 

68 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Presidency  takes  the  lead  in  steering  implementation  of  the  EU  Youth  Dialogue,  in  close 
cooperation with the Commission and the National Agencies, as well as youth civil society 
representatives, within a coordination group. 

Creative FLIP (DG EAC) is an EYY initiative and stands for Finance, Learning, Innovation 
and Intellectual Property Rights for the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI). 
In  2022,  the  initiative  has  launched  a  call  that  was  until  6  June  2022.  The  call  encouraged 
cultural and creative organisations interested in setting up cooperation projects with schools, 
introducing students to creative professions and building ties with their local community. As 
part of this initiative, students explored creative and transversal skills through a co-creation 
project,  while  also  discussing  and  learning  about  related  topics  such  as  the  importance  of 
protecting  and  respecting  intellectual  property  and  creations.  15  creative  facilitators  were 
selected to take part in this programme, receiving a support of  EUR 7 500, and organised a 
minimum of 10 workshops each. The 15 Learning Labs – cooperation projects between cultural 
and creative organisations and schools - were implemented between September 2022 and May 
2023.  More  info: Open  call  for  Learning  Labs  Programmes!  |  European  Youth  Portal 
(europa.eu). 

The  Year  included  a  unique  initiative  under  this  objective,  namely  a  ‘Family  of  policy 
dialogues’:  European  Commissioners  in  conversation  with  youth  (SG,  COMM,  EAC, 
SCIC). Although some Commissioners regularly engage with young people as part of their 
portfolios, this cycle of policy dialogues was unprecedented. Under the guidance of the Cabinet 
of the President, all cabinets of the College of Commissioners organised policy dialogues on a 
chosen theme, identifying and inviting young participants, and organising information sessions 
and preparatory briefings. Each College member invited young people into the Berlaymont for 
a policy dialogue over the course of the Year. Each dialogue lasted approximately two hours 
and consisted of a meaningful conversation and exchange of views with young people on topics 
of interest and concern to them, within the remit of the respective Commissioner’s portfolio. 
The  young  participants  were  able  to  express  views,  raise  questions,  and  share  ideas  and 
suggestions in a face-to-face meeting, often coupled with an online interaction. Providing a 
space for direct and meaningful interaction with College members across the policy spectrum 
has helped to embed youth concerns throughout the political agenda. All the policy dialogues 
can be viewed on the on the Youth Portal. In all, 26 policy dialogues took place from February 
2022 to February 2023. The policy dialogues covered almost all of the Commission’s policy 
areas and generated active participation from young people from all over the EU, as well as 
from  non-EU  countries.  There  were  almost  350  participants  from  over  40  countries, 
representing  more  than  50  nationalities.  All  Member  States  were  represented,  the  gender 
balance was close to even and 5 participants with disabilities attended too. We were also able 
to bring across participants from Ukraine. The cabinets were supported by their DGs on the 
‘substance’ of the dialogue and were also supported by the EYY team, comprised of the SG, 
DGs COMM, SCIC, EAC and EU Youth Coordinator. 

The  dialogues  were  very  successful  and  demonstrated  the  enthusiasm  and  maturity  of  our 
young people, who not only came forward with questions and concerns particular to them, but 
presented  ideas  that  could  contribute  to  the  broader  society  and  economy. The  dialogues 
brought  together  young  participants  from  different  countries  and  created  an  excellent 
networking opportunity for them, demystifying the Brussels bubble for the participants to  a 
large  extent.  Moreover,  the  empathy  shown  by  Commissioners  when  engaging  with  their 
groups  went  quite  some  way  in  building  bridges  between  the  Commission  and  our  young 
people.  The  main  takeaways  from  the  policy  dialogues  were  youth-related  concerns  about 
employment,  sustainability  and  the  cost  of  living.  There  was  also  concern  that  national 

69 

 
 
politicians present a distorted view of the EU, blaming Brussels whenever there was a wider 
problem. The DG COMM Visitors’ Centre organised the information sessions that preceded 
the dialogues with the Commissioners. DG COMM also supported the youth policy dialogues 
as regards communication by providing a photographer to cover the events and through the 
social media corporate accounts of the Commission. 

Date 
3 February 2022 

7 April 2022 

17 May 2022 

24 May 2022 

13 June 2022 

Commissioner 
Executive Vice-
President 
Margrethe 
Vestager  
Executive Vice-
President Frans 
Timmermans 

Commissioner 
Didier Reynders 

Commissioner 
Helena Dalli 

Commissioner 
Nicolas Schmit 

DG 
DG COMP 

Topic  
Taking  competition  policy 
into the future  

DG CLIMA 

Sustainable  Consumption 
and Production 

DG JUST 

Right to repair initiative 

DG JUST 

DG EMPL 

21 June 2022 

Vice-President 
Margaritis Schinas 

DG COMM 

20 September 2022  Commissioner 
Thierry Breton 

21 September 2022  Commissioner 
Johannes Hahn 

26 September 2022  Commissioner 
Kadri Simson 

DG GROW 

DG BUDG 

DG ENER 

27 September 2022  Commissioner 
Elisa Ferreira 

DG REGIO 

28 September 2022  Maciej Popowski 
(Acting Director-
General, 
Neighbourhood 
and Enlargement 
Negotiations) 

DG NEAR 

11 October 2022 

Commissioner 
Mariya Gabriel 

DG EAC 

Strengthening  the  role  of 
equality bodies 

income 

Social  protection  for  all: 
and 
minimum 
beyond 
Our  European  Way  of  Life 
–  the  model  of  society  we 
stand for 
Entrepreneurship 

Financing 
priorities 

future 

EU 

How to ensure that Europe’s 
future energy independence 
is sustainable 
Addressing  brain  drain: 
attracting 
and 
retaining 
talents in EU regions 
Building  bridges  among 
communities 

Research  and  innovation  at 
school  -  the  role  of  young 
people 

70 

 
 
25 October 2022 

Commissioner 
Mairead 
McGuinness 

DG FISMA 

9 November 2022  Commissioner 
Adina Vălean 

15 November 2022  Commissioner 
Janez Lenarčič 

DG MOVE 

DG ECHO 

29 November 2022  Commissioner 

DG INTPA 

Jutta Urpilainen 

30 November 2022  Commissioner 
Paolo Gentiloni 

DG ECFIN 

Future  of  finance,  digital 
currency, 
sustainable 
finance,  access  to  finance 
for  vulnerable  groups  and 
finance literacy 
Jobs in Transport 

change, 

and 
Climate 
humanitarian  action  and 
International  Humanitarian 
Law 
Building partnerships as the 
way 
in 
forward 
geopolitically  challenging 
times 
Measuring  what  matters: 
looking beyond GDP 

5 December 2022  VP Dubravca Šuica  SG 

Geography of Discontent 

6 December 2022  Vice-President 
Maroš Šefčovič 

DG CLIMA 

8 December 2022  High 

EEAS 

10 January 2023 

23 January 2023 

25 January 2023 

31 January 2023 

Representative and 
VP Josep Borrell 

EVP Valdis 
Dombrovskis 

Commissioner 
Ylva Johansson 

Commissioner 
Virginijus 
Sinkevičius 

Commissioner 
Janusz 
Wojciechowski 

DG ECFIN 

DG HOME 

DG ENV 

the  Youth 

Innovations  for  the  Future 
of  Europe  –  the  voice  of 
youth 
Engaging 
in 
Global  Politics:  towards  a 
a 
stronger  Europe 
changing world 
Supporting  People  Now  & 
Repowering  our  Economy 
for the Future 
Protecting  young  people 
from organised crime 

in 

Sustainable  and  circular 
textiles 

DG AGRI 

Young people in agriculture 
and rural areas 

7 February 2023 

VP Věra Jourová 

SG 

22 February 2023  Commissioner 

DG SANTE 

Stella Kyriakides 

and 

freedom 
Media 
pluralism in the EU 
Towards  a  comprehensive 
approach to Mental Health 

Table 5. Overview of Policy Dialogues with Commissioners 

71 

 
 
The  topics  of  discussion  and  the  main  take  aways  of  each  debate  can  be  found  under  the 
dedicated session of the Youth Portal59. 

The Youth Voice Platform (DG EAC) is an innovative digital 3D platform that was set up 
especially for the Year to connect and engage with young people, enabling them to record their 
voices and express their views and opinions on EYY policy areas. This innovative platform’s 
umbrella message is ‘Voice your Vision’, enabling a digital journey into the young generation’s 
visions  of  the  future  through  their  own  voice  recordings.  Young  people  can  interact  and 
exchange  valuable  ideas,  visions,  comments  and  questions  on  topics  such  as  employment, 
sustainability,  social  equality,  education  and  mental  health.  The  platform  was  launched  on 
25 April 2022. By 9 May 2023 (end of the Year), more than 1 700 voice messages had been 
submitted  by  young  people  on  the  platform.  More  information  on  the  Voice  Platform  is 
available in Chapter 3.1.4 European Youth Portal – EYY webpage. 

The Youth Talks (DG EAC), under the umbrella of both the EYY and the European Solidarity 
Corps,  were  originally  devised  as  part  of  the  European  Solidarity  Corps’  General  Online 
Training courses, with the Year in mind as well. In fact, the Youth Talks also boosted the Year, 
as they proved to be an excellent peer-to-peer exercise among young people: inspiring talks of 
10-15  minutes  by  young  people,  on  topics  that  matter  to  them,  to  spread  ideas,  activate 
engagement, and empower and inspire young people to become actors of change. They were a 
series  of  live  talks  delivered  at  large-scale  youth  events  during  the  Year,  which  were  live-
streamed, filmed and now feature on the Youth Talks EU Academy website. The first round of 
Youth Talks was hosted in the Berlaymont on 7 May 2022, during the Open Doors Day. The 
first round of inspirational Youth Talks was on democracy, solidarity and interculturality. The 
second round of talks took place at the EU Youth Conference in Prague (10-13 July) on the 
topics  of  inclusion,  sustainability  and  intergenerational  solidarity.  During  the  LevelUp! 
bootcamp on 28-29 October in Brussels, four more Youth Talks were held on the topics of on 
democracy  and  organisation,  and  democracy  and  communication.  On  5  December,  another 
round of Youth Talks was held as part of the EYY NCs/SH group meeting, on the topics of 
humanitarian aid, mental health and volunteering. The young speakers came from all across 
the EU, as well as from Ukraine. They were selected after a rigorous selection process that 
included training sessions on public speaking. Because of their success, the Youth Talks are 
being continued in 2023 and 2024 under a similar format and accompanied by promotional 
activities. 

After the success of the 2022 edition, which started during the EYY a new Pool of European 
Young Journalists (DG EAC) was set up for 2023, with the aim of giving young people a 
voice as storytellers. Thirteen young journalists have been selected from across Europe through 
an  open  call  and  are  now  responsible  for writing  articles  and  creating  videos,  podcasts  and 
photojournalism on themes of interest to young people. They choose the topics themselves and 
develop the content either alone or as part of a team. The Commission does not influence their 
position, as that is the responsibility of the respective authors. The journalists are also given 
the  opportunity  to cover  key  European  events  on  the  ground  and  report  back,  as  well  as 
receiving regular training with experts in the field of journalism. More information on the pool 
of  European  young  journalists  is  available  in  Chapter  3.1  The  European  Year  of  Youth 
communication campaign. 

Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport. The Year 
coincided with the relaunch of learning mobility: the Erasmus+ programme celebrated its 
35th  anniversary  –  to  be  more  inclusive,  greener  and  digitally  ready  (DG  EAC).  The 

59 What is the European Year of Youth? | European Youth Portal (europa.eu) 

72 

 
 
 
COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on mobility activities, particularly in 
the context of the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes. In 2020, 50% fewer 
learners started a learning mobility abroad than in 201960. Nevertheless, young people should 
rest assured that these EU programmes specifically dedicated to young people have returned, 
more enhanced than ever. The year 2022 marked 35 years of the Erasmus+ programme, and 
the EYY was a great opportunity to celebrate the more than 13 million young people who have 
taken part in that adventure since 1987, as well as to promote the programme’s new generation 
in all its dimensions – covering education, training, youth and sport – which contribute to the 
Year’s objectives. The 2021-2027 Erasmus+ programme has been strengthened, offering many 
new opportunities for young people, and is also greener and more inclusive. For the first time, 
the programme enables school pupils to complete an individual mobility period abroad. To use 
the  full  potential  of  the  digital  decade,  new  mobility  formats  are  now  being  offered  with 
blended mobility and blended intensive programmes. The European Student Card Initiative is 
helping to build a stronger European student identity and facilitates all stages of their mobility 
(through  the  Erasmus+  app).  This  initiative  has  been  further  developed  during  the  EYY. 
Erasmus+ funds are also more accessible to smaller, grassroots organisations, such as youth 
groups  and  sports  clubs.  A  ‘Green  Erasmus+’  encourages  participants  to  use  lower-carbon 
transport  as  an  alternative  to  flying  and  offers  more  opportunities  for  participants  and 
organisations  to  develop  sustainability  knowledge  and  skills,  along  with  environmentally 
friendly approaches, while promoting the incorporation of green practices into all projects. 

A  specific  new  action  dedicated  to  youth  participation,  the  Youth  Participation  Action 
(DG EAC), was included in the new-generation Erasmus+ programme. The action provides 
young  people  from  all  backgrounds  with  a  chance  to  engage  and  participate  in  civic 
society. These activities are youth-driven projects for young people to take an active role in 
civic and democratic processes and become active citizens. They are an opportunity for several 
thousand young people to design and implement their own projects with activities potentially 
reaching  hundreds  of  thousands  of  young  people  across  Europe  and  benefiting  large 
communities  by  driving  positive  societal  change.  This  action  was  supported  with 
EUR 13 million  in  the  context  of  the  EYY  and  was  considered  one  of  the  Year’s  policy 
initiatives.  The  total  budget  for  2022  was  EUR 30 million,  which  could  be  awarded  to  537 
projects  that  year.  The  number  of  forecasted  participants  is  107 200,  involving  1 387 
organisations. 

EU  Alumni  Engagement  Initiative  (initially  launched  by  FPI,  and  since  November  2022 
managed by the EEAS), supports the long-lasting dialogue and cooperation between the EU 
and  former  participants  of  EU  funded  programmes  and  initiatives  organised  by  both 
Headquarters  or  EU  Delegations,  allowing  to  multiply  the  positive  impact  of  EU  funded 
programmes and strengthening partnerships across the world. 

With the relaunch of international mobility in 2022, the Global Erasmus+ Alumni Mentoring 
Scheme  (DG  EAC)  has  been  putting  young  people  in  the  spotlight,  connecting  Erasmus+ 
alumni with potential Erasmus+ participants. Erasmus+ supports global and regional students 
and alumni networks (in the Western Balkans and Africa), which promote activities at grass-
root level – mainly with a focus on young people – through calls for project ideas published 
several times a year. Erasmus+ students and alumni in EU and non-EU countries aim to raise 
young people’s awareness of the programme and mentor prospective participants, by providing 

60 Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social 
Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation of the EU Youth Strategy (2019-2021). 
Available via: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52021DC0636. 

73 

 
 
 
them with inspiring testimonies and practical tips based on their own mobility experiences, as 
well as information on destinations, courses and institutions. During the EYY, 38 local projects 
proposed by students and alumni networks were selected. Of these, 12 were developed across 
the world by the Erasmus+ Student and Alumni Alliance (ESAA), 21 by the Western Balkans 
Alumni Association (WBAA) and 5 by the African Students and Alumni Forum (ASAF). 

The Year also gave visibility to a series of initiatives that not only boosted higher education in 
Europe, but  also  put  students  and universities in the spotlight.  The  European Strategy for 
Universities (DG EAC / DG RTD) was one such initiative. It aims to equip students with the 
competences  they  need  to  succeed  in  their  professional  and  personal  lives,  through 
opportunities  to  study  abroad  and  be  actors  of  change  by  cooperating  with  other  students, 
professionals, and researchers from different countries and disciplines, to find solutions to the 
biggest challenges our society is facing. It provides support for students to start their course at 
one  university  and  continue  it  at  another  one  in  Europe,  following  transnational  joint 
programmes and getting a joint European degree that is automatically recognised within the 
EU. The Strategy also aims to address the underrepresentation of girls and young women in 
the  STEM  fields  through  a  roadmap  of  activities  including  a  manifesto  from  STE(A)M-
oriented universities on gender-inclusive STE(A)M education, that is, integrating arts, social 
sciences and the humanities in STEM education as a transdisciplinary, inclusive and future-
oriented approach to learning, to render STEM studies and careers more appealing to a diverse 
range of young people, especially girls. Several activities have been implemented in 2022 under 
this roadmap. Among these, the ESTEAM Fests and the EIT’s Girls go Circular initiatives 
were organised to boost girls’ and young women’s STEM, digital and entrepreneurial skills 
across Member States. Furthermore, topics were added in 2022 to the 2023 Horizon Europe 
work programme, to support the implementation of an EU Manifesto for STE(A)M education 
and research and innovation career paths, as well as to develop cultural and creative approaches 
for gender-responsive STEAM education. The European Strategy for Universities was adopted 
by the Commission on 18 January 2022, and the Council Conclusions on a European Strategy 
Empowering  Higher  Education  Institutions  for  the  Future  of  Europe  were  adopted  by  the 
Council on 5 April 2022. 

European Solidarity Corps – Solidarity Projects are a European Solidarity Corps initiative 
under the Year (DG EAC). These bottom-up local solidarity activities are set up and run by a 
group of young people with the aim of addressing key challenges within their communities. 
The  objective  is  to  give  young  people  a  chance  to  express  solidarity  and  engage  by  taking 
responsibility and committing themselves to bring positive change to their local community. 
At the same time, through active participation  and implementation  of the solidarity project, 
young people experience non-formal learning that can boost their personal, educational, social 
and civic development. Involvement in their own project can empower them and make their 
voices heard on matters that they consider important. This action is part of the general call of 
the European Solidarity Corps. The reinforcement for the Year was EUR 3 million and the total 
available budget for 2022 was EUR 14 million. There were two obligatory deadlines and one 
optional deadline in 2022. The third deadline was on 4 October, with 1 045 projects submitted. 
In  total,  1 313  projects  were  awarded  in  2022  and  the  number  of  forecasted  participants  is 
7 111. 

With  the  first  call  for  2022,  building  on  the  EU  Aid  Volunteers  initiative,  the  European 
Solidarity  Corps  launched  the  first  selection  of  projects  for  its  Humanitarian  Aid 
volunteering (DG EAC) in 2022, offering volunteering activities in support of humanitarian 
aid  operations.  Participants  aged  18-35  are  able  to  participate,  individually  or  in  teams,  in 
projects that, where relevant, facilitate the transition from the humanitarian response to long-

74 

 
 
term sustainable and inclusive development; help to strengthen the capacity and resilience of 
vulnerable or disaster-affected communities; reinforce disaster preparedness and disaster risk 
reduction; link relief, rehabilitation and development. Volunteers and organisations are able to 
rely on complementary support, e.g. involving more experienced coaches and experts. The aim 
is that, through these actions, young people would acquire essential competences that could 
contribute  to  their  personal  and  socio-educational  development,  increase  their  self-
empowerment and self-esteem, but also enhance their employability. The first Quality Labels 
for  this  new  strand  of  the  European  Solidarity  Corps  have  been  awarded  by  EACEA  on 
22 March 2022 to 100 organisations. The new strand of the European Solidarity Corps kicked 
off with the first volunteers ready for selection to deployment in April 2023. 

With the first call launched in 2022 by the 33 Erasmus+ National Agencies across Europe, the 
DiscoverEU  Inclusion  Action  (DG  EAC)  supports  organisations  and  informal  groups  of 
young  people  to  carry  out  projects  enabling  young  people  with  fewer  opportunities  to 
participate  in  DiscoverEU  on  an  equal  footing  with  their  peers.  DiscoverEU  offers  young 
people  who  are  18  years  old  a  chance  to  have  a  short-term  individual  or  group  experience 
travelling  across  Europe  by  rail,  or  other  modes  of  transport  where  necessary.  The  main 
objectives  are  to:  give  young  people  the  chance  to  learn  about  Europe  and  discover  the 
opportunities  it  offers  for  their  future  education  and  life  choices;  equip  young  people  with 
valuable  knowledge,  life  skills  and  competences;  encourage  connection  and  intercultural 
dialogue between young people; promote young people’s sense of belonging to the EU; and 
inspire young people to embrace sustainable travel in particular, and environmental awareness 
in general. The DiscoverEU Inclusion Action aims to reach out to young people with fewer 
opportunities who would not apply on their own initiative. It concerns those facing accessibility 
and outreach barriers like disability, health problems, barriers linked to education and training 
systems, cultural differences, social or economic barriers, barriers linked to discrimination, or 
geographical barriers. The DiscoverEU Inclusion Action enables participants to receive extra 
support while travelling, such as the possibility to be accompanied, to receive extra budget for 
subsistence, organising mobility activities, mentoring and support for travel preparations. In 
total, 166 projects were submitted by organisations in the first round in October 2022, and 69 
in the February 2023 round. The first projects started on 1 March 2023. 

Under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) as part of Horizon Europe, the European 
Researchers’  Night  (DG  EAC)  brings  research  and  researchers  closer  to  the  public,  and 
particularly  young people, with  the aim of increasing  awareness  of research and innovation 
activities, and boosting public recognition of science and research education. It also showcases 
the role of researchers in society and helps increase young people’s interest in research and 
scientific  careers.  The  European  Researchers’  Night  promotes  EU  values,  including  gender 
balance, diversity and inclusiveness in science. It is a well-established outreach activity across 
EU Member States and countries associated with Horizon Europe, which supports around 50 
projects annually all over Europe and beyond. The European Researchers’ Night took place on 
30 September 2022 in 27 countries and 496 cities, attracting 1.5 million visitors. It covered a 
wide  range  of  activities  that  were  both  educational  and  entertaining,  including  hands-on 
experiments,  science  shows,  simulations,  debates,  games,  competitions,  demonstrations, 
enquiries and quizzes. In 2022, the European Researchers’ Night also included a new initiative, 
Researchers at Schools. Activities under this initiative brought researchers to schools all year 
round and enabled direct interaction between pupils, teachers and researchers on challenges 
faced  by  our  societies,  reaching  2 147  schools  and  112 472  pupils.  Researchers  at  Schools 
activities  focused  on  priority  issues,  such  as  the  environment,  oceans,  health,  the  European 
Green  Deal,  sustainable  development  and  climate  change.  Both  initiatives  conveyed  the 
messages underpinning the EYY and engaged with young people. 

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On 10 October 2022, the Commission launched Culture Moves Europe (DG EAC), a new 
mobility scheme for artists in the EU. Its aim is to offer artists and cultural professionals the 
opportunity  to  go  abroad  for  artistic  or  professional  development,  for  international 
collaborations, to find new audiences, or to co-produce, co-create or present their work. The 
scheme is of particular interest for young people as it focused on emerging artists. Thanks to 
Culture Moves Europe, thousands of young and emerging artists will be able to travel, perform 
and work across Europe over the coming years. To support artists from remote regions such as 
the outermost regions, the initiative offers additional top-ups for persons travelling from or to 
an outermost region. 

On  5 April  2022,  the  EU  Council  of  Ministers  adopted  a  Commission  proposal  for  a 
Recommendation  on  the  mobility  of  young  volunteers  across  the  European  Union 
(DG EAC). The Recommendation intends to facilitate youth transnational volunteering; give 
guidance to enhance the inclusiveness, quality, sustainability and recognition of transnational 
volunteering  schemes;  address  new  trends  (such  as  intergenerational  solidarity  and  digital 
volunteering); encourage mutual learning and networking among organisations; and support 
complementarity between volunteering schemes in Member States and the European Solidarity 
Corps. 

The  newest  Jean  Monnet  action,  Learning  EU  Initiatives  (DG  EAC),  enables  schools  in 
Erasmus+ programme countries to apply for funding to help shape their students into active 
citizens. Schools and networks of schools seeking solutions for teaching about the EU can now 
apply for grants of up to EUR 30 000 over a three-year period. In the same vein, Jean Monnet 
Teacher  Training funds  activities  that  strengthen  universities’  knowledge  and  skills,  so  that 
they  can  enable  existing  and  future  teachers  to  improve  how  they  teach  EU  subjects  in  the 
classroom.  The Jean  Monnet  Schools  Networks also  enable  an  exchange  of  good  practices 
between  schools  and  higher  education  institutions.  These  new  Jean  Monnet  for  Schools 
activities were fully rolled out in the latest Erasmus+ call. 

Only  11%  of  all  farms  in  the  EU  are  run  by  farmers  under  40  and  persuading  more  young 
people to begin farming is not an easy task. In addition, rural areas where the agricultural sector 
plays a major role face significant demographic challenges, as young people tend to leave those 
areas to live in cities. The common agricultural policy (CAP) 2023-2027 provides EU support 
for  young  people  in  farming  (DG  AGRI),  with  the  aim  of  attracting  young  farmers  and 
facilitating business development in rural areas. 

DG AGRI has approved 28 CAP Strategic Plans to support young farmers and young people 
in rural areas, and to make rural areas more attractive for young people. Through a specific 
objective (8), Member States can promote employment, growth and local development in rural 
areas to improve working and living conditions, thereby preventing an exodus of skilled people. 
These are some examples of the rural development actions that Member States will implement 
under  CAP  2023-2027  that  will  also  benefit  young  people  in  the  countryside:  developing 
infrastructures  and  basic  services  in  villages;  developing  local  economy  and  business 
development  in  rural  areas;  and supporting  community-led developments  related to  societal 
needs  through  LEADER  and  Smart  Village  strategies.  The  Smart  Villages  approach  is  a 
relatively new concept  that  many stakeholders are interested in  (including local  community 
representatives,  national  policymakers,  researchers  and  civil  society  organisations),  and  its 
development  across  the  European  countryside  could  make  a  significant  contribution  to  this 
objective. 

Young  people  have  been  assigned  a  particularly  important  role  in  the  European  Citizens’ 
Panels (DG COMM), as part of the Conference on the Future of Europe and its follow-up 

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initiatives.  Both  of  these  initiatives  gave  young  people  (as  members  of  civil  society  or  as 
citizens) the opportunity to make their voices heard and to provide input on the EU’s priorities 
for the future. Young people between 16 and 25 represented one third of each panel set up in 
this context. For example, three European Citizens’ Panels were organised in 2023 to discuss 
the Commission Proposal for a Council Recommendation replacing and repealing the existing 
one from 2011: ‘Youth on the move – promoting the learning mobility of young people.’ 

In  April  2022,  the  European  Investment  Fund,  supported  by  the  InvestEU  (DG  ECFIN), 
started  deploying  a  guarantee  and  an  equity  product  to  financial  intermediaries  supporting 
microfinance, social enterprises, students and learners, as well as enterprises providing training 
to their employees. Young people are among the target groups expected to benefit from these 
products; for example, through funding to set up a microenterprise or to improve their skills. 
Other financial products under the InvestEU Social Investment and Skills policy window are 
aimed at financing student housing or other social infrastructure and services. One of the policy 
objectives  is  to  provide  support  to  vulnerable  and  disadvantaged  groups,  including  young 
people with disabilities. 

In the context of new challenges to youth employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, among 
other  factors,  young  people  need  better  quality  traineeships.  The  Commission  therefore 
undertook  a  Review  of  the  Council  Recommendation  on  the  Quality  Framework  for 
Traineeships (QFT) (a commitment in the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan) (DG 
EMPL),  in  response  to  calls  from  the  European  Parliament  and  various  stakeholders.  The 
review  looked  at  whether  traineeships  outside  education  curricula  offer  young  people  a 
successful pathway into the labour market, and whether the QFT in its current form effectively 
guarantees traineeship quality. It concluded that traineeships continue to be a crucial pathway 
for young people to enter the labour market while learning on the job. Quality traineeships, that 
reflect the principles of the QFT help to increase young people’s employability in terms of their 
skills and access to professional networks, as highlighted by the views expressed in the trainee 
survey.  Quality  traineeships  also  bring  distinct  opportunities  and  benefits  for  employers  to 
attract, train and retain young talent. This is particularly relevant in the context of pronounced 
skills mismatches and shortages that are particularly affecting some sectors in the EU labour 
market. 

ALMA (Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve) (DG EMPL) is an active inclusion initiative that aims 
to provide participants with a tailor-made approach. It consists of coaching and counselling, 
including a supervised stay in a public or private hosting structure in another EU Member State 
for  2-6  months.  ALMA  targets  the  most  disadvantaged  NEETs  aged  18-29,  who  are  most 
vulnerable with regard to their chances of accessing work or training for individual or structural 
reasons (e.g. disability, long-term unemployment, insufficient school performance/vocational 
skills, migration/marginalised background). The objective of ALMA is two-fold: to improve 
these young people’s skills, knowledge and experience so that they can find their way into the 
job  market  and  society  once  they  are  back  in  their  home  country;  and  to  give  them  the 
opportunity  to  strengthen  their  self-esteem  and  to  forge  their  future.  The  initiative  offers  a 
comprehensive  project  cycle  structured  into  three  phases:  preparation,  mobility  abroad  and 
follow-up. Participants are benefiting from continuous coaching, counselling and training for 
the entire duration of the project, and all incurred costs (e.g. travel, accommodation, insurance 
and social security) are covered. 

On 16 June 2022, the Council adopted a Council Recommendation on Individual Learning 
Accounts  (DG  EMPL).  These  Learning  Accounts  could  be  a  real  step-change  in  helping 
Member  States,  and  their  education  and  training  institutions,  to  develop  an  enabling 
environment in which all working-age adults can upskill and reskill, and develop personal and 

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professional skills, in line with the Skills Agenda and Communication on achieving a European 
Education Area by 2025. Individual Learning Accounts ensure that adults can access financial 
support for training whenever they need it, integrated in a user-friendly way with a registry of 
available training offers, certification and guidance, and paid training leave provisions. They 
incentivise the uptake of training in a joined-up way, by giving young people the means to pay 
for it, and by ensuring that it will be financially worth it for them. The initiative’s target group 
includes young adults, who would benefit from individual Learning Accounts by developing 
the skillset they need to enter and make successful transitions in the labour market. 

In line with the European Pillar of Social Rights, the overall objective of the reinforced Youth 
Guarantee (DG EMPL) is to support young people to gain work experience and develop the 
right skills for a changing world of work, particularly those that are relevant to the green and 
digital  transitions.  The  year  2022  was  crucial  for  implementation  of  the  reinforced  Youth 
Guarantee. Several Member States started implementing measures under their Recovery and 
Resilience Plans targeting young people, and youth employment-related measures included in 
their  ESF+  programmes.  Member  States  where  the  NEET  problem  is  more  serious  need  to 
devote  at  least  12.5%  of  their  ESF+  funding  to  NEETs.  All  other  Member  States  need  to 
dedicate an appropriate amount to implementing the reinforced Youth Guarantee in line with 
the gravity of their youth employment challenges. The reinforced Youth Guarantee has no end 
date and will remain the EU’s reference policy framework for fighting youth unemployment 
and inactivity. Beyond 2022, with the help of EU funds available under the EU’s 2021-2027 
long-term  budget  and  NextGenerationEU,  the  reinforced  Youth  Guarantee  will  continue 
inactivity; 
to  achieve  more  and  better:  prevention  of  unemployment  and 
striving 
school-to-work transitions through tailored and individualised support measures; outreach to 
and activation of the more vulnerable; upskilling and reskilling; post-placement support; and 
integrated services. Monitoring of the reinforced Youth Guarantee’s implementation also took 
place  via  a  dedicated  multilateral  surveillance  review  in  November  2023.  The  European 
Network of Public Employment Services contributed through a dedicated survey. 

The 2022 Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) review (DG EMPL), 
titled “Young Europeans: employment and social challenges ahead”, provides key analysis on 
the labour market and social situation of young people in the COVID-19 recovery and in the 
context of the twin transitions. 

In 2022, the first edition of the European Employment and Social Rights Forum (EESRF) 
(DG EMPL) took place. During the second day of the event, there were three youth-focused 
sessions  featuring  the  ESDE  report.  The  topics  of  discussion  focused  on  labour  market 
outcomes, learning losses, living conditions, and emerging opportunities for young Europeans. 

In the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, the Commission committed to presenting 
an  initiative  to  support  social  dialogue  at  EU  and  national  level,  which  would  include  an 
leaders 
Information  and  visiting  programme  for  young  future  social  partner 
(DG EMPL).  Preparatory  work,  including  discussions  with  social  partners  whose  buy-in  is 
essential, is ongoing and continues in 2023. 

The Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 (DG EMPL) aims to 
improve the lives of people with disabilities in the coming decade, in the EU and beyond. It 
addresses issues that are indispensable for young people with disabilities, such as accessibility; 
the promotion of independent living; quality social and employment services; accessible and 
inclusive  housing;  participation  in  inclusive  education  and  lifelong  learning;  and  adequate 
social  protection.  In  2022,  the  Commission  launched  a  package  to  improve  labour  market 
outcomes  of  persons  with  disabilities,  paying  particular  attention  to  young  people  with 

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disabilities. It provides guidance and supports mutual learning on strengthening the capacities 
of  employment  and  integration  services;  promotes  hiring  perspectives  through  affirmative 
action and combating stereotypes; ensures adequate accommodation; ensures health and safety 
at work, and vocational rehabilitation schemes in the event of chronic diseases or accidents; 
and  presents  quality  jobs  in  sheltered  employment,  as  well  as  pathways  to  the  open  labour 
market. 

On 14 June 2021 the Council adopted a Recommendation establishing a European Child 
Guarantee  (DG  EMPL).  Its  objective  is  to  prevent  and  combat  social  exclusion  by 
guaranteeing effective access of children in need to a set of key services: free early childhood 
education and care, free education (including school-based activities and at least one healthy 
meal each school day), free healthcare as well as healthy nutrition, and adequate housing. To 
implement  the Recommendation, the Member States have nominated their Child Guarantee 
Coordinators and have prepared national action plans, covering the period until 2030. 

The European Alliance for Apprenticeships EAfA (DG EMPL) is a platform that aims to 
strengthen the supply, quality, image and mobility of apprenticeships. Since its launch in 2013, 
39 countries have made national commitments under the alliance, including the 27 Member 
States, all candidate countries, all European Free Trade Association countries, and Moldova 
and  Israel.  In  addition,  almost  400  pledges  have  been  made  by  various  apprenticeship 
stakeholders. Since 2013, companies, employers and intermediaries have pledged to provide 
over 1.3 million apprenticeships and other training or first-job opportunities to young people. 
Apprenticeships are an effective form of work-based learning in VET that ease the transition 
from education and training into work. To ensure that apprenticeships are beneficial for both 
apprentice and employer, in 2018, Member States agreed on a European Framework for Quality 
and Effective Apprenticeships setting 14 quality criteria: 7 on learning and working conditions, 
and 7 on framework conditions. 

The European Apprentices Network (EAN) (DG EMPL) is composed of apprentices, youth 
organisations and other bodies related to apprenticeships. EAN was established in April 2017 
to  ensure that young apprentices are involved in  VET-related policymaking, particularly  on 
apprenticeships. On 24-25 March 2022, the network was relaunched in Barcelona to give it a 
new impetus, as announced by the 2020 Youth Employment Support package. 

The European Vocational Skills Week (DG EMPL) is an EU campaign to promote VET as 
an attractive learning and career pathway for young people and adults. In 2023, it is embedded 
in the European Year of Skills and mobilises VET stakeholders at European, national, regional 
and local level. The main event is organised during the week of 23-27 October, in coordination 
with  the  Spanish  Presidency  in  Sevilla.  The  Commission  is  supporting  Member  States  to 
modernise their VET systems to ensure they are attractive, flexible, agile and respond to labour 
market needs, in line with the 2020 VET Council Recommendation. 

On  1 July 2020,  the  Commission  announced  its  intention  to  support  networks  of  young 
entrepreneurs  (YES  Communication).  It  also  recommended  to  Member  States  to  promote 
entrepreneurship in a post-COVID-19 context (EASE Recommendation). In this context, the 
Commission  has  set  up  a  Youth  Entrepreneurship  Policy  Academy  (DG  EMPL)  in 
partnership with the OECD. This is one of the initiatives announced in the Action Plan on the 
Social Economy adopted by the Commission on 9 December 2021. The YEPA promotes youth 
entrepreneurship by working with national policymakers and youth entrepreneurship networks. 
The initiative puts a special focus on social entrepreneurship – as young people are increasingly 
looking for work that reflects their values – and on young women entrepreneurs, as the latter 
remain underrepresented in entrepreneurship. As much as possible, the specific challenges for 

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young people in each country are identified, as these vary greatly between countries. At the 
same time, an EU Policy Academy makes it possible to share best practices across borders and, 
where relevant, to promote cross-national initiatives. The kick-off Conference of the Academy 
took  place  on  9 and 10 March 2023.  The  first  online  capacity-building  event  dedicated  to 
‘Access to finance for young entrepreneurs’ was held on 19, 20 and 21 June (participants are 
divided into three groups to ease the debate). The second event on ‘Green entrepreneurship for 
young  entrepreneurs’  and  ‘Innovative  and  growth-oriented  entrepreneurship’  took  place  in 
October 2023 and the third event on ‘Social entrepreneurship’ is taking place in February 2024. 
The  online  events  are  accessible  also  for  non-members  of  the  Academy  on  the  webpage 
www.yepa-hub.org. 

Erasmus  for Young Entrepreneurs  (DG  GROW) is  a cross-border  exchange programme 
that gives new or aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to learn from experienced entrepreneurs 
running small businesses in other participating countries. The exchange of experience takes 
place  during  a  stay  with  the  experienced  entrepreneur,  which  helps  the  new  entrepreneur 
acquire the skills needed to run a small firm. The host benefits from fresh perspectives on their 
business  and  gets  the  opportunities  to  cooperate  with  foreign  partners  and  learn  about  new 
markets.  In  2022,  the  programme  facilitated  1 063  exchanges  between  new  and  host 
entrepreneurs. The programme does not have age limitations and the new entrepreneurs are 
considered ‘new’ based on their entrepreneurial experience rather than their age. However, in 
926 of these exchanges (87%) at least one of the participants was 35 years old or younger and 
therefore contributed directly to the objectives of the EYY. 

In 2023, DG REFORM has put forward a flagship initiative on skills, meant to support EU 
Member States to address persistent skills mismatches, labour shortages and insufficient skills 
of the workforce for the green and digital transition under the Technical Support Instrument. 
In the context of this flagship, support will be provided to the EU Member States to design and 
implement  reforms  to  prepare Europeans, including  young people, for the green and digital 
economies and adapt the education and training systems to the needs of the labour market. 

Through the EU Youth Delegate programme (EEAS), two young people are selected each 
year to represent young Europeans at the UN. Youth delegates focus on increasing European 
youth participation in the UN’s work and reaching out to young audiences across the continent 
to promote and increase the EU’s visibility at the UN. The programme’s core objective is to 
connect young people with the goal of working together to empower young people and break 
down barriers, to secure stronger youth engagement in the UN’s work. 

DG JUST implemented the comprehensive EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child during 
2022 to better protect all children and promote their rights. The strategy contains major policy 
initiatives put forward by the Commission to help children exercise their rights and to place 
them at the centre of EU policymaking. The initiative was designed with children, for children. 
DG JUST received over 10 000 replies to an online questionnaire from children across Europe 
and beyond, as well as input from over 50 focus groups. DG JUST also met with children after 
the strategy was adopted to explain what was included and what was not, and why. Alongside 
the official version of the strategy, the team produced an illustrated version for kids. A guide 
on how to  write for children was  also  produced  and there  were workshops on how to  draft 
child-friendly and accessible documents.. 

The  EU  Children’s  Participation  Platform  (DG  JUST),  which  is  one  of  the  main 
deliverables of the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child, works towards a more systemic, 
consistent, meaningful, inclusive and safe approach to child participation (all children under 
18). It is a hub for existing child participation mechanisms (e.g. national children’s parliaments, 

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children’s city councils, and children’s boards advising international NGOs), and for exchange 
experiences or peer learning. It also contributes to involving children in EU decision-making 
processes.  Alongside  its  offline  work,  the  platform  includes  an  online  space  for  members, 
including children, to connect with one another. Vice-President Šuica officially launched the 
Child Participation Platform participatory process on 27 September 2022, during the European 
Forum on the Rights of the Child. The Commission set up the Child Participation Platform in 
close partnership with children, the European Parliament and child rights’ organisations. The 
contract  for the platform’s management and implementation was signed in September 2022 
and  its  first  General  Assembly  took  place  on  26  and  27 June 2023.  See  the  EU  Children’s 
Participation Platform for more information. 

Aligned with the EU Strategy on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life, the 
Commission supported the establishment of the Network of Young European Ambassadors 
for Holocaust Remembrance (DG  JUST). This  initiative, funded through the Citizenship, 
Equality, Rights and Values programme, aims to engage schools, universities and vocational 
training  institutions  in  promoting  accurate  information  about  the  Holocaust  among  young 
Europeans. The network seeks to empower young people to access and share information on 
the  subject  both  online  and  offline,  promoting  innovative  approaches  to  Holocaust 
remembrance. The initiative was officially launched at the Civil Society Forum on combating 
antisemitism and promoting Jewish life, held in Brussels on 16 and 17 November 2022. 

In March 2022, the Commission organised the European Anti-Racism Summit (DG JUST) 
as  part  of  the  EU  Anti-racism  Action  Plan.  The  summit  brought  together  EU  institutions, 
Member States,  civil  society, equality  bodies, grassroots  organisations and  young people  to 
discuss the impact of racism on racialised young people. The event emphasised the ongoing 
need to combat racism in the EU and highlighted the important role that all young people can 
play in this effort. The summit took place on 21 March 2022 in Brussels and online, featuring 
a high-level panel session on ‘Enhancing participation of racialised young people in the fight 
against racism and discrimination.’ Commissioner Gabriel set the scene in a video message, 
and the EU Youth Coordinator, Biliana Sirakova, also took part. In addition to the panel, the 
summit  included  discussions  on  national  action  plans  against  racism,  as  well  as  breakout 
sessions, including one focused on addressing the effects of racism in education. 

The Commission’s European Cooperation Network on Elections61 of Member State competent 
authorities  on  free  and  fair  elections,  has  supported  exchanges  of  good  practices  that  help 
different  groups  of  citizens  participate  in  elections,  including  younger  persons.  On 
25 November 2021, the Commission adopted a package of measures to strengthen democracy 
and protect the integrity of elections (DG JUST), with two recast legislative proposals laying 
down detailed arrangements regarding the electoral rights of ‘mobile EU citizens’. It aims to 
ensure  broad  and  inclusive  participation  in  elections,  support  them  in  the  exercise  of  their 
rights,  protect  the  integrity  of  elections.  It  also  puts  forward  measures  facilitating  access  to 
electoral information, which could also entail the provision of information and the use of means 
of communication adapted to specific voter groups such as young voters. A high-level event 
on  elections  was  organised  on  23-24 October  (DG  JUST)  with  representatives  of  Member 
States’ authorities responsible for the organisation of elections at director level. A session was 
dedicated  to  measures  promoting  inclusive  political  representation  of  different  groups, 
including  younger  persons,  sharing  perspectives,  experiences  and  strategies  for  increasing 

61 https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/eu-
citizenship/democracy-and-electoral-rights/european-cooperation-network-elections_en 

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inclusivity  in  EU  democracies.  As  part  of  the  ‘Defence  of  Democracy’  package  the 
Commission  is  also  preparing  a  recommendation  promoting  high  democratic  standards  on 
European  and  national  elections  and  referenda.  Among  others,  it  will  support  broad 
participation in elections of different groups, including youth participation in elections. In 
view of the 2024 elections to the European Parliament, the Commission is going to conduct a 
mobile  EU  citizens  campaign,  which  will  complement  the  European  Parliaments’  overall 
awareness-raising campaign ahead of the elections by specifically reaching out to EU citizens 
residing in another Member State, focusing on young voters. 

Throughout the Year, the Interreg Volunteer Youth Initiative (DG REGIO) benefited more 
than  700  young  volunteers,  who  were  trained  in  project  management  and  communication 
through an Interreg programme or Interreg projects. In the Macro-Regional Strategies, 2022 
saw the creation of the Danube Youth Council, giving young people from the Danube Region 
a dedicated space in which to debate and be consulted on political decisions. Another Youth 
Council is in the process of being created through the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian 
Region. In parallel, the Youth Council in the Alps continues its activities, and young people in 
the Baltic have issued a Baltic Sea Youth Declaration. 

As part of the work on the long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas, which identifies the need 
to  empower  rural  young  people  to  access  greater  opportunities,  DG  AGRI,  together  with 
DG REGIO, has also taken the essential steps towards the set-up of the Rural revitalisation 
platform launched in June 2023, as envisaged in the EU Rural action plan. This is a one-stop 
shop for rural communities, young people living in rural areas, rural project holders and local 
authorities alike to collaborate. It predominantly supports rural areas affected by population 
loss, ageing and a lack of economic opportunities, by sharing information and best practices on 
tools and strategies and could be particularly relevant for young people living in rural areas or 
that may decide to move there. The website is embedded in the wider Rural Pact community 
platform  and  includes  collaborative  tools  (creation  of  profile,  user  generated  content, 
community groups) and a space enabling access resources (good practices, projects and other 
websites)  alongside  news  and  events.  The  dedicated  session  on  ‘Rural  youth  as  leaders  of 
change’  organised  at  the  Rural  Pact  conference  on  15-16 June 2022,  and  the  EU  CAP 
Network  workshop  on  ‘Young  entrepreneurs  –  Engines  of  innovation  in  rural  areas’ 
(30 November  to  1 Dec  2022),  contributed  to  the  design  of  this  platform  and  to  a  broader 
dialogue on the role of young people in rural areas and the Rural Pact, reflected in the inclusion 
of rural youth representatives in the Rural Pact coordination group, the governance body of 
the Rural Pact. 

The  EUSAIR4YOUTH  Action  (DG  REGIO)  project  aims  to  strengthen  the  sense  of 
community in the Adriatic-Ionian region by empowering cities, young people, universities and 
organisations  from  countries  included  in  the  European  Union  Strategy  for  the  Adriatic  and 
Ionian Region (EUSAIR). The EUSAIR4YOUTH project seeks to stimulate the participation 
of  young  people  in  EU  activities  and  increase  their  understanding  of  the  EU  policymaking 
process. Through a sports competition and engagement with policymakers, young people are 
having the opportunity to make recommendations and help to shape the response to the region’s 
future challenges. The project aims to harness young people’s potential as the driving force of 
society, promoting cultural understanding, social cohesion and inclusion, dialogue, awareness 
of EU policymaking, and interregional cooperation. 

The Youth NEXT project (DG REGIO), carried out by three junior professionals, targeted 
the  Interreg  NEXT  programmes,  namely  the  Interreg  programmes  with  the  neighbouring 
countries of the EU. The main objective of the project was to understand how to better involve 

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young  people  in  the  policy  shaping  of  the  EU  external  programmes.  This  was  particularly 
relevant  in  the  times  of  crisis  (post-COVID-19  pandemic)  and  war  (Russian  aggression  in 
Ukraine)  that  have  affected  young  people  aspirations.  The  project  included  interviews  with 
managing  authorities  of  the  targeted  programmes  and  with  young  people  coming  from  the 
neighbouring  countries,  to  gather  their  feedback  and  impressions  on  the  current  youth 
involvement. 

In  May  2022,  the  Commission  launched  a  call  for  applications  for  a  Bioeconomy  Youth 
Ambassadors Network (DG RTD). These Youth Ambassadors are now taking an active role 
and amplifying the voice of young people in bioeconomy over a period of two years. The call 
was a great success: 15 Youth Ambassadors were selected from all over the EU, based on the 
325 applications received. Youth Ambassadors are between the ages of 18 and 32 and have 
expertise in various fields related to bioeconomy. They lead by example, inform and inspire 
others about the bioeconomy, raise awareness, and participate in various bioeconomy-related 
events  and  discussions.  They  also  participated  in  the  High-Level  Bioeconomy  Conference, 
which took  place on 6-7 October 2022 by helping to  design  session  content and take-away 
messages. 

To  make  the  European  Citizens’  Initiative  (ECI)  better  known  among  the  public,  and 
particularly young people, the Commission launched EU Democracy in Action – Have Your 
Say with the European Citizens’ Initiative (SG) in 2023. It is a four-unit learning toolkit that 
introduces young people to the ECI while they are still in secondary school and encourages 
them to take an active role in European issues. Aimed at pupils in the last two years of high 
school, and using instruction, research, debate, project work and role play, the toolkit teaches 
how decisions are made in the EU, how those decisions affect their everyday lives and, most 
importantly, how the ECI enables them to help shape EU policy on issues that they care about. 
The toolkit is suitable for citizenship or civics classes but would also work as part of a project-
based foreign language class. It is being promoted to schools through the Learning Corner and 
its  newsletter;  webinars  for  teachers;  mailouts  to  schools,  their  networks  and  teachers’ 
organisations; and relevant websites and social media. In addition, a video competition based 
on  the  toolkit  is  being  organised  for  secondary  school  students  in  autumn  2023,  and  three 
winning teams are be offered a study trip to Brussels. 

The Horizon Europe Young Observer (RTD) 2022 policy initiative invites master’s students 
to participate as young observers in the evaluations of proposals under the EU’s research and 
innovation funding programme, Horizon Europe. The initiative enables students across Europe 
to  witness  the  robust,  fair  and  impartial  evaluation  process  at  EU  level  that  contributes  to 
Europe’s cutting-edge research and competitiveness. Students currently enrolled in a master’s 
programme in  any discipline at  a university in  any Member State can apply.  Students from 
disadvantaged and diverse backgrounds or belonging to vulnerable and marginalised groups 
are  particularly  encouraged  to  apply.  This  initiative  provides  a  unique  way  to  open  up  the 
Horizon Europe evaluation process to young people who are interested in research, and inspire 
them to pursue research-related careers and participate actively in EU processes. See Become 
a Horizon Europe Young Observer for more information. 

3.2.2.1.2. Other EU institutions 

The European Parliament launched a specific call for applications dedicated to the Year. It 
awarded seven grants to pan-European organisations focused on capacity-building activities 
supporting  young  people  to  become  advocates  for  democratic  participation  and  active 

83 

 
 
 
 
citizenship. All seven projects awarded recruited a network of young advocates for democratic 
participation and active citizenship covering all Member States (the minimum was 7 I/project) 
and provided them with skills-based training on relevant topics as for instance: knowledge of 
EU institutions and especially the European Parliament; activism; campaigning; social media 
communication;  non-formal  education  methods  and  so  on.  One  example  of  such  capacity-
building programmes can be found here: LevelUp! Activism training programmes ⎸Activist 
Network. 

The CoR worked with representatives of youth organisations across the EU and the European 
Youth  Forum  to  draft  a  Charter  on  Youth  and  Democracy  in  a  bottom-up,  participatory 
process.  Based  on  the  input  from  the  youth  representatives,  the  charter  makes  concrete 
recommendations on how to build and consolidate a more youth-friendly democratic space to 
ensure that young people’s voices are formally, continuously and permanently represented in 
the EU, in all Member States, regions and cities. The Charter was co-signed by the Presidents 
of the Youth Forum and the CoR as part of a high-level political debate at the closure of the 
Year. It can be found on a dedicated website created by the CoR to promote youth participation 
in democratic life. 

The CoR also issued an own-initiative opinion on the Future of EU youth policy, with policy 
recommendations  building  on  consultations  of  youth  organisations,  including  the  European 
Youth Forum, and held several youth-related political debates with youth representatives and 
politicians from the local and regional as well as national and European levels, including also 
a conference at the margins of the closing event of the Conference on the Future of Europe in 
Strasbourg in May 2022. Most importantly, the biennial CoR Summit of Cities and Regions 
held during the French Presidency in Marseille, featured an entire morning of high-level events 
with  and  focusing  on  the  young  people,  in  particular  in  the  recovery  after  the  COVID-19 
pandemic and in the context of discussions on the future of European democracy, strengthening 
youth engagement and European values. 

The  CoR  also  committed  to  ensuring  the  continuation  of  its  successful  Young  Elected 
Politicians Programme for elected politicians under the age of 40, which enables them to visit 
the CoR and other EU institutions, and become familiar with their work and European politics. 
Where relevant, the programme also includes them in consultations that the CoR organises to 
incorporate the perspectives from young elected politicians in its work. 

As part of the 13th edition of the Civil Society Prize 2022, the EESC rewarded initiatives that 
aimed to create a better future for and with European young people by addressing the specific 
needs  of  young  people,  and  helping  to  empower  them  and  engage  them  in  all  spheres  of 
economic  and  social  life.  The  winning  projects  included  three  non-profit  initiatives  that 
contribute  to  the  empowerment  and  participation  of  European  young  people:  Fundación 
Secretariado Gitano’s Learning by Doing, which addresses youth unemployment; Movimento 
Transformers’ Superpower School, which empowers at-risk young people; and Associazione 
Agevolando’s Care Leavers Network, which supports young people with experience of the care 
system. The awards ceremony was attended by journalists from all Member States and received 
extensive social media engagement, with a potential reach of 18 815 000 on Twitter and 2 523 
mentions of the event hashtag. 

The EESC developed several opinions in 2022 to strengthen the voices of young people in 
different fields: SOC/753 Young people’s role in the green transition; SOC/706 European Year 
of  Youth  2022;  NAT/860  Empowering  young  people  to  achieve  sustainable  development 

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through education; REX/556 Youth action plan in the EU external action; and REX/553 Youth 
Policy in the Western Balkans, as part of the Innovation Agenda for the Western Balkans. 

In the information report62, the EESC interviewed two UK youth organisations: the British 
Youth Council and Young Scot, and proposed consideration of ‘a future mobility scheme for 
young people between the UK and the EU.’ In addition, and at the request of the EU Delegation 
to the UK, the EESC proposed four young professionals for the 2024 EU Visitors Programme: 
one from the British Youth Council (UK level), one from Young Scot (Scotland), one from the 
Human Rights Consortium (Northern Ireland), and one from the Wales Council for Voluntary 
Action (Wales). 

Youth  organisations  actively  engaged  in  various  other  activities  organised  by  the  EESC’s 
observatories  and  groups,  thereby  amplifying  the  range  of  youth  issues,  priorities  and 
perspectives. The Labour Market Observatory held a public hearing in March 2022, focusing 
on  Youth  participation  in  the  EU  labour  market.  This  session  examined  the  challenges, 
opportunities  and  trends  related  to  youth  employment  through  discussions  involving  civil 
society organisations and socio-professional stakeholders. The Permanent Group on Inclusion 
of the Roma organised a public hearing in April 2022, specifically addressing Roma children 
and  young  people  in  public  education:  assessing  the  situation  and  the  way  forward. 
Another public hearing, organised by the Permanent Group on Disability Rights in April 2022, 
centred  around  the  Employment  of  young  people  with  disabilities.  These  discussions, 
enriched by the participation of numerous youth organisations, will contribute to the official 
reports  of  the  respective  EESC  observatories  and  groups.  The  Civil  Society  Organisations’ 
group  (Group  III)  hosted  a  webinar  on  Youth  in  the  post-war  reconstruction  process  in 
June 2022.  Several  other  events  and  public  hearings  also  took  place  in  2022,  such  as 
encouraging  the  engagement  of  young  people  towards  achieving  sustainable  development; 
empowering young people to achieve sustainable development through education; and Youth 
Action Plan for young people worldwide: Next step – implementation! 

3.2.2.2. Examples of achievements at national level 

A  few  examples  of  Member  States’  achievements  at  national,  regional  and  local  level  are 
presented  to  support  the  second  EYY  objective.  Member  States  seized  the  opportunity  to 
embed  individual  EYY  events  and  activities  within  the  context  of  ongoing,  wider  and 
longer-term efforts – at local, regional, national and European level – to empower young people 
as the driving force of Europe’s social, economic and political future. It must therefore be noted 
that  coordination  of  the  Year’s  events  at  national  level  also  gave  EU  policy  initiatives  and 
funding opportunities increased visibility and attention, especially when it came to supporting 
young people to become active and engaged citizens. 

The French-speaking part of Belgium launched a call for applications for the designation of 
five Coups de Cœur Jeunesse (Youth Favourites in English) for projects to be led by young 
people in 2022 in the region. During the concluding event of the EYY organised by the French-
speaking part, the winners were granted EUR 3 000 each to bolster their projects’ forthcoming 
endeavours.  Furthermore,  custom  videos  were  created  for  each  project,  enabling  the  young 
winners  to  showcase  their  initiatives.  Subsequently,  these  videos  were  shared  across  social 
networks and partner websites. 

62 REX/563 Implementation of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement 

85 

 
 
 
 
 
The three Ministries of Youth in Belgium organised jointly the Bel’J Day event. During the 
event young people had the change to engage with Ministers in meaningful discussions about 
volunteering. Since 2009 the event has been the heart of collaboration for the Belgian Youth 
Ministries  and  enables  three  different  tracks  of  collaboration:  for  individual  young  people, 
groups and also youth workers. 

To  ensure  the  inclusion  of  rural  young  people,  Bulgaria  held  a  series  of  events  called  the 
Young  Leaders  Academy  in  six  small  towns,  from  October 2022  to  February 2023.  The 
programme  included  practical  tasks  and  lectures  presenting  the  policy  development  and 
implementation processes for young people at national and local level and promoting active 
youth participation. The six academies were attended by a total of 180 young people. 

Throughout  the  Year,  Czechia  cooperated  with  the  Erasmus  Student  Network  and  held  84 
workshops  in  Praha,  Brno,  Ústí  nad  Labem,  Ostrava  and  Zlín,  mostly  on  social  inclusion, 
education  and  youth,  skills  and  employability,  and  the  green  dimension.  Over  5 300 
students, both local and with Erasmus+, were involved in the workshops. Each of the regional 
seminars consisted of two main parts:  a simplified simulation  of the European Council and 
European  Parliament;  and  a  debate  with  politicians,  experts  and  other  public  figures.  The 
Decide for Europe project  continued in  the following year and,  as part of the legacy of the 
EYY, a four-day model meeting of the EU institutions took place in January 2023. 

For  Czechia,  the  EYY  involved  cooperating  in  preparations  for  the  Year’s  final 
conference, held in Brussels in December 2022. In cooperation with the Trio Presidency, a call 
was launched for young people who wanted to be part of the preparations. As a result, a Youth 
Task Force group was set up, consisting of two Czech, two French and two Swedish students. 
They  visited  the  European  Parliament  in  October 2022  in  preparation  for  the  closing 
conference. 

In  November 2022,  Czechia  organised  the  Art  of  Living  Together  conference  in  Prague, 
aimed at giving young people who are actively involved in community life the opportunity to 
share their experiences and inspire others. The event was attended by approximately 200 people 
and  consisted  of  workshops,  inspirational  speeches  and  a  Youth  Talks  session  with  seven 
participants,  followed  by  a  panel  discussion.  An  evaluation  questionnaire  was  sent  to  all 
participants after the event. According to the answers, more than half of the participants are 
currently actively involved in changing society for the better, some of them with the help of 
European programmes. 

In addition to this, Czechia hosted training for NGOs on How to Support and Integrate 
Young Refugees in Prague from 29 November to 2 December 2022. There were speakers from 
the  NGO  People  in  Need,  who  focused  on  the  current  refugee  crisis  caused  by  the  war  in 
Ukraine, and from the NGO Doctors without Borders, who discussed the psychological aspects 
of working with refugees. In addition to the training, there were also workshops with successful 
project implementers who had taken part in the extraordinary Erasmus+ Spring Call in response 
to the situation in Ukraine. 

To  support,  promote  and  empower  young  people’s  active  participation  in  democratic  life, 
Denmark set up a steering group consisting of a wide range of relevant stakeholders. The 
steering group participated in most of the activities that took place during the Year, promoting 
them to their networks and encouraging their young members to apply for EYY Micro Grants. 
The steering group was highly successful and will continue its work after EYY. 

In  April 2022,  Finland  also  set  up  a  Youth  Steering  Group.  It  consisted  of  11  members 
between 16 and 29 years old, 5 of whom were from disadvantaged backgrounds. All of them 

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were positively surprised by the amount of responsibility they were given, and the opportunities 
they got to impact the design and specific EYY activities. The Youth Steering Group model is 
one  of  the  main  legacies  of  EYY  in  Finland  and  has  already  been  adopted  by  the 
EuroPeers Finland network. 

In May 2022, Finland launched the EYY Finland Awards competition. A jury comprised of 
five  Erasmus+  experts  from  the  Finnish  National  Agency  for  Education  (EDUFI)  and  one 
member of the Youth Steering Group selected 10 finalists. The winners were announced during 
the  national  final  event  on  19 January 2023.  As  part  of  their  recognition,  the  finalists  were 
invited  on  a  study  visit  to  Brussels  from  6 to 9 February 2023,  during  which  they  had  the 
opportunity to share best practices in youth participation with their Belgian counterparts. The 
finalists expressed that their models had gained visibility in the youth field, both in Finland and 
Belgium. The process also provided them with new ideas to enhance their work with young 
people,  enabled  them  to  set  up  networks,  and  increased  their  awareness  of  EU  funding 
opportunities. 

Finland targeted smaller, rural communities with the EU Youth Goals Library Tour, which 
exhibited European Youth Goals posters in public libraries in 10 municipalities. The posters 
were produced by a youth art club and presented the goals from young people’s perspectives. 
Visitors voted for their favourite European Youth Goal, and six local newspapers wrote about 
the exhibition, the Youth Steering Group and EYY. The number of people reached overall was 
1 000. 

Germany organised the Federal Youth Conference as a major nationwide event. From 2 to 
4 September 2022, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth 
invited young people from all over Germany to a Federal Youth Conference on youth policy 
and participation in Berlin. It was an event format that takes place every two years and was 
placed in  the  context of  the EYY. The  conference was a central  participation format of the 
Federal Government's Youth Strategy and was closely linked to the objectives of the EYY in 
terms  of  its  approach  and  objectives  (e.g.  strengthening  youth  participation,  cross-sectoral 
youth policy, taking young people's perspectives into account in policymaking). 

Between 23 May and 10 June 2022, Greece opened a call to the National Youth Council for 
the submission of proposals for actions under the objectives and subject-specific pillars of the 
EYY. The committee received five proposals, three of which were selected and funded by the 
Grant Agreement. 

For Greece, introduction of the National Youth Capital is part of the legacy of the Year. The 
Honorary Title of the National Youth Capital for the Municipalities of Greece will be awarded 
annually to one of the country’s municipalities. The selection procedure for the first National 
Youth Capital 2024 was announced at the EYY closing event in Athens. 

To implement the policy on the promotion of cultural goods and contemporary youth artworks 
Greece  launched  the  project  Art,  a  silent  revolution:  art  as  a  dynamic  tool  for  social 
transformation and change to address inequality, stereotypes, racism and manifestations 
of violence and abuse. Consisting of a series of events and activities, the project included rural 
young people in two informative events: one in Orestiada in Evros (18 December 2022), and 
one in Heraklion in Crete (5 April 2023). 

Hungary organised the You Have a Say! Parliamentary Youth Day on 2 December 2022. 
The event provided a platform for young people to express their opinions and learn effective 
communication skills to engage with politicians. Participants gained practical insights into the 

87 

 
 
voting  process,  as  well  as  knowledge  about  political  parties  and  the  roles  of  the 
Hungarian Parliament  and  European  Parliament.  The  event  aimed  to  create  a  guided 
experience,  enabling  young  individuals  to  exercise  their  right  to  speak  up  and  familiarise 
themselves with European and national youth policies. Workshops also focused on informing 
participants about European mobility opportunities and how to access them. The event attracted 
320  attendees  –  predominantly  high  school  students  –  who  had  a  valuable  opportunity  to 
interact  and  discuss  with  members  of  the  Hungarian  Parliament,  as  well  as  Hungarian 
representatives from the European Parliament. 

Hungary  launched  a  220-hour  youth  support  adult  training.  The  training  was  nationally 
recognised, and is unique in the Hungarian youth profession, which provided a supply for the 
Hungarian  youth  profession  in  addition  to  the  higher  education  community  organisation 
educational major. Until this initiative, there was no independent youth professional training 
in Hungary according to the European Qualifications Framework, although the speciality of 
youth support appears in the field of higher education, formal training of professionals dealing 
with social groups covers only about one fifth of the Hungarian society. In the interest of the 
development of the youth civil sector, the National Youth Council launched this initiative under 
the EYY2022. 

Hungary undertook research on the situation of entrepreneurship education in Hungary and 
recognition of Youthpass as a tool helping young people’s employability. The main takeaways 
of the research state the importance of entrepreneurship education and its promotion is mainly 
justified  by  the  need  to  create  jobs,  especially  to  reduce  youth  unemployment  and  address 
NEETs.  The  acquisition  of  entrepreneurial  skills  also  fits  in  with  the  concept  of  lifelong 
learning. The need for entrepreneurship education is also emerging at an increasingly young 
age.  In addition  to  entrepreneurship education courses and programmes  in  higher education 
institutions, entrepreneurship education in primary and secondary schools is also increasingly 
emphasised. This activity examined the applicability, relevance and impact of the YouthPass 
in Hungary. 

Latvia conducted feasibility studies for topics that need to be explored as part of youth 
policy from December 2022 to January 2023. The study aimed to identify the current situation 
of research into the youth sector and youth target, and the research still needed in the areas of 
youth and youth policy was then carried out. 

To empower rural young people to participate in or organise activities, Lithuania created four 
civic youth spaces in Rokiškis, Elektrėnai, Visaginas and Klaipėda. These spaces were open 
for at least five days a week. Young people engaged in activities on themes such as leadership, 
creativity, citizenship and the green transition. Active local young people were pleased to have 
a coworking and learning space, where they could engage with their peers in daily activities, 
work and interact with their organisations. In 2023, it was decided that the civic youth space in 
Visaginas would remain open, and that the Agency of Youth Affairs would continue working 
to expand the network of civic youth spaces in the coming years. 

Lithuania also formed a network of Youth Ambassadors to motivate young people all over 
Lithuania,  in  an  initiative  called  Year  of  Youth  Ambassadors.  During  EYY,  around  140 
Youth  Ambassadors  helped  communicate  EYY  activities  and  volunteered  as  part  of  the 
Travelling Year of Youth and other events. They worked with youth-affairs coordinators in 
municipalities  to  implement  activities  and  engage  young  people.  The  initiative  is  being 
continued in 2023 with the name Ambassadors of Youth Policy. 

Malta  financed  a  piece  of  national  youth  research  called  Mirrors  and  windows:  Maltese 
young people’s perception of themselves, their families, communities and society, with the 

88 

 
 
aim  of  assessing  the  backgrounds,  perceptions,  values  and  behaviours  of  a  representative 
sample (n=1 200) of young people in Malta between the ages of 16 and 30. It covered a wide 
range of issues, including their personal and social development, family and relationships, and 
health and well-being, as well as their views on religion, politics, the environment, their use of 
social media, their language skills, and their cultural and leisure pursuits. 

In the Netherlands, the Youth Participation Event Den Bosch (28 May 2022) was organised 
in collaboration with European Youth Dialogue, the Dutch Youth Representatives to the EU, 
and  local  Youth  Ambassadors  from  the  city  of  Den  Bosch  (in  the  south  of  the  country),  to 
discuss how to involve more young people in local politics. 

The Netherlands also organised a conference on meaningful and inclusive youth participation, 
VER_ander,  which  was  held  on  24 November 2022  in  Den  Bosch  and  involved  250 
professionals  in  the  youth  domain.  Workshops  and  inspiration  sessions  were  provided  by 
various parties, with contributions ranging from local best practices and active young people 
that  were  formerly  imprisoned  to  successful  international  Erasmus+  collaborations  and  the 
Liaison  Office of the European Parliament.  It  was  co-organised with  the  Erasmus+ and the 
European Solidarity National Agency. 

In addition, the Netherlands set up a Dialogue Dinner for young people and politicians in the 
West-Friesland region, in January 2023. The event was co-organised with local young people 
and consisted of several brainstorms and dialogues with local youngsters and politicians, who 
discussed  the  region’s  colonial  history  and  active  role  in  the  slave  trade.  They  delved  into 
questions about how to talk about that history, as well as how municipalities and local young 
people  can  collaborate  and  create  opportunities  for  youngsters  to  be  included  and  taken 
seriously. 

In June 2022, Norway organised a 2-day conference as a kick-off for the programme period 
2021-2027,  which  was  delayed  because  of  COVID-19.  Participants  included  beneficiaries, 
newcomers in the youth field and potential applicants, stakeholders, and other relevant people 
and organisations in the youth field. After the event, a call for funding opportunities under the 
EYY was announced. The conference had a lasting impact: it spread broader knowledge about 
the programme among relevant target groups, and 16 local EYY activities took place in the 
months following it. 

Slovakia was very active in promoting information for young people and youth workers. For 
instance,  the  Slovak  Youth  Council  for  the  National  Institute  of  Education  and  Youth 
conducted research on young people and labour markets. The results, which were presented 
to participants, focused on the experiences of young people when looking for work during the 
COVID-19 pandemic, but also on the skills and benefits of informal education for successful 
employment. 

Furthermore, Slovakia organised different thematic training sessions during the EYY, among 
which summer schools had a prominent role. The Summer Schools that took place in summer 
(11-15 July 2022) and autumn (21-23 October 2022), consisted of simulation activities, as well 
as real-life visits to different departments and offices. 

In addition, Slovakia organised a Europe Day celebration in Košice on 6 May 2022. During 
the programmes information about activities and the possibilities of EU programmes for young 
people, such as Erasmus+ for young people and the European Solidarity Corps was delivered. 

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Slovenia  organised  a  dialogue  between  young  people  and  the  Commissioner  for  Crisis 
Management, Janez Lenarčič.  Involving 150 active young people, it aimed to  ensure that 
youth voices are heard at EU level. 

In line with the spirit of the EYY, Spain followed a co-creation bottom-up approach in which 
Injuve performed a cross-programme, cross-field role in coordinating national activities. Injuve 
involved all the national relevant actors and, for example, created a national steering group 
including regional governments, the National Youth Council, the Creative Europe desks, youth 
organisations and other youth-programme coordinating bodies. Through regional stakeholders, 
Spain carried out a consultation to identify relevant topics to promote among young people, 
depending on the local, regional and national context. This consultation took place in July and 
August 2022. 

During  the  EYY,  Sweden  organised  seminars  for  young  people,  young  journalists  and 
Youth  Ambassadors  about  democracy  and  the  media  at  Almedalen  Week  2022  –  a 
democratic meeting place for dialogue and exchange between various actors. Almedalen Week 
itself was visited by 45 000 people and 2 000 organisations, while the seminars were attended 
by 90 participants on-site and 638 online. The seminars looked at different perspectives on why 
media literacy is important, especially during election times. Some younger participants also 
requested more information about the EU. 

A  political  panel  debate  took  place  in  Sweden  at  the  Europaforum  in  Hässleholm  on 
25 May 2022, with the aim of inspiring young people to vote in Sweden’s upcoming election 
and in the Mock School Elections. A total of 195 people attended on-site. 

Micro Grant schemes – a major EYY initiative 

In Austria, EYY Micro Grants of up to EUR 1 000 were awarded. Out of the 297 
applications submitted, 181 received financial support, and a total of 434 activities and 
events have been organised. The biggest event was held on 11 November in Vienna with 
around 400 participants, including a number of high-level representatives from the EU, and 
representatives from the Western Balkans. 

Just like in many other Member States, the EYY Micro Grants scheme was highly successful 
in Denmark too. Youth-led projects were pitched via video application, and this set-up was 
very effective in enabling the inclusion of applications from newcomers and young people 
with fewer opportunities. More than 40 proposals received funding overall. 

Finland also recognised the effectiveness of the EYY Micro Grants scheme. Launched on 
9 May 2022, this  initiative specifically targeted  youth-led groups. Over the course of  five 
application rounds, a total of 24 mini projects run by young people received funding. The 
selection process involved special evaluating juries, which each included a member from the 
Finnish  Youth  Steering  Group.  The  funded  projects  successfully  reached  2 893  young 
individuals. Notably, the EYY Micro Grants project served as a significant component of 
the Years’ communication activities. Local youth groups and national youth organisations 
have expressed a desire to maintain a similar, easily accessible funding mechanism beyond 
EYY. 

In Germany, the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth 
implemented  the  EYY  Micro  Grants  scheme,  enabling  organisations  to  apply  for  up  to 

90 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EUR 5 000  for  small  projects  that  are  in  line  with  the  Year’s  objectives.  The  German 
National Agency, JUGEND für Europa, confirmed that there were 120 applications to the 
EYY Micro Grants scheme. Some of these were from organisations that were not previously 
part of Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps, meaning they had managed to reach new 
target groups. 

In Iceland, the EYY Micro Grants scheme was also highly successful, with 18 proposals 
selected for funding that amounted to EUR 24 000. The funded activities address a variety 
of societal  challenges,  such as racism, mental  health and climate change, reaching nearly 
1 500 young people. Participants expressed great appreciation for this bottom-up initiative, 
which emphasised the crucial role that young people play in shaping society’s future. 

In Ireland, the EYY Micro Grants scheme targeted local grassroots youth groups, providing 
funding  of  up  to  EUR 5 000  for  youth  projects  aligned  with  EYY  priorities.  The  scheme 
received  an  overwhelming  response,  with  263  applications,  resulting  in  EUR 296 629.00 
being awarded to 106 high-quality projects across Ireland. Notably, 81% of the beneficiary 
organisations were newcomers to  Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps, helping to 
promote new relationships.  The scheme also  offered feedback to  unsuccessful applicants, 
leading to improved subsequent applications. The initiative had broad appeal to both youth 
organisations  and  marginalised  groups,  including  efforts  to  reach  rural  and  isolated 
communities through targeted promotions. 

Table 6. Examples of Micro Grant Schemes allocation 

3.2.2.3. Examples of achievements at stakeholder level 

DISCLAIMER 

The  following  section  contains  a  selection  of  key  achievements  provided  by  EYY 
stakeholders, with the aim of giving a snapshot of the types of activities organised under this 
specific objective. All of the achievements of EYY stakeholders can be found on the EYY 
Activities map.  

To enable more young people to become active and engaged citizens, the French l’Association 
de la Fondation Étudiante pour la Ville (AFEV) ran a consultation about Europe and young 
people’s  perceptions  of  the  EU,  focusing  particularly  on  students  and  children  from 
disadvantaged backgrounds who are not familiar with EU matters. The consultation led to a 
policy brief and recordings of several young people who shared their ideas in a podcast format, 
which was streamed on a radio show in collaboration with Euradio. 

The  ERYICA  Youth  Ambassadors  Commission  (EYAC),  a  pilot  initiative  that  began  in 
2022 as part of the YinfoPeers project and the European Year on Youth, is now a reality within 
the ERYICA structure. The commission consists of 8 young representatives from 6 countries 
who  representing  the  larger  Youth  Ambassadors’  community  of  40  ambassadors  across 
Europe. 

In collaboration with ERYICA during EYY, Eurodesk released comprehensive guidelines on 
Information  Services’.  The  guidelines  offer 
‘Youth  Participation 

in  Youth 

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recommendations  on  diverse  models  and  formats  that  facilitate  meaningful  engagement  of 
young individuals, as well as good practices from both organisations’ networks. 

Eurodesk  also  launched  the  Pool  of  European  Young  Journalists  in  January  2022,  in 
cooperation  with  the  Commission.  The  project  ensured  peer-to-peer  information  and  the 
creation of a youth community behind the Year. Additionally, these young people are the ears 
and eyes on the ground, as they attended and reported on European events organised during the 
Year, such as the European Day of Languages, the Conference on the Future of Europe and the 
EYY  summer  festivals.  The  young  journalists  receive  training  from  experts  in  the  field  of 
journalism and they publish their content on the Youth Portal. 

During  2022,  YMCA  Europe  was  able  to  directly  impact  3 339  young  people  and  youth 
workers and an estimated 200 youth organisations through training and education, capacity-
building  activities  and  youth  policy  work,  contributing  to  increasing  youth  participation, 
inclusion of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, strengthening the employability 
of young people through developing their soft and hard skill sets. 

In the beginning of 2022 YMCA Europe quickly reorganised itself for support and assistance 
to Ukrainian refugees and internally displaced persons through their member organisations 
around Europe. Using the funds fundraised by YMCA Europe for these efforts, 116 projects 
were supported through the sub-granting scheme resulting in over 200 000 Ukrainian refugees 
and internally displaced people being assisted. 

3.2.3 EYY Objective 3: promoting opportunities available to young people from public 
policies at all levels 

The EYY’s third objective was to raise young people’s awareness about the opportunities that 
the  EU  provides  for  their  personal  and  professional  development.  This  aimed  to  help  them 
navigate  the  post-pandemic  period  successfully.  The  Year  focused  on  promoting  these 
opportunities.  The  following  chapters  provide  examples  of  initiatives  organised  during  the 
Year  that  are  aligned  with  this  objective,  highlighting  how  they  supported  young  people  to 
understand and access these opportunities for growth and advancement in a green, digital and 
inclusive world. 

3.2.3.1. Key achievements at EU level 

3.2.3.1.1. European Commission 

The EYY was promoted through a series of music and cultural events in 2022 (DG EAC). 
These  included  summer  festivals,  music  concerts  and  artistic  performances.  They  were 
organised at EU and national level in cooperation with Member States and stakeholders active 
in  the  Creative  Europe  Programme.  This  brought  Europe  closer  to  its  young  people,  while 
bringing them closer to Europe’s vibrant culture and heritage. Music plays a fundamental role 
in young people’s development and can often be a window into their social, psychological and 
cultural needs.  

Throughout the Year, many music festivals adopted the EYY branding. On 21 June 2022, the 
Commission  announced  a  partnership  with  the  European  Festivals  Association  (EFA)  and 

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Yourope  (both  funded  under  the  Creative  Europe  network  scheme),  endorsing  the  Year’s 
objectives  and  adding  a  cultural  dimension.  A  joint  campaign  by  Yourope  and  EFA  was 
launched on 12 August 2022 with the support of around 73 festivals and organisations across 
24  countries.  The  European  Festival  Awards  2022  also  set  up  a  special  Impossible  without 
Youth Award, which was presented to  the Danish festival  Roskilde in  one of the 16 award 
categories.  Visit  the  Impossible  without  Youth  and  European  Festival  Awards  websites  for 
more information. 

Learning  about  European  culture  is  at  the  heart  of  DiscoverEU,  the  Erasmus+  action  that 
enables 18-year-olds to explore Europe, mainly by rail. The EYY’s policy initiative, Youth 
discovers culture thanks to DiscoverEU in 2022 (DG EAC), aimed to increase connections 
and cultural dialogue among young people travelling with DiscoverEU. A Culture Route was 
published on the Youth Portal in May 2022 to encourage young people to embark on a cultural 
journey during their travels. The route highlights places of cultural interest, including cities 
that are European Capitals of Culture or home to European Heritage Label sites. Since summer 
2022, DiscoverEU travellers have been given a card that gives them a discount on many cultural 
activities  across  Europe.  The  Erasmus+  National  Agencies  also  launched  the  DiscoverEU 
Meet-ups initiative in summer 2022, enabling DiscoverEU travellers to get together and take 
part in a programme of activities, including exploring local culture. 

The  Juvenes  Translatores  (DGT)  translation  contest  for  schools  brought  together  2 883 
students from all Member States to participate in a unique event, translating a text on the theme 
of  youth,  to  reflect  the  spirit  of  the  Year.  The  texts  used  for  translation  also  reached  many 
schools that did not participate officially in the competition, enabling even more students to 
engage with the content. The EU Learning Corner published several articles on the EYY in its 
News and Competitions section, available in all 24 official EU languages. Articles also featured 
in the January 2022 and October 2022 editions of Learning Corner News. This is a newsletter 
sent  to  approximately  146 000  schools  throughout  the  EU,  again  in  all  24  official  EU 
languages. 

The  European  Day  of  Language  (EDL)  (DGT)  celebrations  were  linked  to  the  Year  and 
focused  on  reaching  out  to  underprivileged  young  people  across  several  EU  countries.  The 
events  addressed  pressing  issues  such  as  those  fleeing  Ukraine  joining  and  multilingual 
classrooms. This underlined the importance of translation and language learning to help these 
people integrate. With a total of 70 events in 25 countries, the EDL also organised a conference, 
Languages at the Service of Youth, in collaboration with DG EAC. The conference featured 
live connections and interactions with various EDL events happening in Member States. It was 
supported  by  cooperation  between  DG  EAC  and  the  European  Pool  of  Young  Journalists 
initiative. 

The 2022 eMT Challenge (DGT) consisted of evaluating the quality of machine translations, 
providing an opportunity for students  on translation  master’s programmes across Europe to 
demonstrate their linguistic and digital skills in a situation similar to their future profession. 
The winners (one per Member State) were invited to attend DGT’s conference, the Translating 
Europe Forum, where they had the opportunity to network with translation professionals and 
potential employers. 

One of the Commission’s flagship economic events, the Brussels Economic Forum 2022 – 
Focus on Youth (DG ECFIN), took place on 17 May 2022,  on the theme ‘The future is now: 
which economy for the next generation?’. Youth was a common thread woven throughout the 
event. One panel was devoted specifically to youth-related economic issues and featured young 
speakers from institutions, academia and the private sector. All panels were opened by young 

93 

 
 
award-winning economists. Young people were specifically targeted as participants. Around 
25%  of  the  audience  was  made  up  of  people  under  30,  including  a  delegation  of  youth 
representatives  from  national  youth  NGOs  who  were  selected  with  the  help  of  the 
Commission’s Representations in Member States. 

The  Commission  organised  a  special  one-day  visit  to  DG  ECHO  for  a  group  of  young 
professionals,  providing  them  with  a  unique  opportunity  to  engage  in  a  discussion  with 
Commissioner Lenarčič. The visit  gave them insights  into  how DG ECHO works, and they 
shared ideas directly with the Commissioner in an enriching exchange. 

The Union Civil Protection Knowledge Network organised the Youth in Civil Protection and 
Disaster Risk Management initiative (DG ECHO). It brought together 47 young people aged 
18-35  with  an  interest  or  professional  involvement  in  civil  protection  and  disaster  risk 
management from  25 Member  States  and Participating States of the Union Civil Protection 
Mechanism  (UCPM).  A  two-day  study  visit  held  in  Brussels  on  11  and  12 October 2022 
welcomed up to two representatives per country, nominated by their national civil protection 
authorities.  It  was  an  interactive  event  that  included  hands-on  sessions,  presentations  on 
different  aspects  of civil protection and disaster  risk management, a visit  to  the Emergency 
Response  Coordination  Centre,  a  simulation  exercise,  and  networking  opportunities.  The 
objective  was  to  promote  and  develop  knowledge  of  the  UCPM,  increase  understanding  of 
European civil protection, and promote an inclusive community that offers peer support and 
cooperation beyond formal structures. 

A  Civil  Society  Dialogue  Network  Policy  Meeting  (EEAS)  was  organised  on  13  and 
14 January 2022 with the participation of 14 young civil society experts. The theme was ‘The 
EU’s  implementation  of  the  youth,  peace  and  security  agenda:  gathering  young  experts’ 
recommendations’.  The  results  of  that  meeting  fed  into  the  Youth  Action  Plan  in  the  EU’s 
external  action  for  2022-2027,  as  well  as  the  High-Level  Global  Conference  on 
Youth-Inclusive Peace Processes, which took  place on 20-21 January 2022. This  high-level 
conference was co-hosted by Qatar and the governments of Finland and Colombia  and was 
organised with civil society and UN partners. 

In autumn 2021, on  DG EMPL’s request, a network of independent experts published a study 
on ‘Access to social protection for young people’. The study covers 35 countries (the 27 EU 
Member States, the UK and the 7 candidate and potential candidate countries) and is made up 
of a synthesis report and 35 national country reports. It provides an overview of young people’s 
access to social protection schemes in five categories of cash benefits (unemployment benefits, 
maternity/paternity/parental benefits,  sickness  and healthcare benefits,  guaranteed  minimum 
income benefits and housing benefits).  

The study also includes an overview of the main gaps and obstacles that young people face in 
accessing these benefits. According to the report’s findings, the main gaps relate to age and 
activity status, including the over-representation of young people in non-standard work and the 
shorter  time  they  have  been  working.  Activity  status-based  criteria  hinder  young  people’s 
access to contributory benefits more often than age-based criteria, which are important mainly 
for minimum income schemes. Non-standard workers, trainees and apprentices are in reality 
most often excluded because of their activity status. The report also proposes a series of specific 
measures to be considered at national and/or EU levels to address these barriers. 

A  captivating  endeavour  to  promote  a  social  Europe  and  advocate  for  social  rights  among 
young  Europeans  was  the  #MySocialRights  video  competition  (DG  EMPL).  This  spirited 
competition  served  as  a  vital  part  of  the  broader  campaign  to  amplify  the  visibility  of  the 

94 

 
 
European  Pillar  of  Social  Rights  Action  Plan.  With  an  aim  to  engage  and  inspire,  the 
competition attracted many talented young people who sought to convey the essence of social 
rights through their creative videos. The winning entry, by Patryk from Poland, was the video 
liked and shared the most. The campaign to promote the competition published posts in all EU 
languages  triggering  around  33.7  million  impressions  and  3.8  million  engagements.  The 
competition proved to be a resounding success, captivating the attention of thousands across 
Europe and igniting discussions on the significance of social rights in contemporary society. 

Another poignant video took centre stage with a compelling portrayal of the Pillar principle 4 
(DG  EMPL),  showcasing  the  transformative  power  of  the  Youth  Guarantee’s  Digital 
Transformation  Programme  in  Spain.  Through  an  immersive  narrative  interwoven  with 
testimonials  from  three  participants,  the  video  artfully  captured  the  programme’s  profound 
impact.  Released  on  YouTube  between  6  and  23 October 2022,  this  stirring  production 
garnered considerable attention, attracting approximately 31 000 views and leaving a lasting 
impression on over 260 000 viewers. Through its compelling visuals and personal anecdotes, 
the  video  succeeded  in  conveying  the  immense  value  of  the  Youth  Guarantee’s  Digital 
Transformation  Programme,  inspiring  viewers  and  emphasising  the  vital  role  it  plays  in 
empowering young people to navigate the ever-changing digital landscape and shape their own 
future. 

The Film for Energy challenge (DG ENER) brought together 90 schools from 16 countries 
to  showcase  their  creativity  and  passion  for  energy  through  videos.  Out  of  the  impressive 
submissions, six outstanding videos were awarded and shared on various platforms, such as 
the  Commission’s  audiovisual  portal,  YouTube,  Twitter  and  other  social  media  channels, 
supported  by  several  Commission  departments.  The  event  attracted  significant  attention  on 
social media, particularly in Greece, generating wide coverage and engagement. These videos 
not only captured the essence of the challenge but also sparked conversations about energy in 
an innovative and visually captivating way. 

The 7th EU China Literary Festival (FPI), a vibrant celebration of literature, was organised 
in collaboration with Member States on the theme ‘Explore, imagine, inspire – science fiction, 
fantasy and worlds beyond’. It was attended by many people, and there were many activities 
showcasing European cultural and literary talent to an audience of more than 9 million Chinese 
readers and book lovers. There were engaging discussions between 22 EU and Chinese authors, 
delving  into  the  realms  of  imagination  and  captivating  audiences.  In  addition,  four 
masterclasses  gave  aspiring  young  writers  valuable  insights.  There  was  also  a  writing 
competition on the theme ‘Between here and there’(推此及彼), aimed at the generation born 
after 2000. The festival actively engaged with the EYY and garnered significant attention on 
Chinese social media platforms, attracting the participation of young people. The festival had 
a particular focus on Chinese young people and students intrigued by the rich tapestry of EU 
culture  and  literature.  This  marked  the  third  time  that  the  festival  embraced  a  fully  online 
format, adapting to the changing times. 

A  thought-provoking  event,  titled  Building  a  Youth  Community  to  Prevent  Violent 
Extremism  –  Lessons  from  South  and  Southeast  Asia  (FPI),  took  place  in  Brussels  on 
19 May 2022. Hosted by the esteemed Kofi Annan Foundation, the event sought to shed light 
on  effective  strategies  for  countering  violent  extremism,  drawing  inspiration  from  the 
experiences of South and Southeast Asian nations. Among the distinguished participants was 
Marc Fiedrich, the FPI’s Acting Director and Head of Service. This gathering of influential 
minds aimed to promote dialogue and exchange valuable insights, ultimately working towards 

95 

 
 
creating a resilient and empowered community of young people capable of combating the rising 
threat of violent extremism. 

EU  Industry  Days  (DG  GROW)  is  one  of  the  EU’s  flagship  annual  events,  highlighting 
industrial  frontrunners  and  ongoing  industrial  policy  discussions,  while  improving  the 
European industry knowledge base.  It serves as a collaborative platform for stakeholders to 
address industry challenges, co-develop opportunities and shape policy responses. The 2022 
edition, held in Brussels from 8 to 11 February, had a hybrid format and focused on the green 
and  digital  transitions  of  industrial  ecosystems  to  increase  the  resilience  of  EU  companies, 
including SMEs. Aligned with the Year, the event featured discussions on how young people 
can influence the future of EU industry. These discussions were part of a dedicated Special 
Youth  Programme,  which  addressed  pressing  concerns,  such  as  social  equality,  youth 
unemployment, precarious work and the need for sustainable and socially responsible business 
models. 

The 7th European Migration Forum (DG HOME/EESC), on the theme ‘Youth inclusion: 
key to successful integration’, took place on 20 and 21 October 2022. With 220 attendees, the 
forum  produced  valuable  outcomes,  including  setting  up  a  network  and  producing  a 
comprehensive report covering best practices. Extensive outreach efforts were made through 
social media, with a potential reach of 3.2 million people on Twitter alone.. The event was an 
opportunity for young people, both from migrant and non-migrant backgrounds as well young 
migrants  and  migrant-led  organisations,  to  take  part  in  discussions  on  policies  that  directly 
concern them. 

The  first  Africa-Europe  Week  ahead  of  the  EU-African  Union  Summit  in  February  2022 
brought people from both continents together in various events, including a youth-led Youth 
Track (DG INTPA). Young people from Africa and Europe and the diaspora actively helped 
to shape the future of the EU-Africa Partnership, and the outcome of their work was presented 
to  European  and  African  leaders.  The  Youth  Track  saw  the  active  participation  of  40 
individuals in person and 1 000 online, highlighting the inclusive nature of the initiative. 

Following the success of the Youth Track, the EU-ASEAN Youth Summit (DG INTPA) took 
place in December 2022. It acted as a side event to the EU-ASEAN Commemorative Summit, 
bringing  together  EU  and  Association  of  Southeast  Asian  Nations  (ASEAN)  youth 
representatives, officials from EU Member States and ASEAN countries, and representatives 
of business and academia. As 2022 was the Year of Youth for both the EU and ASEAN, the 
Youth Summit was an opportunity for young leaders from both regions to exchange views and 
agree on key messages to present to leaders. More information: EU-ASEAN Youth Summit. 

A  judicial  training  conference  for  young  professionals  under  the  Justice  Programme 
(DG JUST) was jointly organised by the Commission and the French Presidency of the EU. 
Held on 22 and 23 February 2022 in Bordeaux and co-hosted by the French national school for 
the judiciary (ENM), the conference aimed to increase the European aspects of initial training 
for the judiciary and lawyers. It focused on improving the inclusion of the EU body of law on 
the rule of law and fundamental rights in training curricula and promoting a European legal 
and judicial culture based on the rule of law from an early stage. The conference involved 125 
in-person participants in Bordeaux and 70 online from all Member States. The outcome was a 
report  outlining  specific  measures  for  national  and  European  training  providers  to  improve 
training for future and newly appointed judges, lawyers and prosecutors. 

The  New  European  Bauhaus  Prize  for  Rising  Stars  (DG  REGIO/JRC)  recognises  and 
celebrates achievements and supports young people in developing emerging concepts and ideas 
on how to build a sustainable and inclusive future in living spaces and experiences. It gives 

96 

 
 
visibility  to  examples  and  concepts  that  illustrate  that  beauty,  sustainability  and  inclusion 
already exist in countries, communities and practices, paving the way for the future. The prize 
is  for  concepts  and  ideas  submitted  by  young  people  under  30.  The  2022  winners  were 
announced at the New European Bauhaus Festival, held from 9 to 12 June 2022 as a hybrid 
event. See New European Bauhaus Prizes 2022 for more information. 

The 4th Public Participation and Deliberative Democracy Festival (JRC) was an engaging 
and inclusive event bringing together people from diverse backgrounds with a shared interest 
in  citizen  engagement  in  science,  policymaking  and  deliberative  democracy.  Participants 
included  representatives  from  Member  States,  institutions,  civil  society  organisations, 
academia  and  the  arts.  The  festival  featured  various  activities,  such  as  expert  panels, 
workshops, discussions, artistic presentations and an exhibition showcasing participatory and 
deliberative democracy projects. It was the primary networking event for the Community of 
Practice of the Competence Centre on Participatory and Deliberative Democracy.  

In  line  with  the  EYY,  the  festival’s  theme  focused  on  youth  participation.  The  goal  was  to 
reflect  and gather insights  into  how young people can become more  engaged in  policy and 
scientific  research  processes.  The  festival  examined  different  questions  to  gain  a  better 
understanding of often-overlooked aspects of youth participation. These included the role of 
local and indigenous young people in sharing traditional knowledge and the use of virtual and 
physical spaces for effective participation. The highlight of the festival was a panel discussion 
between Commission Vice-President Dubravka Šuica and citizen representatives from a series 
of intergenerational conversations on the future of civic education. This was organised jointly 
by the Competence Centre and the Commission’s Representations in Denmark, Croatia and 
Slovakia. 

The youth dimension of the Connecting Europe Days (DG MOVE) – a conference that took 
place between 28 and 30 June 2022 – involved over 400 participants, with a specific focus on 
young voices and views as part of the Year. Although the conference welcomed participants of 
all ages, young people, including trainees, were actively encouraged to attend. The programme 
included a youth panel organised by Commission trainees, featuring youth representatives and 
Commissioner Vălean, and a bike tour in Lyon. Another panel centred around aviation. The 
event drew significant social media attention: the hashtag #ConnectingEurope was mentioned 
416 times on Twitter during the event. 

In September 2022, DG MOVE published a ‘Study on the social dimension of the future 
EU  transport  system  regarding  users  and  passengers’,  assessing  the  impact  of  its 
modernisation on different user groups. It specifically focused on challenges and opportunities 
related to affordability, reliability and accessibility. The study gives valuable insights into these 
issues and makes recommendations on how to address them effectively, ensuring a user-centred 
and inclusive transport system for all individuals, including young people and children. It found 
that young people and children face challenges in accessing transport, relying on adults because 
of their limited autonomy and financial resources. Barriers, such as high fares and safety issues, 
can also hinder their access to education and opportunities. Access to schools varies, with rural 
areas particularly affected. Initiatives addressing safety and school transport connections have 
been implemented. The rising use of digital payments and the need for adult assistance further 
affects accessibility for children and young people. Overall, the transport network serves young 
people inadequately, leading to social and educational isolation. 

European  Mobility  Week  (DG  MOVE)  in  2022  involved  young  participants  from  2 989 
towns and cities across 51 countries, serving as a platform for delivering tangible results and 
promoting positive change in urban mobility. The week’s impact can be explored on the official 

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website, which includes  valuable resources, toolkits and success  stories. European Mobility 
Week actively uses social media to reach a wider audience, share its achievements and promote 
sustainable transportation solutions. 

The  Urban  Mobility  Days  (DG  MOVE),  held  from  20  to  22 September  2022  in  Brno  in 
Czechia, featured a dynamic youth dimension in a hybrid format. The event had over 500 in-
person  attendees  and  more  than  900  online  participants.  As  part  of  the  dedicated  ‘Mobility 
powered by the youth’ session, six young transport researchers showcased their work. Youth 
rapporteurs played a vital role, distilling key insights and presenting conclusions at the closing 
plenary. The event also included the prestigious CIVITAS Young Champion Award ceremony. 

The Excellence in Road Safety Awards 2022 (DG MOVE) introduced a special category for 
young people in celebration of the EYY. The winner of the youth category, recognised for an 
outstanding  contribution  to  road  safety,  was  Preventiedienst  stad  Leuven,  a  Belgian  public 
authority, for its innovative VRKeer virtual reality initiative aimed at young people. 

The EU4Youth Days (DG NEAR) took place on 11 and 12 October 2022 as a series of events 
that  showcased  inspiring  youth  action  and  shared  knowledge  and  good  practices  from 
EU-funded youth programmes. The 2022 edition was a major success as it brought together 
young people, youth workers, policymakers and researchers from various regions, including 
the Eastern Partnership, the Western Balkans, Türkiye and the Southern Neighbourhood. The 
event  aimed  to  advance  the  strategic  priorities  of  EU  action  on  young  people  through 
conferences,  knowledge  sharing,  and  promoting  dialogue  between  young  people  and 
policymakers.  With  1 000  participants,  the  EU4Youth  Days  was  a  valuable  platform  for 
engaging with young people  across European neighbourhood regions. The event  included a 
virtual knowledge-sharing session and a social media campaign highlighting opportunities for 
young  people,  as  well  as  the  involvement  of  Young  European  Ambassadors,  EU  Goodwill 
Ambassadors and EU Jeel Connectors. As part of the EU4Youth Days, a TAEIX workshop on 
youth  participation  in  enlargement  and  neighbourhood  regions  was  also  held  in  Brussels, 
involving participants from ministries and institutions in charge of youth policies, along with 
experts from Member States. 

In  addition  to  the  EU4Youth  Days  event,  DG  NEAR  implemented  various  communication 
activities in the Southern Neighbourhood. One of these initiatives was to set up the EU Jeel 
Connect  youth  network,  which  organised  small  events  called  Coffee  Talks  for  around  25 
young participants. These Coffee Talks took place in eight countries: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, 
Lebanon,  Libya,  Morocco,  Palestine  and  Tunisia,  and  they  involved  over  130  EU  Jeel 
Connectors.  A  group  of  EU  Goodwill  Ambassadors  (influencers)  also  visited  Brussels  to 
participate in the Europe Day celebrations on 7 May 2022. Another notable initiative was the 
InTheirEyes  contest  –  a  competition  for  content  creators,  organised  by  DG  NEAR’s  EU 
Neighbours South regional communication project. 

In the context of the EYY, DG NEAR also ran a major regional communication campaign, 
‘Made  of  us  –  an  EU-Western  Balkans  road  trip’,  as  part  of  the  WeBalkans  regional 
communication programme. The aim of this campaign was to show how the EU, the biggest 
donor in the region, invests in a number of major areas, especially in the future of young people. 
The campaign also sought to highlight how close the Western Balkan partners already are to 
the EU. The format featured a 6-week road trip that showcased the Western Balkans region 
through the eyes and words of 12 young vloggers from the EU and the Western Balkans. The 
call for the vloggers was launched in December 2022, with the target audience being young 
people aged 21 to 30 in the Western Balkans and EU. It was designed specifically to mobilise 
young people and offer them a new and exciting opportunity to travel and meet each other after 

98 

 
 
2 years of COVID-19 restrictions. In March 2023, after a careful selection process, 12 vloggers 
were divided into 6 EU-Western Balkan pairs. Each pair travelled and vlogged for one week 
in one of the 6 EU-Western Balkan partners. The road trip took place in April and May 2023, 
and audiences had the chance to follow the young vloggers’ journey through Albania, Bosnia 
and Herzegovina, Kosovo63, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. The vloggers recorded 
their content and shared it in real time, highlighting special moments from their journey. This 
helped promoted  the EU’s enlargement policy by showing the real  impact  that EU projects 
have had on people’s lives in the Western Balkans. 

The  Youth4Cooperation  umbrella  initiative  (DG  REGIO)  brought  together  several  youth 
activities  and  projects  as  part  of  the  four  Macro-Regional  Strategies  and  86  Interreg 
programmes that operate across borders. The primary aim of Youth4Cooperation is to raise 
awareness  among  young  people  about  Interreg  programmes  and  Macro-Regional  Strategies 
and  encourage  them  to  get  involved.  To  support  this  objective,  a  Youth4Cooperation  Road 
Show was organised in the Thessaloniki region in Greece, including visits to  youth Interreg 
projects with Members of Parliament staff and Commission staff. A second edition of the Road 
Show is planned for 2023. 

During the EYY, the Interreg programmes and Macro-Regional Strategies (DG REGIO) 
organised over 100 events across Europe, focusing on children, youth inclusion, education and 
young adults. More than 300 Interreg projects across Europe from the 2014-2020 programmes 
include these groups in their activities’ scope. The events took place either online or in person, 
including those held as part of the European Cooperation Days. This momentum will continue 
in the 2021-2027 programmes, with several Interreg programmes launching calls for projects 
specifically  targeting  young  people.  More  information:  Interreg  Volunteer  Youth  and 
EUSALP, EUSBSR, EUSAIR and EUSDR 

The Youth for reviving EU territories (DG REGIO) project aims to gather the perspectives 
of  young  people  in  different  EU  regions.  This  will  be  used  to  devise  a  set  of  policy 
recommendations for regional and local decision-makers to increase the attractiveness of their 
region for young people. The project was launched against the backdrop of the Commission’s 
Communication  on  harnessing  talent  in  Europe’s  regions,  launched  in  January  2023.  The 
project ends in January 2024. It is in line with both the EYY and the European Year of Skills. 
The  Communication  includes  a  talent  booster  mechanism  to  help  regions  train,  retain  and 
attract the people, skills and competences needed to address the impact of population change. 
One  of  the  eight  pillars  of  the  mechanism  is  dedicated  to  supporting  selected  EU  regions 
affected  by  the  departure  of  young  people  aged  15-39  with  targeted  analysis  and  technical 
assistance activities.  

In 2022 the Youth4Regions programme for aspiring journalists (DG REGIO) celebrated 
its sixth edition. It provides training, mentorship and work experience to young journalists and 
journalism students. The programme included the Megalizzi-Niedzielski prize, which rewards 
aspiring  journalists  who  show  a  strong  commitment  to  the  EU  and  its  values.  From  8 to 
14 October  2022,  45  journalism  students  and  young  journalists  joined  the  programme  in 
Brussels.  Following  the  2022  edition,  the  Youth4Regions  programme  reached  173  alumni, 
some of whom now cover EU affairs for media organisations in Brussels and Member States. 

63 This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ 
Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence. 

99 

 
 
 
The first European City of Science (RTD), which took place in Leiden in the Netherlands in 
2022,  provided  for  a  structured  and  expanded  dialogue  among  all  societal  individuals  and 
organisations (researchers, the public, policymakers, business and third-sector organisations, 
including  all  social  groups).  It  aimed  to  promote  mutual  learning,  scientific  integration  and 
interest  in  science  among  young  people  and  develop  a  borderless  European  research 
community across the continent. It had four main youth components: (i) a year-long science 
activity targeting young people; (ii) the EU Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) targeting 
14-20-year-olds with a passion for STEM; (iii) the EU TalentOn contest for young and early-
career researchers (21-35 years old); and (iv) the Euroscience Open Science Forum (ESOF), 
including the Young Researcher award. The activities organised under the first component gave 
an  extensive  European  platform  to  local,  national  and  international  pioneers  in  science  and 
culture. This was developed in close collaboration with a multidisciplinary network of artists, 
researchers,  designers,  scientists,  students  and  individuals.  Each  day  addressed  a  different 
theme, creating an extensive and wide-ranging  programme to  encourage  as  many people as 
possible to participate. The European City of Science 2024 will be in Katowice (Poland), which 
will host the next edition of ESOF, the European Talent Fair, EU TalentOn and EUCYS. 

The  Commission  also  launched  an  initiative  called  The  bioeconomy  in  my  life  –  creative 
competition for youth (DG RTD) for young people aged 14-35. This art competition aimed 
to encourage young people to show how the bioeconomy is, or could be, part of their daily life; 
raise  awareness  of  the  bioeconomy;  engage  with  young  people;  and  broaden  horizons  on 
different forms of bioeconomy across Europe. The selected artworks explored the variety and 
opportunities that exist in the bioeconomy, as well as its meaning, importance in daily life, and 
potential. 

3.2.3.1.2. Other EU institutions 

The European Parliament  organised several  events  to  reach out  to  young people  in  2022. 
These  included  the  Youth  Network  Event  2022  with  around  100  participants  and  the 
Educators  Event  2022,  also  with  around  100  participants.  Local  European  youth  events 
were also held in Santander (Spain) with around 800 participants and in Varaždin (Croatia) 
with around 600 participants. 

In addition, the European Parliament, along with the Commission, was a major partner in the 
LevelUp!  Event  organised  by  the  European  Youth  Forum  in  the  Parliament  in  Brussels  in 
October 2022.  The  European  Parliament  made  a  major  contribution  in  shaping  the  event’s 
capacity-building  focus.  This  aimed  to  equip  young  people  all  over  Europe  with  the  skills 
needed not only to participate fully in democratic and political life but also to lead change in 
their communities. This contributes to all four objectives of the Year. 

The European Parliament also launched the Youth Hub website in 24 languages, a dynamic 
platform that engages and empowers young people in Europe. It provides a range of resources, 
information  and  interactive  tools  tailored  to  their  needs,  promoting  youth  participation  and 
amplifying  their  voices  in  the  democratic  process.  A  pan-European  awareness  campaign  to 
promote the Youth Hub was launched on Meta (on the European Youth Event Facebook and 
Instagram  accounts) and YouTube (on the central  European Parliament  account),  achieving 
12 328 203 video views and 1 042 038 impressions. 

The  Youth  Hub  and  other  EYY  events  were  promoted  organically  on  the  European  Youth 
Event social media accounts (174 000 followers on Facebook, 48 000 on Instagram and 19 000 

100 

 
 
 
 
on  Twitter)  and  through  several  ‘action  letters’  (newsletter-type  of  communication  sent  to 
young people who joined the Parliament’s together.eu community) and other services’ social 
media channels. 

The CoR involved young people as speakers and participants at several events, including 
its 9 May celebration in Strasbourg in 2022 (linked to the Conference on the Future of Europe’s 
closing  event).  The  CoR  also  hosted  several  local  events  across  Member  States,  which 
highlighted  the  role  of  young  people  in  consolidating  strong  European  democracy  and 
democratic practices on the ground. The CoR also invited young people and organisations to 
participate  in  its  plenary  sessions.  The  CoR  also  supported  the  participation  of  youth 
representatives across the EU in the LevelUp! Event organised by the European Youth Forum 
at  the  European  Parliament  in  October 2022.  At  this  event,  some  of  its  members  spoke  at 
sessions on local democracy and political participation together with the young participants. 

Young people were at the heart of many events of the EESC. Your Europe, Your Say! is its 
annual youth flagship event. The 13th edition took place on 31 March and 1 April 2022 and 
was flagged as one of the main EYY events. A total of 99 teenage students and 44 teachers 
from EU Member States and candidate countries and a Brussels-based European school took 
part in a discussion on ‘The Truth about Lies: Youth Challenging Disinformation’. They then 
presented their recommendations to Commission Executive Vice-President Věra Jourová. In 
workshops,  the  students  developed  disinformation  campaigns  and  learned  to  counter 
disinformation  and  fake  news  as  reporters  using  accurate  information.  The  event  had  a 
significant  social  media  presence,  with  a  potential  reach  of  1 827 000  people  and  1 979 
engagements.  The  youth  plenaries  were  streamed  online,  and  there  was  additional  outreach 
through the EU institutions and press coverage. 

As part of the 14th Your Europe, Your Say! event on 24 March 2023, the EESC organised a 
performance of Svit za ochi (There, Out of Sight) by the Polish theatre company Theatre 
Navpaky.  This  cultural  activity  highlighted  the  importance  of  listening  to  and  empowering 
young  people.  The  play  featured  nine  stage  songs  in  Ukrainian  with  English  subtitles, 
portraying young people’s experiences of current events in Ukraine. The event took place at 
the  EESC’s  premises  and  was  attended  by  105  students  and  around  40  teachers  from  EU 
Member States and candidate countries. 

The  EESC’s  Western  Balkans  Civil  Society  High-Level  Conference,  held  in  Prague  on 
16 September 2022 under the Czech Presidency, focused on youth policy as a crucial element 
for the future of the region and Europe. The conference successfully brought together many 
young participants from the Western Balkans, Czechia and Eastern Partnership countries. In 
close  cooperation  with  the  Commission  (DG NEAR  and  DG EAC)  and  the  Regional 
Cooperation  Council,  the  event  opened  with  a  high-level  session  and  proceeded  with 
discussions  on  the  pathway  to  EU  membership  for  the  Western  Balkans.  Three  breakout 
sessions looked at different aspects of youth policies, with an emphasis on developing human 
capital and combating youth unemployment. With over 100 on-site participants from organised 
civil society in the Western Balkans and the EU, and many more joining online, the conference 
generated several scenarios for how young people could contribute to regional cooperation and 
European integration. The conference conclusions were distributed to stakeholders, including 
national authorities and EU institutions, and published on the EESC event web page. The event 
was  streamed  online,  promoted  through  the  EESC’s  newsletters  and  social  media,  and 
live-tweeted on the EESC’s REX Section Twitter account. 

101 

 
 
 
 
3.2.3.2. Examples of achievements at national level 

To contribute to the third EYY objective, all Member States made sure to communicate EYY 
both to the target audience and the general public.  

The  table  below  shows  that  at  least  13  Member  States  have  set  up  dedicated  webpages 
promoting EYY. 

Member State 
Bulgaria  

Web page 
A section dedicated to the EYY was 
created on the Ministry of Youth 
and Sport’s website: 
https://nism.bg/bg/evropejska-
godina-za-mladezta-2022 

Social media platform 

European Year of Youth – 
Cyprus | Nicosia | 
Facebook 

Cyprus  

Estonia  

Finland  

Germany 
Greece  

Ireland  

Italy  

Latvia  
Lithuania  

Portugal  

Slovenia  
Sweden  

Euroopa noorte aasta | Haridus- ja 
noorteamet (harno.ee) 
Euroopan nuorison teemavuosi | 
Opetushallitus (oph.fi) 
Europäisches Jahr der Jugend 
#2022 Ευρωπαϊκό Έτος Νεολαίας – 
Youth Dialogue 
A  dedicated  EYY  space  on  the 
appointed  NC  (Léargas)  website 
European  Year  of  Youth  2022  –- 
Léeargas 
2022 Anno Europeo dei Giovani | 
Giovani2030 
Eiropas jaunatnes gads Latvijā 
https://jauni2022.lt/en/european-
year-of-youth-2022/  
Ano Europeu da Juventude 
(ipdj.gov.pt) 
https://www.mlad.si/  
https://www.mucf.se/europaaret  

Table 7. Examples of EYY web pages in Member States 

Tirana, the capital of Albania and its largest city, was the European Youth Capital for 2022. 
Throughout  the  Year,  under  the  slogan  ‘Activate  Youth’,  Tirana  worked  for  the  active 
participation of young people focusing on their needs while helping them shape their future. 
Tirana  has  prepared  a  rich  programme,  that  featured  more  than  100  events  that  aimed  at 
promoting  volunteerism,  empowering  youth  organisations,  and  creating  networks  and 
synergies among young people from all over Europe! The European Youth Capital is a title 

102 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
awarded  by  the European  Youth  Forum which  aims  to  empower  young  people,  boost  their 
participation and strengthen European identity in European cities. 

In  Belgium,  a  photo  competition  was  organised  using  diverse  channels  including  press 
releases, email invitations, social networks, newsletters, and websites to engage young people 
aged  18  to  35.  The  prizes  were  awarded  by  a  jury  of  five  members  from  the  youth  sector, 
including  a  Youth  Department  representative,  assessed  the  entries,  with  a  second  Youth 
Department  member  serving  as  the  panel’s  secretary.  At  the  end,  there  were  34  entries, 
resulting in 11 winners who received an individual Interrail pass. 

In  collaboration  with  the  European  Youth  Forum  and  the  International  Youth  Bureau,  the 
French-speaking part of Belgium organised a closing event for the EYY on 9 March 2023. 
The event had three main activities: an interactive discussion between 30 young people and the 
Minister for Youth, focusing on youth engagement and commitment; the announcement of the 
top  5  ‘Coup  de  cœur’  youth  projects  selected  by  the  Youth  Department;  and  a  captivating 
performance titled 'VIVANTS!' 

Bulgaria  disseminated  information  through  its  national  youth  information  system,  the 
Bulgarian Youth Portal, on which a dedicated EYY section was created. The country aimed 
to  strengthen  young  people’s  sense  of  belonging  to  the  EU  by  promoting  volunteering  and 
solidarity, and created a dedicated Facebook page on which all activities and initiatives were 
published.  It  also  launched  an  electronic  and  print  version  of  a  White  Book  on  Youth 
Volunteering,  including  information  on  the  topic,  as  well  as  50  good  practices  related  to 
volunteering in Bulgaria. These were collected through an open call, which received hundreds 
of responses from stakeholders. 

The Year’s closing event in  Bulgaria was the National Youth Conference: A Project for 
Future.  The  conference  took  place  on  17 March 2023  and  brought  together  young  people, 
youth  organisations,  active  citizens,  experts  and  high-level  representatives  of  institutions  to 
summarise the work and results achieved during the EYY. 

To  raise  awareness  of  the  Year,  Croatia  planned  and  executed  a  European  information 
services  campaign,  appointing  multipliers  –  including  Eurodesk  and  the  Croatian  Youth 
Network  –  to  promote  the  Year.  As  part  of  this,  grassroots  organisations  ran  more  than  45 
activities, which targeted young people with fewer opportunities and ranged from exhibitions 
and discussions to conferences and human libraries. They reached over 1 500 young people 
directly, while the social media reach amounted to over 10 000. 

Croatia arranged a series of celebrations with the title Europe Day and Beyond – Culture 
and Creativity, which promoted young people’s cultural and creative development, inspired a 
sense of belonging to the EU and promoted youth participation. The Europe Day celebration 
on 9 May 2022 was co-created with young people who had submitted their proposals for the 
celebration through an open call. There were around 600 participants in various workshops, 
panels and quizzes on EU mobility programmes, mental health, solidarity with Ukraine, green 
practices  and  the  euro  as  Croatia’s  new  currency.  The  City  for  Youth  initiative  was  also 
presented  during  the  event,  with  the  aim  of  encouraging  municipalities  that  are  working  to 
improve young people’s quality of life. DJs, youth influencers and TikTok stars entertained the 
young audience. 

The  Street  Art  Festival  was  another  Europe  Day  celebration  in  Croatia.  It  took  place  in 
Zagreb  and  Osijek,  and  consisted  of  three  parts:  an  educational  graffiti  workshop 

103 

 
 
(17 May 2022),  the  launch  of  the  European  Solidarity  Corps  mural  (19 May 2022),  and  the 
launch of the Erasmus+ mural (31 January 2023). 

The third event in the series of celebrations targeting young people in Croatia was organised 
in  partnership with  the  Croatian Writers’ Society, and took  place during the Festival  of the 
European Short Story (5-10 June 2022). It took the form of a short-story writing competition 
for young people from Croatia and the Western Balkans. The winning stories were translated 
and published on the Youth Portal. 

The  final  event  in  the  series  in  Croatia  was  the  Our  Shared  Future  photography 
competition, in which the jury awarded 3 winners out of 116 entries. 

Some of the other most notable activities organised by  Croatia were the  European Youth 
Event in Varaždin (winner of the European Charlemagne Youth Prize 2023); the Croatian 
Scout Jamboree; the nationwide Croatia Volunteers campaign; Dubrovnik EXPO 22; and 
the Leap Summit 2022. High-visibility public relations activities included significant social 
media presence, media coverage and public transport ads in Zagreb, Osijek, Split, Zadar and 
Dubrovnik. 

In Cyprus, the ‘Access4ALL’ festival took place at the old Limassol port during September 
2023. The festival had the primary goal of raising awareness among the public, policy makers, 
and professionals regarding the needs and fundamental rights of persons with disabilities. This 
event  also  seeks  to  increase  the  accessibility  and  social  integration  of  individuals  with 
disabilities in the city’s social, economic, and cultural life. Notably, the event was open to all 
and offered activities that enabled attendees to gain insights into the daily challenges faced by 
disabled individuals. 

Another noteworthy initiative was organised in Cyprus. It engaged 150 students, aged 9 to 18, 
hailing from Dali, Larnaca, and Kyperounta, in  Collage Art Workshops. These workshops 
were  conducted  in  collaboration  with  the  renowned  Cypriot  visual  artist  Vassilis  Vassiliou, 
also known as Twenty Three, celebrated for his contemporary artistic expressions rooted in 
Cypriot tradition. The primary objective of these workshops extended beyond  promoting an 
understanding of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their relevance to the 
lives of these young participants. Simultaneously, the initiative aimed to inspire these students 
to embrace ownership of the SDGs and broader societal change through artistic expression, as 
exemplified in the accompanying image. 

The main event of the EYY in Czechia was the Next Station World festival held in Prague 
on  20 September 2022.  Over  300  young  people  attended  the  event,  which  featured  various 
workshops, including: ‘Study. Internship. Go!’, for students interested in studying abroad or 
interning; ‘Is Erasmus+ for University Students Only? Not Anymore’, for those interested in 
studying abroad or interning; ‘Into the World despite the Obstacles’, on inclusion; ‘Don’t Drain 
Your Soul’, on mental health and coping with challenges abroad; ‘Solidary Project – How to 
Turn  Your  Idea  into  a  Successful  Project’,  for  participants  with  ideas  for  improving  their 
communities; and ‘Alone in a Foreign Country?’, on making lasting friendships. The festival 
also  included lectures  and discussions  on civic activism, choosing universities, eco-friendly 
travel and the potential impact of young people. The aim of the event was to inspire young 
people and inform them about how to set off on an international experience, how to successfully 
submit a project for EU funding that will help them achieve their dream, and how to travel in 
an environmentally friendly and responsible way. 

104 

 
 
Czechia  also  organised  a  seminar  for  municipalities  in  April 2022  with  the  aim  of 
strengthening  their  cooperation  with  young  people  and  local  youth  workers.  The  seminar 
informed  municipality  representatives  about  the  purpose  of  the  EYY  and  the  various 
opportunities offered by the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes. 

To  show  that  the  Year  has  a  legacy  that  lasts  beyond  the  end  of  the  Year  itself,  Czechia 
dedicated the spring issue of Mozaika magazine to young people. It featured articles on how 
the  Erasmus+  and  European  Solidarity  Corps  programmes  help  to  build  a  more  democratic 
society and support active participation  by young people in  local  community and European 
issues. The summer issue of Mozaika was dedicated to the EYY, with information about the 
Year, how young people can get involved in public life, what youth exchanges are, where to 
get funding for solidarity projects, and what the Erasmus+ programme offers youth workers. 
A  total  of  4 500  printed  copies  were  distributed  at  various  events,  and  1 500  subscribers 
received a digital version. 

In  Denmark,  the  EYY  continued  with  the  Youth  Activism  and  Youth  Communities 
conference  on  21 September 2020,  which  focused  on  the  relationship  between  activism, 
performance culture and youth communities. After the main event, programme and network 
staff from Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps and Eurodesk invited the audience to a 
networking  event.  More  than  130  people  representing  the  youth  sector  participated  in  the 
conference. 

Greece  held  the  EYY  2022  –  Adult  Apprenticeship  in  Greece  conference  in  Athens,  on 
14 and 15 November 2022,  in  the  context  of  EYY  and  the  country’s  participation  in  bench 
learning. Participants presented good practices and proposals for making apprenticeship more 
attractive. 

The  Year’s  closing  events  in  Greece  took  place  in  Thessaloniki  (21 February 2023)  and 
Athens  (28 March 2023),  with  the  Commission’s  former  Director-General  for  Education, 
Youth,  Sport  and  Culture,  Themis  Christophidou,  among  the  key  speakers.  These  events 
enabled the EYY to be more relevant as it promoted: (i) institutional recognition of youth work 
as one of the top priorities in the country’s youth sector; (ii) nationwide survey results and the 
drafting of a policy paper on updating school student-council legislation; (iii) introduction of 
the  National  Youth  Capital;  and  (iv)  some  artistic  creations  by  young  people,  which  were 
shared with the public and will serve as enduring visual references for the Year’s values and 
principles. 

To celebrate 18 years of Hungary’s accession to the European Union, in cooperation with the 
Commission Representation in Hungary the event a 2022 Europe Day focusing on the EYY 
was jointly organised. In light of this, a brochure was published featuring 18 projects for young 
people  covering  topics  such  as  social  integration  of  disadvantaged  children,  art  pedagogy, 
science  and  technology  or  modernisation  of  infrastructure  of  educational  buildings.  The 
objective of the celebration was to call the attention to the results Hungary has achieved during 
the last years and to celebrate the EYY. 

Hungary  organised  an  international  partnership  meeting  and  flagship  event  with  National 
Youth Councils form the European Union. National Youth Councils represent and support the 
interests of voluntary youth organisations and act on issues that affect young people. Therefore, 
the Hungarian national coordinator of EYY2022 together with the National Youth Council of 
Hungary  and  other  relevant  Hungarian  youth  policy  stakeholders,  organised  a  coordinating 
event  where  the  youth  councils  of  Ireland,  the  Benelux  11  countries,  Central  and  Eastern 

105 

 
 
Europe could exchange information on issues concerning the European Year of Youth and the 
current state of youth policy in the EU. 

What is more, Hungary organised three big conferences in the– framework of the Youth in 
Hungary–-  Youth  Professional  Programmes  Series.  The  Youth  Work  Conference  aimed  to 
bring  together  young  people  with  professional  stakeholders;  Digital  Realities  Conference 
discussing technical innovation; and finally, the Roma Youth Conference which focused on 
the inclusion of young Roma people. 

Iceland launched a PR campaign to promote the Year in May 2022. A website was created 
for  the  campaign  and  social  media  channels  focused  on  EYY  activities.  In  August  and 
September, adverts were also  run on some of Reykjavik’s public buses using  the EYY key 
visuals. The social media campaign reach was 577 629 and the website had over 2 500 link 
clicks  and  1 044  visitors.  The  campaign  received  positive  feedback  from  the  education  and 
youth sectors, which praised the diversity that characterised the EYY promotional materials. 
The campaign resulted in more awareness and recognition of the support and empowerment 
that the EU provides to  young people. This  was  reflected in the first application rounds for 
Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps in 2023, when the demand was as high as it had 
been for the whole of 2022. 

In  Iceland,  the  highlight  of  the  EYY  activities  was  a  festive  summer  party  held  in 
Laugardalslaug – the country’s largest swimming pool – on 18 August. The event was a joint 
celebration of the Year and the 35th anniversary of Erasmus+. Around 200 guests attended the 
celebratory event and there was strong feedback from the education and youth sectors on how 
visible the Year and the EU programmes were. 

Key to the Year in Ireland were the events that took place across the country to promote 
the Year and its priorities, and to raise awareness of the wider EU opportunities available to 
young people, both nationally and internationally. The main events that took place were: 

•  22 May 2022: Connect with Europe (EYY launch) 
•  17 May 2022: All Aboard 1 (youth event on a chartered train) 
•  30 September 2022: All Aboard 2 
•  10 November 2022: The Gathering (annual flagship event) 
•  3 December 2022: YouthFest (EYY national closing ceremony) 
•  28 February 2023: follow-up event for EYY Micro Grant beneficiaries. 

Ireland officially welcomed the EYY at the  Connect with Europe event. It explored how 
young people can access opportunities in Europe through information and support initiatives, 
such as Eurodesk and Youth Wiki, and there were a number of stands offering information on 
the opportunities available. 

Ireland also hosted the All Aboard 1 and All Aboard 2 youth events on a chartered train 
on 17 May and 30 September, respectively. The aim was to raise awareness of local, national 
and  EU  opportunities  available  to  young  people  in  Ireland.  Over  200  young  people  were 
welcomed aboard on the train, which departed from Heuston station in Dublin and travelled to 
Kent station in Cork. It stopped along the way at Kildare, Portlaoise, Thurles and Limerick to 
pick up young people between the ages of 16 and 20, from schools and youth groups, who had 
been invited to join the journey. Each carriage hosted a different workshop on topics such as 
sustainable travel, inclusion and equality, and climate change. 

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The  Gathering  event,  held  at  Croke  Park  in  Ireland  on  10 November 2022,  was  a 
cross-sectoral celebration of EU education and mobility partnerships in Ireland, marking 35 
years of Erasmus+ and providing an opportunity for participants to reconnect and reflect on 
their  experiences  post-COVID-19.  The  conference  attracted  more  than  200  attendees 
representing organisations participating in EU-funded programmes. 

On 3 December, Ireland hosted its national EYY closing ceremony, YouthFest, at the Dublin 
Convention  Centre,  celebrating  young  people  who  participated  in  activities  funded  by  EU 
programmes  in  2022. Attendees included people  from  organisations that had received EYY 
Micro Grants;  Erasmus+  Youth  participants;  current  and  past  European  Solidarity  Corps 
volunteers; Eurodesk Ambassadors; organisations that were newly accredited with Erasmus+; 
and people who had returned from their DiscoverEU travels. A key objective of the event was 
to ensure a pathway into Erasmus+ and other EU opportunities for organisations and young 
people who had not engaged with European initiatives before EYY. 

To  ensure  that  different  regions  were  targeted  effectively,  Ireland  also  coordinated  several 
regional events, mobile information sessions and online sessions. 

Italy  set  up  the  initiative  ‘The  Truck  tour’.  The  Department  for  Youth  Policies  and  the 
Universal Civic Service also promoted, in collaboration with the Erasmus+ Youth Agency, an 
itinerant information campaign targeting young people, in particular NEETs (Not in Education, 
Employment  or  Training).  The  Truck  tour  campaign  started  from  11 April  to  21 May 2022 
involving 11 cities identified on a regional basis among those with the highest percentage of 
NEETs. The inauguration ceremony was held in Torino by Minister Fabiana Dadone but the 
tour also visited other cities in Italy. In each city the Department for Youth Policies and the 
Universal Civic service played an active role by promoting the Giovani2030 website and all 
the initiatives of the EYY (Carta Giovani, NEET Plan). A one-day long event was organised 
in each of the cities and it was the occasion to deliver, through an informal context, a wide 
range  of  services  and  provide  information  on  opportunities  available  at  local,  national  and 
European level. Social moments and cultural entertainment activities were also organised and 
a dedicated communication strategy was developed through social media to be attractive and 
to  better  outline  to  the  targeted  audience  the  value  of  participating.  Overall,  the  Truck  tour 
reached out to young people with fewer opportunities, promoted their participation in initiatives 
and programmes at national and European level. 

In  line  with  European  Youth  Goal  9  –  Space  and  Participation  for  All  –  Italy  decided  to 
promote and strengthen  young people’s democratic participation  and autonomy  through the 
creation of ad hoc participation spaces for young people. The most important initiative was the 
YES  Forum,  held  on  25-27 May  in  Lucca  (Italy).  The  event  provided  an  opportunity  to 
strengthen social and political awareness of the importance of involving young people, as well 
as to increase awareness of existing European opportunities and the European youth scenario. 
The European Youth Strategies and European Youth Policies 2019-2027 were also presented, 
and there was a specific focus on EYY and how to implement it, bearing in mind the existing 
strategies. 

Latvia  organised  a  youth  stage  at  the  LAMPA  conversation  festival  in  July 2022.  The 
festival is a large-scale initiative and an open platform, involving more than 300 organisations 
and active individuals working together to create a place to exchange opinions. The talks at the 
youth stage were organised and led by young people and youth organisations, and volunteers 
were recruited to ensure the programme ran smoothly. The activity served as an opportunity 

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for young people to set the scene, learn new skills and create the content they wanted to be 
discussed. 

Furthermore, Latvia organised a Youth Day at the KOPUMS festival in August 2022. The 
purpose of the festival was to bring together young people from more distant regions; introduce 
them to youth organisations and opportunities to spend their time in useful, interesting ways; 
and inspire them to participate in co-creating a better future. The winner of the Latvian Youth 
Capital competition was also announced at the festival, which was visited by more than 1 500 
people, with 70 youth volunteers taking part in its organisation and preparation. 

Lithuania organised the Lithuanian Youth Forum (23-25 September 2022) in Vilnius, which 
created opportunities for young people to meet face to face and discuss topics that are important 
to  them.  There  were  six  discussions:  Challenges  and  Everyday  Life  of  LGBTIQ  Youth; 
Gen AB(Z);  Nightlife  –  to  Control  or  to  Help;  It  Was  Better  in  Our  Time  –  How  the  First 
Leaders Imagined the Youth Organisations of the Future; Empowered Youth – Catchphrase or 
Foundation of a Democratic State?; and Lithuania of the Future – What Role Will the Youth 
Take? A total of 22 speakers contributed to the different discussions, including members of the 
Parliament  of  the  Republic  of  Lithuania,  the  head  of  the  Commission  Representation  in 
Lithuania, public figures and experts in various fields. The event attracted around 500 young 
people from Vilnius and other Lithuanian cities. 

The  EYY  closing  event  in  Lithuania  was  held  on  18 November 2022  in  the  city  of 
Marijampole, which was selected as the 2023 Youth Capital of Lithuania. 

To  reach  young  people  from  all  regions,  Lithuania  also  organised  the  Travelling  Year  of 
Youth  event  series.  These  events  took  the  form  of  one-day  youth  fairs  promoting  EU 
opportunities  and  national  programmes  and  activities  for  young  people. The  Living Library 
took part and almost every event was attended by the Commission Representation in Lithuania. 
Participants were happy to engage with their peers and youth organisations, and to find out 
about  local  and  EU  opportunities.  Participating  organisations  and  National  Agencies  found 
these events  to  be  a practical  platform through  which to  learn about  each other’s work and 
strengthen connection and cooperation. 

Lithuania  launched  an  online  publication  for  young  people,  I  Know  Everything  about 
Everything (Žinau viską apie viską). Targeting teenagers in the process of becoming young 
adults, the publication was used to inform young people and engage with disadvantaged young 
people. It was presented in schools and youth centres, and career-planning workshops enabled 
young people and youth workers to strengthen the competences needed in the job market with 
the aim of helping them to get a job. 

Malta launched a national promotion campaign around the question, ‘What kind of Europe 
do you want?’ The campaign used information on bus shelters and roadside billboards to target 
young people, as well as placing adverts on national television. It also used social media to 
promote the Year and the work of the youth sector in general. 

EYY activities in the Netherlands reached over 3 000 participants. Below a few examples that 
fit with Objective 3. 

•  Breekjaar  X  EYY  Festival  (28 April 2022):  30  young  people  from  the  festival 
Breekjaar  (meaning  ‘gap  year’)  organised  the  A  Break  from  Reality  festival  in 
Amsterdam  to  inspire  young  peoples  to  take  a  year  out  to  work  on  their  self-
development and practise service learning. 

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•  Brussels  By  Bike  (18 May 2022  to  1 June 2022):  Dutch  Youth  Representatives 
travelled by bike from rural areas in the east of the Netherlands all the way to Brussels, 
with the aim of connecting with and gathering input from young people along the way. 
They  discussed  subjects  such  as  European  citizenship  and  democracy,  inclusion, 
self-development and a future-proof society, recording all of the needs and ideas that 
were voiced. They then shared this input with politicians and policymakers in the EU 
and the Netherlands. 

•  Local  Youth  Council  events  (18 June 2022  and  17 September 2022):  two  events 
organised specifically for and with young people who are active in local youth councils 
all around the country. The aim was for them to connect  and learn from each other, 
share best practices and lessons learned on local youth participation, and explore EU 
opportunities for young people. 

•  Day of Europe (24 June 2022): a day dedicated to Europe and participation in society 
for students at the SUMMA vocational school in Eindhoven. The programme included 
a panel discussion with an MEP and workshops, the EU Climate Pact, Erasmus+ Youth 
and  the  European  Solidarity  Corps,  among  others.  The  event  was  organised  in 
collaboration with students from SUMMA and the European Parliament’s liaison office 
in The Hague. 

•  Youth Festival: You’re Young and You Want Stuff (Je Bent Jong En Je Wil Wat) 
(13 October 2022):  a  youth  festival  in  Amsterdam,  organised  with  several  partner 
organisations to create a space for young people to learn about social challenges and 
what  role  they  themselves  can  play.  The  programme  consisted  of  workshops,  panel 
discussions  and  interactive  activities,  and  over  600  young  people  came  together  to 
learn, speak up and connect with each other. 

Poland organised a European Forum of Young Leaders and a EuroPeers Annual Network 
Meeting, hosting  60 participants,  including  15 from  National  Agencies. The outdoor Voice 
Your Vision campaign also ran from 16 December 2022 to 15 January 2023, with light posters 
placed in Warsaw’s most popular sites showing EuroPeers and their quotes on EU values, as 
well as their experience of being ambassadors for Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps. 

In addition, Poland organised several major conferences with around 250 attendees each. On 
one hand, on 19 September 2022, a nationwide conference was held at the Chancellery of the 
Prime Minister in Warsaw, organised under the patronage of the Government Plenipotentiary 
for Youth Policy. The primary objective of the conference was to promote the integration of 
youth  communities  and  facilitate  discussions  on  increasing  young  people’s  engagement  in 
public life, particularly as part of activities in local government youth councils. On the other 
hand, on 15 and 16 December 2022, the Chancellery of the Prime Minister hosted a  Youth 
Congress as part of the EYY. One of the highlights of the conference was the presentation of 
awards  to  the  winners  of  three  competitions  organised  as  part  of  the  EYY,  including 
competitions  such  as  the  ‘Idea  for  the  Youth  Initiative  of  the  Year’  competition,  which 
consisted in developing a plan and idea for the implementation of the youth initiative of the 
year, which will be implemented mainly by young people and based on selected areas of EYY. 

Furthermore,  Poland  conducted  promotional  campaigns  on  social  media  to  publicise 
activities aimed at young people, including meetings with young people, training and youth 
congresses/conferences organised by the Government Plenipotentiary for Youth Policy and the 
Council for Dialogue with the Young Generation, and events organised as part of the EYY. 
Content posted on social media is the fastest and most effective way to reach young people, 
who are the most frequent users of social media from all age groups. 

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The  Portuguese  Awards  EYY2022  stand  out  as  a  significant  initiative  in  Portugal  and 
comprised three distinct award categories that were aimed at promoting youth engagement and 
supporting  policies  related  to  the  EYY.  These  awards  included  the  ‘Research  on  Youth 
EYY2022’ prize, encouraging research and publication of scientific articles within the scope 
of  young  people’s  priorities;  the  ‘Europe  for  You’  Award,  recognising  outstanding  Youth 
Organisations and Federations for their contributions to youth participation and empowerment; 
and  the  ‘Criarte  EYY2022’  prize,  stimulating  creative  literary  and  artistic  works  related  to 
EYY. Notably, the ‘Research on Youth EYY2022’ category received 33 applications, resulting 
in  three  winners  and  an  honourable  mention.  The  ‘Europe  for  You’  Award  garnered  59 
applications,  leading  to  eight  prizes  distributed  across  different  regions  of  Portugal. 
Meanwhile,  the  ‘Criarte  EYY2022’  prize  received  207  applications  and  awarded  14  prizes, 
with two winners in each of the seven regions, divided by age categories of 12-17 years and 
18-25 years, thus showcasing the diversity and creativity of young participants. 

Portugal organised a roadshow that hosted a set of EYY activities and initiatives throughout 
all the country, reaching around 20 000 young people and directly involving 7 356 participants 
in more than 21 000 pedagogical interactions. The roadshow was an opportunity to highlight 
the important role of young Europeans in building a better future, and to share visions, meet 
people, engage in activities and find out more about Erasmus + and other youth programmes. 
It helped to promote the competences of young people, Increase knowledge about EYY and 
youth issues, promote cooperation and the exchange of experiences and practices, as well as 
improving quality in youth work. 

In line with both the EYY and the European Year of Skills 2023, Slovakia organised the Youth 
Skills  Conference  on  22 February 2023.  The  Conference  aimed  to  provide  young  people, 
youth organisations, educational institutions and stakeholders from the public, non-profit and 
private sectors with an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the importance of youth skills 
for their employment, dignified life and future. 

Spain presented a communication plan and two communication campaigns were approved: 
European Solidarity Corps and European Youth Card, given the high European component of 
the  two  initiatives.  The  first  consisted  in  dissemination  of  volunteer  opportunities  in  the 
European Solidarity Corps, while the second one aimed at disseminating information about the 
European Youth Card and recruit new users for the youth card. Both campaigns were helping 
to promote their own mission, values and principles, most of which are in line with the EYY 
objectives. 

In  Slovenia,  the  Youth  Festival,  regional  workshops,  and  the  mlad.si  portal  served  as 
platforms to inform, educate and engage young people and the wider public. 

In  Sweden, the Swedish Agency for  Youth and  Civil  Society (MUCF)  worked actively  to 
inform the public about the Year and communicate the different activities. MUCF released 
five different press releases about EYY in Sweden and the main activities taking place during 
the year and posted information about the activities on social media. A national EYY website 
also  presented  the  ongoing  activities  planned  by  the  actors  involved  in  the  Swedish  EYY 
network. 

EYY NCs in Sweden planned two main events, consisting of 2-5 different panel discussions. 
Due to new collaborations and opportunities, the coordination team decided to create one event 
per panel discussion across five different cities. As a result, the events had a wider geographical 
reach. 

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•  EYY at a three-week city expo in Helsingborg. On 16 June 2022, EYY coordinators 
in Sweden hosted an event as part of the expo’s official programme, in collaboration 
with the Commission Representation in Sweden and the National Council of Swedish 
Children and Youth Organisations (LSU). The  event  consisted of the Swedish  EYY 
coordinator  taking  part  in  a  podcast  hosted  by  LSU  about  European  Youth  and  EU 
Youth Dialogue. Young people also had the opportunity to ‘voice their vision’ at the 
event. There were 30 on-site participants and 61 online views. 

•  EYY  at  the  Annual  MUCF  Conference  in  Stockholm.  On  1 December 2022,  a 
seminar at the MUCF annual conference focused on the Year and the opportunities that 
Erasmus+  and  the  European  Solidarity  Corps  offer  young  people.  The  first  panel 
discussed  Erasmus+  Youth  and  Discover  EU,  and  the  second  focused  on  Erasmus+ 
Education and the European Solidarity Corps. 

3.2.3.3. Examples of achievements at stakeholder level 

DISCLAIMER 

The  following  section  contains  a  selection  of  key  achievements  provided  by  EYY 
stakeholders, with the aim of giving a snapshot of the types of activities organised under this 
specific objective. All of the achievements of EYY stakeholders can be found on the EYY 
Activities map. 

From 7 to 10 April 2022 the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) organised the first edition of 
the Erasmus Generation Meeting, a celebration of the EYY and the 35 Anniversary of the 
Erasmus+ programme. The summary of the event can be found in this link64, and in this short 
video. This young people and student-led conference gathered more than 800 young people 
from  all  over  Europe  in  Porto.  Through  more  than  80  sessions,  participants  came  up  with 
proposals  and  ideas  to  improve  international  opportunities  for  young  people.  The  event 
promoted collaboration with other youth organisations and relevant stakeholders to organise 
sessions and participate in an active way. 

The  2022  edition  of  the  European  Day  of  Persons  with  Disabilities  co-organised  by  the 
European  Disability  Forum  (EDF)  included  a  large  delegation  of  young  people  with 
disabilities; the opening panel was on challenges faced by young people with disabilities. The 
two-day event discussed various forms of violence against persons with disabilities including 
bullying of young people in school environments, and young people fleeing Ukraine. The event 
was well attended by various strategic decision-makers within the EU infrastructures ensuring 
that youth voices were carried to the top. 

MyEU50 is a joint initiative of the Government of Ireland and European Movement Ireland 
to commemorate 50 years of Ireland’s EU membership. The competition aimed to encourage 
young  people  across  Ireland,  from  primary  to  post-primary  school  levels,  to  express  their 
creativity and share innovative ideas about Ireland’s relationship with Europe. The competition 
focused  on  topics  such  as  life  in  other  EU  countries,  the  impact  of  the  EU  on  schools  and 
communities, working for the EU, and the future direction of the EU. 

64 EGM 2022: The future belongs to youth. Take it.  

111 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Think  Young  ran  the  Hidden  Inventors  campaign  which  focused  on  youth  outreach  in 
schools in Belgium and Italy. The primary objective of the #HiddenInventors campaign was to 
honour European inventors throughout history, seeking to inspire the upcoming generation and 
encourage them to play a significant role in shaping the future of Europe. 

3.2.4 EYY Objective 4: bringing a youth perspective to the EU’s policies 

More  than  70  million  people  in  the  EU  are  between  15  and  30  years  old65,  yet  their 
representation  in  policymaking  is  limited  and  young  people  express  the  need  to  have  their 
views  considered.  A  Eurobarometer  survey  conducted  in  2022  on  young  people’s  opinions 
about  democracy  revealed  that  they  expect  decision-makers  to  listen  more  to  their  needs. 
Furthermore, youth participation was the topic most addressed in activities organised during 
the  EYY  –  a  clear  sign  of  the  interest  of  many  young  Europeans  in  having  their  opinions 
included  in  policymaking  in  all  relevant  fields,  including  employment,  health,  climate, 
education and mobility. Many policy initiatives and decisions have an impact on the lives of 
young people. Taking better account of the youth dimension in other policy areas and ensuring 
that young people have a say in the policy areas affecting them has therefore been a priority of 
EU youth policy cooperation since 2001, with the white paper on a new impetus for  young 
Europeans. 

Consequently,  mainstreaming  youth  policy  is  essential  to  ensure  that  young  people  are 
considered among the target groups of all policy measures, not only those pertaining to the 
youth  field.  Youth  mainstreaming  is  upheld  by  the  establishment  of  formal  mechanisms 
ensuring that youth priorities are not confined to youth-specific policies, but rather integrated 
in a multi-sectoral approach across all policy areas. This includes mechanisms for assessing 
the impact of policies on young people to address potential challenges preventively and avoid 
negative  effects.  Policies  not  directly  targeting  young  people,  or  that  are  not  part  of  the 
conventional youth policy field, can still have a strong impact on young people’s lives. 

Mainstreaming youth issues across all relevant policy areas is a key principle in the 2019-
2027  EU  Youth  Strategy  and its  11  Youth  Goals.  Several  instruments  under  the  strategy 
contribute to this principle, such as the EU Youth Dialogue, the EU Youth Coordinator and the 
mutual learning activities. 

The Commission will build on the strong momentum of the Year and propose to continue and 
strengthen the instruments  linked to  youth mainstreaming, such as  the EU Youth Dialogue, 
Commission  Youth  Network  and  the  EYY  NCs/SH  Group.  The  aim  will  be  to  disseminate 
outcomes  and  recommendations  of  the  Youth  Dialogue,  as  well  as  to  exchange  views  on 
policies and identify how these can better reflect the needs of young people. 

In addition, as a follow-up to the commitments made in the Conference on the Future of Europe, 
citizens’ panels will become a permanent part of public participation and young people will 
continue to play a major role in them. This was the case in the recent citizens’ panel on learning 
mobility. 

Only by mainstreaming youth as a priority among different policy areas is it possible to ensure 
that the specific needs or impacts for young people in envisaged policies or programmes are 

65 Eurostat, Child and youth population. Available from: 
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/yth_demo_010/default/table?lang=en. 

112 

 
 
 
 
 
taken into account. Youth mainstreaming can only be effective when it also guarantees a say 
for young people in all possible policy areas that affect them. Cross-sectoral cooperation should 
be  increased  at  all  levels  of  decision-making,  striving  for  synergies  and  complementarity 
between actions, and with greater youth involvement. 

Bringing a youth perspective into policymaking at all levels was one of the main objectives of 
the  EYY,  which  gave  rise  to  new  partnerships  and  connections.  It  also  strengthened  cross-
sectoral cooperation on youth issues, with the objective of mainstreaming the youth perspective 
across policy fields66. It was a European Year fully co-designed by EU institutions, Member 
States,  youth  stakeholders  and  young  people,  with  the  co-creation  process  kicking  off  in 
October 202167, with the first meeting with the EYY NC/SH Group, and a survey targeting 
young people. 

Within the Commission, the Year has led to the largest ever interservice mobilisation. More 
than 30 departments and services contributed to the Year, with over 130 policy initiatives for 
young people, all published on the Youth Portal. 

EYY  NCs  have  also  confirmed  that  the  Year  resulted  in  new  partnerships  and  cooperation 
between ministries at national level. 

Although mainstreaming is a complex and challenging process, there are some examples that 
demonstrate that progress has been made, and that the youth perspective is being increasingly 
included  in  policies.  The  Commission  will  continue  to  implement  the  EU  Youth  Strategy 
(2019-2027) to achieve better mental health and well-being, and end stigmatisation. 

The Commission consulted young people on this topic and took into account their opinions, 
which  were  submitted  through  the  Youth  Voice  Platform  and  Youth  Policy  Dialogue  with 
Commissioner Kyriakides. Consultations specifically with young EU citizens were carried out 
through: (i) voice recordings uploaded by young citizens (aged 18-24) on the Voice Platform 
in 2022, about their perception of mental health; (ii) workshops and a conference for young 
cancer survivors, which took place in Brussels on 7 February 2023, providing an opportunity 
for them to  speak about  the main challenges  they faced after treatment; and (iii) the Youth 
Policy Dialogue on a comprehensive approach to mental health, held on 22 February 2023 in 
Brussels. During this event, and as part of the EYY, 15 young people met with Commissioner 
Kyriakides  and  discussed  the  mental  health  needs  of  young  people  living  with  and  beyond 
cancer. Children, adolescents and young adults were often specifically mentioned as a target 
group for action. Most recommendations related to the promotion of good mental health and 
prevention  of  mental  health  problems,  especially  in  relation  to  children  and  young  people. 
Participants often referred to the importance of early detection, especially among children and 
young people, and the need for specific attention to their mental health featured heavily in all 
consultations. It was often mentioned that young people’s mental health was heavily affected 
by the COVID-19 pandemic and had also deteriorated over the past decade. 

However, young people’s mental health is a complex multidisciplinary issue that requires a 
collaborative approach, involving educational, healthcare and social care settings; the cultural 
sector; and youth  welfare actors.  A mental  health policy that delivers for all needs to  work 
across  relevant  policy  areas.  Policies  in  areas  such  as  education,  youth,  arts  and  culture, 

66 The Year was structured around nine policy areas of special interest to young people: European learning 
mobility; employment and inclusion; policy dialogues and participation; green; digital; culture; health, 
well-being and sports; youth and the world; and solidarity with Ukraine.  
67 Decision (EU) 2021/2316 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 December 2021 on a European 
Year of Youth (2022). Available via: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec/2021/2316/oj. 

113 

 
 
 
environment,  employment,  cohesion,  research  and  innovation,  social  protection,  sustainable 
urban development and the digital world are therefore needed to improve mental health and 
support mental health resilience. 

The EYY focused on re-establishing a positive outlook for young people and included activities 
designed to support their mental health and well-being. 

In  June  2023,  the  Commission  developed  a  Communication  on  comprehensive  approach  to 
mental health68 and addressing the interlinks between mental and physical health and key health 
determinants.  Special  attention  will  be  paid  to  the  risks  of  bullying  in  educational  settings. 
Furthermore, in 2023, the Commission  will develop  tools to  address  issues such as healthy 
lifestyles and the prevention of mental health problems, in close cooperation with children and 
young people. 

In 2024, the Commission will support the creation of a mental health network for children and 
young people, to exchange information and provide mutual support and outreach via Youth 
Ambassadors. 

Moreover, the Commission will support: (i) continued implementation of the Better Internet 
for Kids strategy; (ii) practical guidance for authorities on improving child protection in the 
digital world, in addition to monitoring the impact of the digital transformation on children’s 
well-being through the Better Internet for Kids portal; (iii) a code of conduct on age-appropriate 
design  that  builds  on  the  new  rules  in  the  Digital  Services  Act;  and  (iv)  continuation  and 
reinforcement of work done under the code of conduct on countering illegal hate speech online, 
under the Digital Services Act69. 

The  Commission  promotes  a  comprehensive  approach,  encouraging  Member  States  to 
collaborate on policies and initiatives that target the specific challenges related to children and 
young people’s mental health, and to address the links between mental health problems, health 
determinants and the use of digital tools. 

The  Communication  invites  Member  States  to  implement  innovative  approaches  and  best 
practices identified in the Healthier Together initiative on the mental health of children and 
young people. It also invites them to participate in the initiative’s collaborative work to address 
the impact of health determinants, including economic, commercial, social and environmental 
determinants,  and  the  impact  of  the  digital  transformation  on  children  and  young  people’s 
mental health and well-being. 

This strategic Communication lays the foundations for sustained action at national and EU 
level for a comprehensive, prevention-based and multistakeholder approach to mental health. 

Cooperation between DGs on youth policy 

There has been remarkable cooperation between various DGs to implement initiatives related 
to  youth  policy,  and  those  coordinated  jointly  by  more  than  two  DGs  undeniably  have  a 
significant  effect  on  mainstreaming  youth  policy.  The  subsequent  sections  give  a 
comprehensive  overview  of  exemplary  initiatives  accomplished  throughout  the  Year, 

68 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and 
Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a comprehensive approach to mental health. Available 
via: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52023DC0298 
69 The Digital Services Act package. Available from: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/digital-
services-act-package. 

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showcasing collaboration at EU level, as well as at national, regional and stakeholder levels. 
Among other things, these demonstrate the outstanding outcomes achieved through cross-DG 
cooperation,  contributing  to  the  achievement  of  Objective  4  and  further  supporting  the 
integration of youth policy across various domains. 

One particular aspect that contributes to the mainstreaming of youth policy, and therefore the 
selection of exemplary initiatives in this chapter, is the emphasis on youth initiatives centred 
around data and evidence. These initiatives play a pivotal role in providing a solid foundation 
for decision-making processes and policy development. By leveraging data-driven insights and 
evidence-based research, these youth initiatives promote a more comprehensive and informed 
understanding of the needs, challenges and aspirations of young people. 

3.2.4.1. Key achievements at EU level 

3.2.4.1.1. European Commission 

The EU has shown its commitment to empower and engage young people worldwide in global 
challenges,  through  the  adoption  of  the  first  Youth  Action  Plan  in  EU  External  Action 
(EEAS/DG INTPA/DG NEAR, DG ECHO, FPI) for 2002-2027 being one of the main EYY 
initiatives.  The  EC-EEAS  Joint  Communication  and  Council  conclusions  in  2022  aim  at 
putting in place a strategic partnership with young people, supporting them to drive change for 
a greener, fairer, more peaceful and equal planet. Youth organisations and the Youth Sounding 
Board for International Partnerships contributed to the preparation of the Youth Action Plan. 
DG  INTPA,  DG  NEAR  and  EEAS  are  now  actively  involved  in  implementation  and 
monitoring. EU Delegations are contributing on this process of institutional youth engagement, 
with the appointment of youth focal points, the creation of youth advisory structures and the 
inclusion of youth organisations in their process of consultations for country programmes and 
actions. Additionally, the EU launched the EU@UN Youth Delegates Programme to increase 
youth participation in the United Nations and set up a network of youth contact points within 
the Integrated Approach to Security and Peace Directorate after the EYY. 

As  soon  as  the  Year  was  announced,  the  Commission  set  up  the  EYY  NC/SH  Group 
(DG EAC),  as  requested  by  Article  5  of  the  Decision.  A  network  of  29  EYY  national 
coordinators  from  EU  Member  States70,  6  national  contact  points  in  Erasmus+  associated 
countries, and more than 120 European-level youth stakeholders was set up and managed by 
the EU Youth Coordinator71. This network met nine times before and over the course of the 
Year and had regular exchanges on an online platform. The European Parliament, CoR and the 
EESC  contributed  to  these  meetings,  and  this  cooperation  will  benefit  interinstitutional 
relations on youth issues in the long term. 

In 2022, the EU Youth Coordinator, Biliana Sirakova, has helped to bring the EU closer to 
young  people.  She  has  amplified  youth  voices  in  the  Commission  and  contributed  to 
cooperation among services working on youth issues. The EU Youth Coordinator coordinated 
the  Commission  Youth  Network  and  the  EYY  NCs/SH  Group,  and  moderated  most  of  the 
youth policy dialogues with Commissioners. 

70 As youth policy is a competence of the three Communities in Belgium, three NCs have been appointed. 
71 Decision (EU) 2021/2316 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 December 2021 on a European 
Year of Youth (2022). Available via: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec/2021/2316/oj  

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The  Commission  Youth  Network  enables  continuous  exchanges  between  the  DGs  on 
youth-related initiatives and was a key enabler of the Year’s strong cross-sectoral dimension. 
10  meetings  took  place  once  it  was  set  up  (see  Table  1.  Meetings  of  Commission  Youth 
Network). 

The Commission (DG EAC) also participated in the Youth Working Party in 2022, in which 
specific innovative examples with a youth element were presented at meetings, along with new 
initiatives and updates from the Commission on programmes and activities. In each Presidency, 
the EU Youth Coordinator presents their role and actions to support the mainstreaming of youth 
issues in other policies, and vice versa. Emphasis is placed on the objective of mainstreaming 
youth  policy  (fourth  EYY  objective),  which  is  also  in  line  with  the  role  of  EU  Youth 
Coordinator. 

With regard to mainstreaming youth policy in other sectors, and vice versa, thematic sessions 
were  held  with  presentations  on  fundamental  rights  and  social  affairs,  by  DG  EMPL  and 
DG JUST;  mental  health  and  well-being,  by  DG  SANTE  and  DG  EAC  (on 
education/culture/sport);  and  a  green  and  sustainable  Europe,  by  DG  CLIMA,  DG MOVE 
and DG EAC (on education). These presentations highlight initiatives of other services that 
have  a  direct  or  indirect  impact  on  young  people  and  enable  delegations  to  interact  with 
representatives of other services and discuss the benefits of each initiative for young people. 
This helps initiatives such as the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) 2023 project, Youth First 
–  a  policy  initiative  put  forward  in  the  context  of  EYY  by  DG  REFORM,  which  provides 
expertise and capacity building – become more widely known in Member States. 

As a follow-up to these thematic presentations, the Swedish Presidency and the Commission 
(DG EAC) hosted the EYY Legacy event on mainstreaming youth policy  in Brussels on 
19 June 2023. There were between 80 and 100 participants, including Commission officials, 
members  of  the  Youth  Working  Party,  youth  representatives  and  representatives  from  the 
permanent representations working as advisers in relevant policy fields (namely employment, 
education and training, environment and health). The event reflected on the lessons learned 
during the Year and focused on how youth policy can be mainstreamed in a sustainable and 
rational way. The EU Youth Dialogue, including its structures and methods, was presented to 
participants from other policy fields as a good example. 

The purpose of the mainstreaming event was to take stock of lessons learned on mainstreaming 
during the Year, and to secure a more sustainable legacy for EYY by bringing representatives 
from  different  institutions  and  policy  areas  together  to  discuss  the  mainstreaming  of  youth 
policy based on relevant examples at European, national and regional levels. Member State and 
Commission experts from four policy areas – climate, monitoring and evaluation, the labour 
market, and mental health – shared their knowledge and perspectives from outside the youth 
policy field. This promoted an interactive discussion on how youth policy can be mainstreamed 
in  a  more  sustainable  and  rational  way,  and  highlighted  good  practices  and  lessons  learned 
during  the  implementation  of  EYY  and  the  EU  Youth  Dialogue,  whose  structures  and 
implementation methods were presented to colleagues working in other policy fields. 

With the Joint Communication on the Arctic Policy (EEAS and DG MARE), and through 
the  Arctic  Youth  Dialogues  call  for  proposals  (FPI),  the  EU  stresses  the  importance  of 
prioritising people living in the Arctic. The Joint Communication underlines that the EU will 
‘involve  women  and  young  and  Indigenous  Peoples  more  in  relevant  decision-making 
processes.’  The  global  objective  of  this  call  for  proposals  is  to  increase  young  people’s 
contribution to implementing the updated EU policy on the Arctic, bringing the Arctic to the 
EU and the EU to the Arctic. The specific objective of this call for proposals is to promote 

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dialogue between young people in the Arctic and in Europe to strengthen their engagement, 
empowerment  and  participation  in  policymaking  processes  address  the  challenges  that  the 
Arctic faces. 

The  initiative  Young  Climate  Pact  Ambassadors:  Launch  of  Youth  Climate  Pact 
Dialogues and Forums in 2022 (DG CLIMA/JRC) involved the Climate Pact Ambassadors, 
who are young people committed to climate action through engagement with their communities 
and networks. With regard to youth engagement, the Ambassadors are essential multipliers and 
connectors with youth organisations and young people on the ground. To illustrate the close 
links and interactions between climate change and environment under the EU Green Deal, the 
Commission is collaborating closely on the Young Climate Pact Ambassadors scheme to help 
young people raise awareness of nature, biodiversity, circular economy and reducing pollution 
in their communities. There are 350 young Climate Pact Ambassadors implementing the Youth 
Engagement  Strategy  across  all  Member  States,  with  the  support  of  tools  such  as  Peer 
Parliaments.  They  collaborate  with  European  decision-makers  through  Youth  Climate  Pact 
Dialogues,  and  the  Climate  Pact  Ambassadors  Forum  promotes  further  collaboration  and 
exchange. DG CLIMA also organises dialogues between Ambassadors and EVP Timmermans 
on various topics. DG CLIMA made contributions to the Conference on the Future of Europe 
with specific guidance and toolkits developed as part of the European Climate. Additionally, 
DG  CLIMA  aims  to  continue  youth  inclusion  in  international  climate  negotiations  such  as 
COP28. More info: Climate Pact Ambassadors. 

On 26 April 2023, under the EYY, the Permanent Representation of Belgium to the EU – 
Delegation of Flanders (DG COMM) organised an exchange and information sharing session 
on youth impact-assessment initiatives. Representatives from Austria, France, Germany and 
Belgium  (Flanders),  as  well  as  youth  organisations,  and  the  European  Parliament  and 
Commission, discussed examples of the ‘Youth Tests’ that are being done in Member States 
and at EU level. 

The  EYY  initiative  to  launch  the  e-Guidelines  for  educators  and  teachers  to  tackle 
disinformation and promote digital literacy (DG CNECT/DG EAC) is part of the Digital 
Education Action Plan 2021-202772. It focuses on promoting digital literacy and developing 
skills to tackle disinformation among young people. The guidelines are targeted at teachers and 
educators and aim to raise awareness across the European education and training community. 
They were developed by a dedicated Commission expert group and launched on 11 October 
2022.  The  initiative  contributes  to  enabling  education  and  training  as  a  space  in  which  to 
empower  young  people  to  benefit  from  and  contribute  to  the  world  of  online  debate  and 
discussion, engaging critically with information, as well as creating and sharing their own. The 
guidelines are available in all EU official languages. More info: Digital Education Action Plan 
– Action 7. 

The  European  Council  adopted  a  Council  Recommendation  on  a  European  approach  to 
micro-credentials  (DG EAC/DG EMPL)  for  lifelong  learning  and  employability  in  June 
2022. The recommendation was based on a proposal from the Commission, which was adopted 
on 10 December 2021. Micro-credentials certify the learning outcomes of short-term learning 
experiences, such as a short course or training. They offer a flexible, targeted way to help young 
people, and people of all ages, to develop the knowledge, skills and competences they need for 

72 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and 
Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027, Resetting 
education and training for the digital age. Available via : https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52020DC0624  

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their  personal  and  professional  development,  in  line  with  the  Skills  Agenda  and  the 
Communication on achieving a European Education Area by 2025. The European approach to 
micro-credentials offers key resources and guidance to support their value, quality, recognition, 
transparency, portability and uptake in a consistent and rational way. It thereby contributes to 
a lifelong learning culture and increases the number of flexible learning opportunities available 
for  young  people.  The  proposal  was  adopted  together  with  a  proposal  for  a  Council 
recommendation on Individual Learning Accounts that can support the development, use and 
uptake  of  micro-credentials.  More  info:  Q&A:  Individual  learning  accounts  and  micro-
credentials. 

The Education for Climate Coalition (DG EAC/JRC) initiative is the European participatory 
community  to  support  teaching  and  learning  for  the  green  transition  and  sustainable 
development.  Its  event,  the  2nd  edition  of  Education  for  Climate  Days,  took  place  from 
7 to 9 November with the theme ‘Climate resilience: co-creating learning for sustainability.’ 
Students,  teachers  and  education  stakeholders  can  connect  through  the  open  collaborative 
community  platform  to  co-create  innovative  education  actions  and  initiatives  on  climate 
education issues around awareness raising, bridging education with science, developing green 
skills  and  competences,  training  teachers  and  changing  behaviours.  Several  participatory 
challenges were launched as part of the Year in 2022, including young people in co-creating 
specific learning tools for the green transition. The coalition’s Youth Climate Lab was launched 
as an outcome: each year, a peer-learning world café co-designed with young people is set up, 
where young participants can engage with their peers, explore an existing climate-related issue 
with scientists and policymakers, and propose practical solutions that interested stakeholders 
can  implement.  The  2023  topic  was  (un)sustainable  fashion,  and  in  2024  it  will  be  either 
‘sustainability and AI’ or ‘sustainability and tourism’. The coalition also brought young people 
from  across  the  EU  to  the  EU  Regions  Week  2022,  offering  them  the  opportunity  to  share 
climate  action  stories  from  their  own  neighbourhoods  with  education  stakeholders  in  a 
co-innovation lab on local sustainability education activities. More info:  The Youth Climate 
Lab. 

The EYY initiatives  Council Recommendation on learning for the green transition and 
sustainable development and GreenComp: highlighting the role of education and training 
for the Green Deal (DG EAC/JRC) were established as part of the European Education Area. 
The  Commission  adopted  a  proposal  for  a  Council  Recommendation  on  learning  for 
environmental sustainability for learners of all ages and at all levels of education on 14 January 
2022, at the start of the Year. This Recommendation emphasises the importance of education 
and training in achieving the goals of the European Green Deal. It was adopted by the Council 
on  16 June  2022  and  is  accompanied  by  a  handbook  of  examples  and  best  practices.  This 
initiative  aims  to  promote  cooperation  among  EU  countries  in  developing  policies  for 
sustainability education and training, and the competences needed for the green transition. In 
addition,  the  Commission  released  the  European  sustainability  competence  framework  for 
lifelong  learning,  GreenComp,  on  14 January  2022,  describing  sustainability  competences 
consisting  of  knowledge,  skills  and  attitudes  for  lifelong  learning.  More  info:  Press  release 
‘Commission  calls  for  environmental  sustainability  to  be  at  the  core  of  EU  education  and 
training systems’; Learning for the green transition and sustainable development; GreenComp. 

To address gaps in gender equality, the Year was an appropriate time to shine the spotlight on 
girls and young women who are making a difference in their communities and on their way to 
becoming  successful  in  sport,  culture,  education,  science  or  innovation.  The  #SHEU  leads 
social media communication campaign (DG EAC/DG RTD) had two goals. The first was 
to  highlight  the  support  the  EU  gives  young  women  and  girls  in  sport,  culture,  education, 

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research and innovation through its different funding programmes, including Horizon Europe, 
Erasmus+, Creative Europe, Solidarity Corps and the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The 
second is to showcase young women and girls across the EU who are rising stars in science, 
education, culture and sport. The one-year  campaign  was launched on 8 March 2022 at  the 
EUwomen4future event in Strasbourg. A dedicated section was also launched on the Youth 
Portal on 28 March 2022, where the Commission publishes all relevant videos. A total of 32 
video contributions were published. 

The European instrument for temporary support to mitigate unemployment risks in an 
emergency (SURE) (DG ECFIN) helped keep young people in their jobs during the CID-19 
crisis. SURE was adopted in May 2020 to provide up to EUR 100 billion in loans to Member 
States to finance short-time work schemes and similar measures. In addition, SURE indirectly 
helped dependent young people (e.g. students) by sustaining household income. Participation 
of women and young people in short-term work increased during the COVID-19 crisis. This 
primarily reflects the change in the focus of support away from manufacturing and construction 
towards services and retail – sectors that employ a relatively higher share of women and young 
people. In December 2022, the Commission made a final payment of EUR 6.5 billion under 
SURE, providing a total financial assistance of EUR 98.4 billion to 19 Member States. More 
info: SURE | European Commission. 

Eurostat  (ESTAT)  engaged  in  the  EYY  by  improving  the  youth-dedicated  section  and 
updating  its  youth  database  and  list  of  specific  indicators  in  line  with  more  recent  policy 
developments  –  Youth  Indicators  (ESTAT).  In  addition  to  the  data,  the  Commission 
(Eurostat) prepared a dissemination package dedicated to the Year, featuring online articles, a 
statistical  booklet  and  an  updated  visualisation  tool.  This  enables  better  presentation  of  the 
situation of young people across Europe in different areas of their lives.  This action is now 
complete: the revised dashboard and database have been updated, and the interactive tool is 
available on the Eurostat website. The statistical booklet was also finalised and published in 
October 2022.  

The  Bringing  Young  People  into  Statistics  (ESTAT)  initiative  aimed  to  involve  young 
people in statistical analysis. The annual European Statistics Competition was held alongside 
the communication package on youth indicators as part of this initiative. The 2022 edition of 
the competition attracted participation from over 3 000 teams and 17 000 students aged 14-18, 
along with their teachers. The main objective of the competition is to improve statistical literacy 
while encouraging students to explore significant EU topics through data and statistics. The 
2022 contest followed a multi-stage process consisting of national competitions in the different 
participating  countries,  and  a  European  final  in  which  the  national  winners  submitted  their 
video projects on the Green Deal and the environment. An international jury then assessed the 
entries and selected the top videos. The competition winners were announced on 3 June 2022. 
To  recognise  their  achievements,  the  winners  were  invited  to  attend  a  prestigious  award 
ceremony in Madrid on 27 June 2022. The latest edition (2022-2023) reached an even bigger 
audience, with over 19 000 students from 19 countries taking part. The winners were awarded 
their prizes at the Eurostat headquarters in Luxembourg, on 26 June 2023. 

With the International Data on Youth (JRC) initiative, efforts have been made to strengthen 
the EU’s engagement with young people in external action based on various reports. One report 
focuses on mapping international data on young people, providing valuable insights to support 
youth-related activities. Another report aims to increase consistency and coordination between 
policies and programmes relevant to young people in the EU’s external action and has been 
used by DG INTPA to ensure that the principle of evidence-based policymaking in designing 

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and  implementing  the  Youth  Action  Plan  in  EU  external  action.  These  initiatives  will  help 
create a more comprehensive approach to addressing youth-related issues globally. 

The  Youth  Guarantee  for  the  Western  Balkans  (DG  NEAR),  aims  to  ensure  that  young 
people  in  the  region  receive  quality  offers  of  employment,  education,  apprenticeship  or 
traineeship  opportunities  within  four  months  of  becoming  unemployed  or  leaving  formal 
education.  This  multi-year  initiative  focuses  on  strategic  reforms  and  collaboration  with 
stakeholders, including youth organisations, to support the integration of NEETs into the labour 
market. The Commission, in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and 
the European Training Foundation, has set up an EU-ILO Technical Assistance Facility to help 
Western  Balkan  partners  implement  the  Youth  Guarantee.  The  Western  Balkan  economies 
have appointed Youth Guarantee Coordinators and expert groups, and most economies have 
developed their national Youth Guarantee Implementation Plans, with some planning to pilot 
the Youth Guarantee in 2023 and 2024. More info: Declaration WB labour market integration 
young people. 

Youth focal points (DG NEAR and DG INTPA) have been set up at EU Delegations. In the 
enlargement and neighbourhood regions, they support the organisation of regular coordination 
meetings, to help raise the visibility of initiatives in the different regions. The EYY has enabled 
more cross-fertilisation between DG NEAR regions. 

A good example of mainstreaming was the Communication on the comprehensive approach 
to mental health, which was launched on 7 June 2023 (DG SANTE). The Communication 
promotes a comprehensive, prevention-based and multistakeholder approach to mental health 
and  will  support  Member  States’  efforts  to  address  the  many  policies  –  as  well  as  socio-
economic, commercial and environmental determinants – that affect mental health. It calls on 
national and regional actors, health and non-health policy sectors, and relevant stakeholders to 
implement this new strategic approach to mental health. The Communication also calls for the 
best and most promising practices focusing on mental health promotion, and on the prevention 
and early detection of mental health problems, as well as early intervention. It also includes a 
chapter on Boosting the mental health of children and young people. The Commission will 
continue to implement the EU Youth Strategy (2019-2027) to achieve better mental health and 
well-being, and end stigmatisation. 

3.2.4.1.2. Other EU institutions 

On 24 November 2022, the European Parliament adopted a Resolution on the European 
Year of Youth  2022 legacy, highlighting  the importance of establishing  and  implementing 
European Years, while ensuring meaningful youth engagement and involvement in policy and 
decision-making  processes.  The  resolution  emphasised  the  need  to  prioritise  measures  that 
cater to the well-being of young people, combat precariousness, and provide a quality start to 
their  working  lives.  It  also  called  for  increased  investment  in  the  next  generation  through 
education, recognising its significance in shaping their future. By setting these conditions, the 
resolution aimed to create a lasting legacy for the Year and pave the way for increased support 
and opportunities for young people across Europe. 

The CoR adopted a Resolution on the European Year of Youth and held a related political 
debate at its December 2021 plenary session, highlighting the role of the local and regional 
authorities in delivering on forward-looking youth policies, and the urgency to improve access 
to  quality  employment,  housing,  education  and  training  as  well  as  mental  healthcare,  and 

120 

 
 
 
 
committed to including a youth-mainstreaming approach where possible as well as to involving 
young  people  in  its  local  and  other  events.  Moreover,  the  CoR  together  with  the  European 
Youth  Forum  (EYF)  drafted  The  Charter  on  Youth  and  Democracy,  which  makes  49 
concrete recommendations on how to build a more youth-friendly EU. The CoR also invited 
the  President  of  the  EYF  to  represent  the  youth  perspective  in  the  workings  of  the  CoR 
High-level Group on European Democracy, chaired by President Emeritus of the European 
Council Herman Van Rompuy, stimulating discussions on innovative ways to strengthen the 
democratic  legitimacy  of  the  common  European  ‘House  of  Democracy’  at  all  levels  of 
governments in the EU. 

In line with the Year’s objective to bring a youth perspective to the EU’s policies, the EESC 
gave prominence to the European Youth Forum’s proposal on the EU Youth Test, dedicating 
an own-initiative opinion to this tool73. The EU Youth Test opinion sought to further promote 
discussions aimed at encouraging EU institutions and Member States to implement measures 
and mechanisms that ensure that the youth perspective is taken into account in every policy 
field,  and  to  create  space  for  young  people  to  provide  consistent  and  expert  input  on  the 
challenges they are facing. This followed the suggestions developed during the Conference on 
the Future of Europe. 

In  this  context,  a  dedicated  coordination  group  was  set  up  in  2022  to  ensure  EYY 
representation and visibility in the EESC. The group coordinated legislative activities related 
to  the  Year,  monitored  their  implementation,  and  liaised  and  cooperated  with  the  different 
sections,  categories  and  observatories  within  the  EESC  to  ensure  interconnection  and 
consistency among the different initiatives. It also sought to strengthen cooperation with the 
other  EU  institutions,  youth  organisations  and  representatives  both  during  the  EYY  and 
beyond. 

As  a  follow-up  and  at  the  suggestion  of  the  EESC  coordination  group  for  the  EYY,  in 
December  2022  the  EESC  also  adopted  a  resolution  on  The  long-lasting  legacy  of  the 
European  Year  of  Youth:  youth  mainstreaming  and  empowerment,  which  proposed  a 
definition of structured and meaningful youth engagement; highlighted the next steps needed 
in terms of future policy objectives to build a greener, digital and more inclusive future together 
with  young  people;  and  served  as  a  roadmap  for  the  EESC  on  how  to  follow  up  on  EYY 
deliberations to ensure a long-lasting and fitting legacy. A webpage was also created on the 
EESC website to present past, ongoing and future activities related to youth engagement at the 
EESC. 

3.2.4.2. Examples of achievements at national level 

To contribute to Objective 4, efforts at national level often described themselves as global in 
nature, seeking to connect young people across Europe and beyond. They also demonstrated a 
keen  desire  to  empower  young  people  for  the  future  and  to  mainstream  EU  youth  policy, 
specifically the youth policy promoting a stronger Europe in the world. 

In  Cyprus, a  final  national  EYY event took  place at  the Presidential  Palace in  November 
2022. This event provided an opportunity for government officials to reflect upon and celebrate 
the year. During the event, these officials took the opportunity to present the National Strategy 
on Active Citizenship and Participatory Governance 2023-2030. 

73 SOC/728 The EU Youth Test 

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Among  the  events  held  in  Denmark  was  the  Member  State’s  biggest  youth  festival,  the 
Democratic Youth Festival, which serves as link between young people and decision-makers. 
For its 2022 edition, participants from Greenland were invited to share their hopes and visions 
for the future, in a tent branded with the EYY tagline ‘Voice Your Vision’. A Create a European 
Citizen  workshop  was  also  hosted  as  part  of  the  festival,  in  which  30  high-school  students 
discussed youth rights and facts about three European countries. 

As  part  of  the  German  participatory  campaign  ‘Your  Europe  -  Your  Year!’,  the  Federal 
Ministry  for  Family  Affairs,  Senior  Citizens,  Women  and  Youth  (BMFSFJ)  engaged  with 
various  political  stakeholders,  including  the  Federal  Cabinet,  parliamentary  groups  of  the 
German Bundestag, young people and family ministers from federal states, local government 
representatives, and German members of the European Parliament. They extended invitations 
to participate in the campaign, and many esteemed figures from various levels of government 
responded positively. These participants included individuals such as the Federal Government 
Commissioner for the Acceptance of Sexual and Gender Diversity, a State Councillor from the 
Social Welfare Authority of Hamburg, a Member of the Bundestag, and several other Members 
of the Bundestag, each contributing their expertise and perspectives. 

One of Greece’s first and most important activities was the online event  Youth Work: the 
Roadmap to Recognition, involving experts in the field. More than 100 young people joined 
the  meeting,  which  resulted  in  steps  being  taken  towards  institutional  recognition  of  youth 
work. 

Latvia  organised  a  Discussion  cycle  on  the  EU  Youth  Goals  (11  discussions)  in  the 
post-pandemic period, from March 2022 to June 2022. To reach out to rural young people, 
these  discussions  took  place  in  different  regions  of  the  Member  State  and  involved  young 
people, specialists in the field, decision-makers and NGOs. The purpose of the discussion cycle 
was to gather key conclusions and proposals on how to achieve the Youth Goals effectively in 
a post-pandemic period at local and national level, as well as at EU level, with a view to having 
a  long-term  positive  impact  on  young  people.  A  total  of  413  people,  including  338  young 
people, took part. 

In June 2022, Latvia organised the working seminar Step into the Young Man’s Shoes. It 
brought  together 50 NGOs, sectoral  ministries, institutions subordinate to  ministries, young 
people and other major partners to promote mutual understanding, discuss EYY, jointly agree 
on the next steps in its implementation, and provide support to young people. A key focus of 
the seminar was to emphasise the mainstreaming of youth policy by bringing together various 
stakeholders and young people to discuss and jointly agree on strategies for implementing and 
supporting the EYY. 

In November 2022, Latvia also organised the largest international conference dedicated to the 
field of youth: Latvia through the Eyes of Young People. It brought together more than 160 
participants from government, municipalities and NGOs, who looked back at what EYY has 
accomplished and outlined the next steps in achieving its priorities. 

Hungary  involved  informal  communities  and  organisations  of  young  people  and  youth 
organisations in addressing raising issues. As a result, the National Youth Council of Hungary 
launched an open call for ideas for informal communities and organisations of young people 
and youth organisations to address the objectives of the European Year of Youth  through a 
local event. The call for proposals stated that the event should focus on the needs of local young 
people  as  well  in  addition  to  the  goals  of  the  EYY.  They  wanted  to  allow  organisations  to 
realise their idea based on mapped local problems to create solutions, therefore we can reach a 

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wide range of development and promotion activities for young people in different regions of 
Hungary. In total 50 local and 10 national events were organised. 

Poland appointed 16 Youth Ambassadors from all over the country who will monitor matters 
related to the creation and functioning of youth councils and volunteering, in close cooperation 
with the Civil Society Department and the Government Plenipotentiary for Youth Policy. The 
ambassadors were to  demonstrate experience in  the activities of NGOs that are involved in 
activities  supporting  young  people  and  the  development  of  civil  society,  with  particular 
emphasis on youth issues. The ambassadors became members of the working group, which will 
continue to work actively after the completion of the project. 

In addition, Poland prepared a 64-page report on youth activity during the European Youth 
Year in the form of an electronic publication. The report contains information on the activities 
of young people in NGOs and public institutions in the field of youth policy as part of the EYY. 

Slovakia  organised  a  meeting  with  high-level  politicians,  young  people  and  youth 
organisations mainly the Student Advisory Committee. The topic of the meeting was mainly 
the discussion about ongoing changes in the state educational programmes. In the second part 
of the event, the young members of the advisory committee talked to MEPs and Member of 
the National Council of the Slovak Republic and representatives of the Youth Parliament of 
the  Bratislava  Self-governing  Region  about  opportunities  for  young  people,  internships, 
working life after school and other topics that they touch the lives of students. 

Sweden  organised  a  panel  discussion  on  the  rights  of  young  LGBTIQ  people  on 
2 September 2022 following the publication of a report by Örebro MUCF on the situation of 
young LGBTIQ people in Sweden. In addition to one of the report’s authors, the coordination 
team also invited two MEPs and a local organisation active with Erasmus+, Awesome People, 
to take part in the panel and contribute additional perspectives. The discussion looked at what 
is needed to improve the situation of young LGBTIQ people at EU, national and local levels, 
and in different policy areas. 

Sweden’s  EU  Youth  Dialogue  in  Lund,  on  21 September 2022,  showcased  a  notable 
commitment to mainstreaming youth policy as part of the EU Youth Dialogue initiative. In 
collaboration with the National Council of Swedish Children and Youth Organisations (LSU), 
the EYY coordinators in Sweden were invited to oversee a seminar on youth policy during the 
EU Days in Lund. The aim of the seminar was to disseminate information about the EU Youth 
Dialogue in Sweden, report back to young participants from the consultation phase, and inspire 
young  people  and  youth  organisations  to  engage  more  in  future  dialogues.  Presenting  the 
results  of  the  consultation  phase  emphasised  the  importance  of  incorporating  youth 
perspectives and encouraging their active involvement in shaping policies that directly affect 
them. 

3.2.4.3. Examples of achievements at stakeholder level 

DISCLAIMER 

The  following  section  contains  a  selection  of  key  achievements  provided  by  EYY 
stakeholders, with the aim of giving a snapshot of the types of activities organised under this 
specific objective. All of the achievements of EYY stakeholders can be found in the EYY 
Activities map. 

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As part of the Year, Europa Nostra has strengthened and enhanced its partnerships with other 
youth  organisations,  specifically  ESACH  and  the  European  Heritage  Tribune.  In  2021  they 
collaboratively  created  a  youth-oriented  programme  called  the  European  Heritage  Youth 
Ambassadors (EHYA). This programme within the EYY has evolved into a growing network 
of  young  individuals  who  are  actively  engaged  in  the  heritage  sector  and  are  residents  of 
Europe. The EHYA enthusiastically share their personal stories, experiences, and passion for 
heritage  through  various  online  platforms.  They  play  a  pivotal  role  in  connecting  students, 
young professionals, and European heritage organisations, thereby facilitating the realisation 
of youth-driven heritage initiatives. As emerging professionals and students, EHYA members 
also serve as representatives and advocates for their communities and societies, championing 
the preservation of cultural heritage and leveraging heritage as a means for achieving social, 
digital, and green transformation in Europe. 

The European Network of Social Integration Enterprises organised a stakeholder session 
on ‘The attractiveness of the social entrepreneurship for young people: innovative and inclusive 
way to do business’ as part of the 2022 EU Industry Days. In this session, the main focus was 
on youth social entrepreneurship and its appeal. 

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4. Feedback on the results of the European Year of Youth 

4.1 Introduction 

The  Year  was  co-designed  and  co-implemented  with  a  vast  range  of  institutions  and 
stakeholders at both EU and national level. The Commission conducted targeted consultations 
to  collect  experiences  and  feedback  from  institutions  and  stakeholders  to  complement  the 
general public’s opinion of the Year. In total, four separate assessments were conducted: three 
targeted surveys and one call for evidence. The three surveys were subsequently examined in 
a  comparative  report,  which  shed  light  on  the  primary  accomplishments,  shortcomings  and 
viewpoints expressed by the respective target groups. 

The surveys have been adapted to address the specific needs of, and collect targeted feedback 
from, NCs, stakeholders and young people in an effort to conduct a relevant assessment based 
on input from all of the different actors involved in co-creating and co-implementing the Year. 
The  survey  encompassed  a  mix  of  open-ended  and  multiple-choice  questions,  along  with  a 
rating system that ranged from 1 to 5 stars (with 1 being the lowest value and 5 the highest). 
This  enabled respondents  to  rank their  chosen options,  providing  positive viewpoints  and a 
visual representation of the overall sentiment among the specific groups targeted. 

DISCLAIMER 

Please  note  that  the  data  for  questions  asking  the  relevant  group  of  respondents  to  provide 
internal outreach statistics has come straight from respondents and does account for different 
variables. This means that the information on outreach statistics cannot be compared. 

4.2 Call for evidence 

A call for evidence on ‘2022 European Year of Youth – achievements and way forward’ was 
published in all EU languages on the Commission’s Have Your Say Portal on 17 March 2023. 
The aim of this consultation was to collect views from all interested parties, including young 
people and the main EYY stakeholders, as well as the general public and any parties affected 
by, or with an interest in, EU youth policy. The aim was to collect their feedback and ideas to 
feed into the final report on the EYY and help shape the Year’s legacy. 

The call for evidence remained open for 4 weeks and closed on 14 April 2023, having received 
a total of 29 contributions from 13 EU citizens, 10 NGOs, 3 public authorities, 1 trade union 
and 2 other organisations  (the German National  Agency for the EU programmes Erasmus+ 
Youth and European Solidarity Corps; and the United Nations office in Brussels). 

125 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 22. Graph by category of respondents 
Source: Call for evidence on ‘2022 European Year of Youth – achievements and way forward’ 

Participants of 10 different nationalities responded to the call for evidence. Respondents from 
Belgium, Germany and Italy were most active and raised points relating to realities in their 
home countries. For instance, 2 of the 4 Italian responses related to the island of Sardinia, where 
young people are seeking better higher education and European exchanges, which would create 
greater European cultural awareness. The other 2 responses related to lowering the voting age 
to 16, which is perceived as essential for engaging young people. 

Figure 23. Graph by country of respondents 
Source: call for evidence on ‘2022 European Year of Youth – achievements and way forward’ 

4.2.1. Overall feedback 

The feedback was predominantly positive across all responses received. Among the Year’s top 
achievements,  responses  highlighted  the  creation  of  more  spaces  for  youth  participation,  as 
well as the greater visibility given to EU youth policy and mainstreaming youth to new actors. 

126 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Two  of  the  respondents  also  appreciated  the  well-prepared  communication  packages  for 
stakeholders, which were available on the EYY webpage. Moreover, one of the respondents 
noted  that  the  Commission  had  successfully  addressed  the  needs  of  young  people  with 
disabilities by adding detail about the accessibility of events on the EYY Activities map. 

Most respondents considered that the Year had succeeded in drawing attention to the issues 
faced by young people,  and that making youth  the focus enabled them to  work with  young 
people directly and understand their concerns. For instance, young people need career guidance 
and many still lack proper access to digital facilities. Some organisations also stressed the need 
to have better communication on initiatives that are relevant to youth, and to ensure they are 
equally accessible. 

However, a few respondents did not think that the EYY achieved any concrete changes in EU 
youth  policy:  for  example,  banning  unpaid  internships  or  increasing  youth  employment.  In 
addition, the respondents also mentioned the short time span between the announcement of the 
Year and its implementation, which left organisations with little time to plan their activities. 
Many of the activities were therefore concentrated in the second half of 2022. 

4.2.2. Recommendations 

The three recommendations most often voiced by the respondents were: (i) to further embed a 
youth perspective in policymaking at national and EU levels: (ii) to make youth activities more 
inclusive  by  involving  minorities;  and  (iii)  to  promote  equal  access  to  mental  healthcare. 
Stakeholders also highlighted the need to work directly with young people at local level and to 
enhance their involvement in decision-making processes, thus promoting collaboration with 
national youth councils. This would allow policymakers to share their perspectives at EU level 
and make policies more inclusive and accessible to citizens locally. Better implementation of 
the EU Youth Guarantee was also suggested, along with binding social and employment policy 
measures,  such  as  a  minimum  training  allowance  and  easier  access  to  education  and 
educational funding. 

4.2.3. Sharing good practices and initiatives 

The  call  for  evidence  also  provided  opportunities  for  respondents  to  share  their  key 
achievements, good practices and initiatives as part of the Year. 

Notably, on 28 and 29 October 2022, the Youth Forum organised the LevelUp! Festival in the 
European Parliament. This brought over 1 300 young people together (for more information, 
see  Point  2.6.2  on  the  Level  Up!  Accelerating  change  festival).  Other  organisations  also 
created  networks  of  youth  ambassadors  to  represent  young  people  at  events  and  bring 
policymaking closer to them. 

Some  respondents  had  sustainability  and  green  policies  on  their  agenda.  European  Non-
Governmental  Sports  Organisation  Youth  (ENGSO  Youth),  for  example,  implemented  the 
‘You(th) for Sustainable Development’ initiative, which trained and supported young people 
so that they could initiate sustainable change in their communities. This included running youth 
exchanges in Dakar and Tokyo, and a closing conference in Paris. ENGSO Youth believed this 
was a very effective practice, which would serve as a great example of actions that could help 

127 

 
 
 
 
 
 
implement the Youth Action Plan for EU External Action. Following the green policy line, 
Youth  for  Exchange  and  Understanding  International  (YEU  International)  also  adjusted  its 
2022–2025  strategic  plan  and  strategic  priorities  to  align  them  more  closely  with  the  green 
cause. 

Some  of  the  respondents  set  up  initiatives  that  focused  on  including  young  people  from 
different backgrounds. These included YEU International and its projects Brave New You – 
reloaded,  and  Kid  Actions;  and  Hungary’s  National  Youth  Council  and  its  Roma  Youth 
Conference. 

Respondents also focused on the importance of putting young people at the centre of the Year 
and  providing  them  with  a  space  to  gather  and  exchange  perspectives,  as  a  key  element  in 
breaking down stigmas and building links. For instance, Hungary’s National Youth Council 
implemented  local  and  regional  programmes  that  involved  informal  communities  and 
organisations  of  young  people.  Barcelona’s  provincial  council,  the  Diputació  de  Barcelona, 
highlighted the importance of working directly with young people and involving them in the 
decision-making process to improve policies, make them more inclusive and bring them closer 
to citizens. 

The trade union perspective was shared by the European Confederation of Independent Trade 
Unions.  Its  main  initiatives  included  work  to  improve  mental  health  and  well-being  in  the 
workplace and finding ways to relieve the financial burden on young people during their time 
in education and training. 

4.3. National coordinators 

The survey targeting NCs (e.g. ministries, National Agencies and national youth councils) and 
national contact points was released on 7 March 2023 and remained open until 14 April 2023. 
It invited them to assess activities and new initiatives delivered at all levels (national, regional 
and local) as part of the Year. 

4.3.1 Sample composition 

A total of 26 responses were received from NCs and national contact points. Respondents were 
asked to specify the organisation they represented. Most represented ministries (14 responses, 
54%), followed by agencies (11 responses, 42%) and one national youth council (4%). Three 
responses were received from outside the EU (from National Agencies in Liechtenstein, Serbia 
and Türkiye). 

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4.3.2. Executive summary 

Key findings 

•  77%  of  NCs  agreed  that  most  of  the  activities  had  taken  place  because  2022  was 

designated as the EYY. 

•  81% collaborated with ministries other than those responsible for youth policy. 

•  The Year was considered to have helped young people to become active and engaged 

citizens, and actors of change. 

•  The  Youth  Policy  Dialogues  with  Commissioners  were  highlighted  as  a  unique 
opportunity for young people to get closer to policy initiatives and decision-makers, 
by involving them in decision-making processes and in making their voices heard. 

•  The  themes  of  skills,  education,  and  training  were  prominent  during  the  Year, 
especially in relation to environmentally friendly and digitally transformed societies. 

•  The  inclusion  of  vulnerable  groups  (young  NEETs,  young  people  with  fewer 
opportunities, and young people from devalued ethnic minorities such as the Roma 
community) was prioritised. 

•  Highlighted topics included youth becoming more familiar with opportunities at EU, 
national  and  local  levels,  and  being  more  prepared  to  take  up  such  opportunities 
through capacity building, networking and engagement. 

•  There  was  a  clear  emphasis  on  participation  by  young  people,  particularly  in 
decision-making.  Networking  was  a  central  theme,  with  more  young  people  than 
before being able to develop new networks and connections, and thereby contribute 
to the participation and engagement of young people in democratic life. 

•  NCs  considered  that  EYY  activities  that  were  coordinated  at  national  level  had 

contributed to these three objectives the most: 

o  promoting  opportunities  available  to  young  people  to  support  their 

development (96%); 

o  helping young people to become active and engaged citizens, and building 

capacity for youth participation and civic engagement (88%); 

o  bringing a youth perspective to EU policies through mainstreaming (64%). 

•  With regard to the Year’s implementation, NCs supported the continuation of more 
dialogues between young people and high-level decision-makers beyond 2022 (68%) 
and  requested  more  efforts  to  mainstream  youth  perspectives  in  all  policy  areas 
(68%). 

•  Some NCs expressed their view that the Year did not fulfil its potential because of 

its late announcement and the late availability of budget.  

Recommendations 

•  Ongoing  information  campaigns  to  promote  young  people’s  involvement  in 

decision-making processes further at EU, national and local levels. 

129 

 
 
 
 
•  Continuing dialogues between politicians and young people to promote youth in all 

policy areas. 

•  Providing networking opportunities for NCs and broader stakeholders, and creating 

accessible online platforms to easily communicate opportunities in the EU. 

•  Directly  involving  young  people  in  the  preparation  of  various  initiatives  and 

proposals. 

•  With  regard  to  recommendations  to  be  continued  at  EU  level,  respondents 
highlighted  the  importance  of  continuing  to  support  the  EYY  NCs/SH  Group; 
providing  more  opportunities  for  young  people’s  voices  to  be  heard  at  all  levels; 
disseminating  good  practices;  integrating  recommendations  into  policies;  and 
creating more targeted activities based on young people’s needs as voiced throughout 
the EYY. 

4.3.3. Survey results according to the European Year of Youth’s objectives 

4.3.3.1 European Year of Youth objectives 

Using a ranking system on a scale of 1 to 5, with the additional option to respond with I don’t 
know, NCs were asked to agree or disagree with whether the EYY’s overarching objectives 
were achieved through the activities organised. 

As shown in Figure 24, NCs considered that the EYY activities had led to the achievement of 
the following three EYY objectives to the most extent: promoting opportunities available to 
young people to support their development (96%); helping young people to become active and 
engaged citizens and building capacity for youth participation and civic engagement (89%); 
and bringing a youth perspective to the EU’s policies (65%). 

Figure 24. ‘On a scale of 1 to 5, to what extent were the EYY’s overarching objectives achieved in your 
country?’ (26 responses from NCs).  
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs 

130 

 
 
 
 
 
 
NCs were then asked to indicate whether the Year contributed to specific objectives. As shown 
in Figure 25, providing More information about the opportunities available to youth … (85%) 
was selected the most. 

Figure 25. The European Year of Youth contributed to the following developments’ (26 responses from NCs) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs 

The  second  most  selected  option  (by  58%  of  NCs)  was  More  support  for  young  people  to 
become active and engaged citizens and actors of change. However, only 35% of NCs agreed 
that there had been More involvement in policy and decision-making processes. Likewise, only 
23% of NCs agreed that there had been More information about key policy initiatives impacting 
the  future  of  young  people,  such  as  climate  change,  sustainability,  digital  transition  and 
defending democracy, etc. 

4.3.3.2 Outreach and engagement 

In terms of the activities’ reach, NCs were asked how many young people in total had been 
reached through EYY activities implemented at national level (only outreach activities were 
taken  into  account).  The  overall  estimated  reach  that  they  declared  was  almost  7.3  million 
young people, with France, Italy, Lithuania and Finland being reached out to the most. The 

131 

 
 
 
 
 
 
table below shows the NC’s responses on outreach via social media. It is to be noted that these 
numbers should not necessarily taken as the real impact in terms of outreach to young people. 

 Italy  

  2 500 000    Denmark  

  10 000  

Liechtenstein  

  1 750 000  
  1 000 000    Serbia  

  9 000  
 France  
  5 000  
 Lithuania  
  3 000  
 Finland  
  3 000  
 Portugal  
  2 500  
 Estonia  
  1 000  
 Bulgaria  
  650  
 Romania  
  100  
 Sweden  
  18  
 Malta  
  14  
 Belgium  
  No answer was given  
 Czechia  
  7 275 330  
 Croatia  
Table 8. ‘How many young people were reached through EYY activities, initiatives and campaigns (including 
social media campaigns) in your country?’ (26 responses from NCs).  
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs 

  825 201    Luxembourg  
  500 000    Greece  
  250 000    Ireland  
  141 000    Belgium  
  69 847    Slovakia  
  60 000    Hungary  
  50 000    Slovenia  
  45 000    Belgium  
  40 000    Germany  
  10 000    Overall  

Respondents were then asked how they engaged on social media with content posted by the 
Commission’s  ‘European  Youth’  social  media  account  and  could  choose  all  options  that 
applied. As shown in Figure 26, most NCs shared or engaged with the content. Overall, slightly 
more than one in four (27%) did not engage, and Facebook was the preferred channel (58%), 
followed by Instagram (50%) and Twitter (15%). 

Figure 26. Did you re-post, share or engage with content posted by the European Commission’s youth social 
media account “European Youth EU” on the following social media? (Choose all that apply.)’ (26 responses 
from NCs)). 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs 

132 

 
 
 
 
 
4.3.3.3 Making young people’s voices heard 

As shown in Figure 27,  NCs  were then asked if  they felt that  the EYY had  enabled young 
people to express their opinions and make their voices heard. Using the 1 to 5 star rating system, 
100% of NCs agreed that it had, voting either with 5 stars (31%), 4 stars (31%) or 3 stars (38%). 

Figure 27. Do you feel that during the European Year of Youth you had opportunities to make your voice 
heard/express your opinion? Please rate: 1 not at all – 5 to a large extent.’ (26 responses from NCs). 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs 

4.3.3.4 Contributing to the European Year of Youth 

Respondents  were  asked  about  the  activities they  had  organised  for  the  EYY.  As  shown  in 
0Figure 28, NCs  frequently referred to  the organisation  of conferences  or events  for young 
people (65%) and information and awareness-raising campaigns for young people (54%), as 
their  main  contributions  to  the  EYY  objectives.  Dialogues  and  debates  with  young  people 
(38%), promotion of opportunities for young people (38%) and festivals,  meet-ups or other 
activities and spaces where young people could meet and interact (31%) were also highlighted. 
By  contrast,  certain  activities,  such  as  workshops,  training  and  capacity-building  sessions 
(27%), specific activities targeting young people belonging to vulnerable groups (23%) and 
particularly studies, surveys and research on youth issues (8%) were not organised as much, 
and therefore could not have contributed much to achieving the objectives. 

133 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 28. In 2022, the following activities were launched/implemented/organised in my country, which 
contributed to the objectives of the European Year of Youth’ (26 responses from NCs). 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs 

4.3.3.5 Main achievements linked to the European Year of Youth according to national 

coordinators 

NCs were asked, in an open-ended question, to describe the main achievements in their country 
in relation to the Year. The main keywords used in the responses are shown in the word cloud 
below. 

Figure 29. Word cloud based on open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs 

Answers  largely  reflect  the  survey  items  shown  in  Figure  28.  NCs  underlined  key  trends, 
including  young  people  becoming  more  familiar  with  opportunities  open  to  them  at  EU, 

134 

 
 
 
 
 
 
national  and  local  levels,  and  being  more  prepared  to  take  up  such  opportunities  through 
capacity building, networking and engagement activities. NCs considered the theme of skills, 
education  and  training  to  be  important  in  terms  of  environmentally  friendly  and  digitally 
transformed societies. Furthermore, NCs mentioned that they had supported young people’s 
active participation in decision-making by enabling them to develop connections, not only with 
stakeholders but with decision-makers, through networking events, thus enabling them to have 
their voice heard at different levels. They also emphasised the inclusion of vulnerable target 
groups, such as young NEETs, young people with fewer opportunities and young people from 
marginalised ethnic minorities. 

The box below contains a selection of quotes highlighting the key achievements described in 
submissions from NCs. 

‘Young people are more  familiar with  the opportunities they have  at  local,  national  and 
European levels’ (Serbia). 

‘Environmentally friendly and digitally transformed societies’ (Romania). 

‘The “Your Europe – Your Year!” campaign was aimed at encouraging youth-led dialogues 
between young people and decision-makers at all levels’ (Germany). 

‘Targeting young people, in particular NEETs’ (Italy). 

‘We gave young people the opportunity to express themselves and convey the voice of their 
peers from different Slovenian regions to decision-makers’ (Slovenia). 

‘Created lasting initiatives and reached more young people than ever before; new networks 
and connections between NA and youth organisations’ (Lithuania). 

Figure 30. Selection of quotes from open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs 

NCs also noted that the Year was an opportunity to discuss and highlight a wide range of topics 
relevant  to  young  people,  and  to  boost  ongoing  policies  for  them.  This  became  even  more 
necessary due to  the  COVID-19 pandemic, which required the younger population  to make 
huge sacrifices (e.g. as regards job opportunities, education and mental health). NCs believe 
that the EU needs the vision, engagement and participation of all young people to build a better 
future, which is greener, more inclusive and digital. 

NCs mentioned different kinds of online and offline events and activities in their open-ended 
answers.  The  highlighted  initiatives  included  significant  media  campaigns  on  websites  and 
social networks, and the production of a comic book illustrating the various opportunities that 
the Erasmus+ programme offers young people. 

135 

 
 
 
The box below contains a selection of quotes from submissions by NCs with regard to their 
outreach and communication activities. 

‘The  creation  of  a  significant  media-campaign  on  websites  and  social  networks 
(Jeunes.gouv,  Facebook,  Twitter,  TikTok,  Instagram,  YouTube)  watched  by  1.7  million 
people, with the realization and spread of short videos “I inform myself, I express myself, 
I engage myself” (Je m’informe, je m’exprime, je m’engage)’ (France). 

‘There were some regional initiatives with the support of national funding. We can mention 
the  edition  of  a  comic  book  to  illustrate  the  various  possibilities  of  ERASMUS+ 
programmes for young people with a regional meeting to launch it’ (France). 

Figure 31. Selection of quotes from open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs 

A few central themes also emerged in terms of the types of activities and how they were carried 
out.  First,  the  EYY  was  organised  as  a  participative  and  inclusive  process  for  all  involved 
(e.g. young people, youth organisations, NGOs, ministries, National Agencies and decision-
makers). The aim was to ensure intensive cooperation between EU institutions and all actors 
involved at national, regional and local levels. For this to happen, national coordination and 
synergies with EU programmes (Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps, etc.) in the youth field 
were  indispensable.  Second,  informal  and  non-formal  education  (including  tools  such  as 
Youthpass)  and  young  people’s  ability  to  share  their  own  stories  and  experiences  were 
considered  to  be  very  important.  The  promotion  and  encouragement  of  creativity,  physical 
activity and sports, as well as art, were also considered to be fundamental. Third, NCs believed 
it was vital to base activities on co-creation, with young people taking full part in their design 
and implementation. 

Last  but  not  least,  NCs  highlighted  the  EYY  Micro  Grants  scheme,  which  enabled  young 
people to fund their own events and projects, as shown by the selection of quotes in the box 
below 74. 

‘Increased youth participation through activities planned as part of the EYY (106 activities 
were organised with the support of EYY microgrants)’ (Ireland). 

‘Increased interaction and development of relationships between EU NAs and newcomer 
organisations - 81% of microgrant beneficiary organisations were newcomers in Erasmus+ 
or European Solidarity Corps’ (Ireland). 

‘181 activities received financial support funds under the TCA/NET objectives. An internal 
selection  committee  decided  on  the  financial  support  based  on  guidelines  shown  on  the 
webpage ([Europäisches Jahr der Jugend 2022 | nationale Agentur für Erasmus+ und ESK 
(erasmusplus.at)).  Micro-grant  beneficiaries  met  at  the  EYY  National  Event  on 
10  November 2022 for an exchange and a peer learning exercise’ (Austria). 

Figure 32. Selection of quotes from open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs 

74 The quote from the Austrian NC was received in an email to the Commission. It was not part of the survey.  

136 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.3.3.6 Activities that took place because 2022 was designated the European Year of Youth 

As Figure 33 shows, NCs were asked to agree or disagree with the statement that most of the 
activities took place because 2022 was designated as the EYY. Overall, 77% of NCs agreed 
with the statement, 8% neither agreed nor disagreed and only 15% disagreed. 

Figure 33. ‘Do you agree with this statement:” The majority of these activities took place because 2022 was 
designated the European Year of Youth”?’ (26 responses from NCs). 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs 

4.3.3.7 Tools, resources or expertise from the European Commission 

As can be seen in Figure 34, NCs were asked whether they used tools, resources or expertise 
provided by the Commission when implementing any activities. NCs were very likely to have 
done this. The 85% who replied in the affirmative were then asked to provide more information 
in an open-ended answer. These NCs mentioned that they had used a wide range of resources, 
including the Youth Portal and Youth Voices Platform, as well as the stakeholder toolkit, visual 
materials, logos and presentations that the Commission had provided. 

Figure 34.’Do you agree with this statement: “The majority of these activities took place because 2022 was 
designated the European Year of Youth”?’ (26 responses from NCs). 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs 

Using a ranking system on a scale of 1 to 5, with an additional ‘don’t know’ option, NCs were 
asked to what extent they had found certain resources useful. Considering rankings of 4 and 5 
only, 92% of NCs rated the EYY webpage positively and 88% rated the EYY communications 
package (logo, visuals and stakeholders’ toolkit) positively. 73% of NCs rated the EYY NC/SH 

137 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Group  meetings  positively.  Despite  the  innovative  nature  of  the  Pool  of  European  young 
journalists, only 35% of NCs agreed that it had been useful. 

Figure 35. ‘On a scale of 1 to 5, how useful did you find the following’: (26 responses from NCs) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs 

4.3.3.8 Bringing a youth perspective across all relevant EU policy fields (EYY Objective 4) 

NCs were then asked which organisation they had collaborated with in order to  mainstream 
youth perspectives in relevant policy areas. As Figure 36 shows, NCs collaborated with many 
different types of organisations. Almost all respondents (92%) selected national youth councils 
or  similar  national  youth  organisations.  81%  had  collaborated  with  ministries  or  public 
administration bodies other than those responsible for youth policy, thus demonstrating their 
intention to make a positive contribution to achieving the objective. By contrast, regional youth 
councils  or  similar  regional  youth  organisations  were  selected  by  the  least  number  of 
respondents (28%). 

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Figure 36. During the European Year of Youth, did you collaborate with: (select all that apply)? (26 responses 
from NCs) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs 

NCs were asked whether they had set up any steering groups or networks during the Year. A 
majority of 69% of NCs said that they had and 31% said that they had not. Those who answered 
in the affirmative were then asked which types of stakeholders had been part of the steering 
group or network. National youth council/forum  (69%) and ministry/agency responsible for 
youth policy (65%) were the most selected types (each by about two thirds of respondents). 
With regard to mainstreaming youth policy, 61% of the steering groups included ministries or 
agencies responsible for policy areas other than youth. 

Figure 37. Which of the following stakeholders were part of your steering group/network? (select all that apply) 
(26 responses from NCs) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs 

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4.3.4. National coordinators’ views on the European Year of Youth and recommendations for 
beyond 2022 

NCs were asked about their overall feedback on the EYY. Their views were predominantly 
positive  and  respondents  indicated  their  support  for  EYY  activities  to  be  continued  beyond 
2022. The word cloud below visualises the words that were mentioned the most in their open-
ended answers. 

Figure 38. Word cloud based on open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs 

NCs generally saw the EYY as having been successful in supporting young people to become 
active  engaged  citizens  and  actors  of  change.  They  stated  that  the  Year  had  succeeded  in 
providing  information  on  key  policy  initiatives  with  an  impact  on  young  people’s  future, 
including  those  relating  to  climate  change,  sustainability,  digital  transition,  democracy  and 
mental  health. It  could  therefore be stated that the Year had  allowed young people to  build 
better networks and improved their capacity to do so. NCs highlighted Policy Dialogues with 
Commissioners as a unique opportunity for young people to get closer to policy initiatives and 
decision-makers, making the EU story more tangible at local level. 

The meetings and events organised by the Commission were considered as having been very 
helpful for engaging NCs. The final conference in Brussels also demonstrated good parallels 
and connections between the EYY and the European Year of Skills. Furthermore, NCs reported 
that  they  had  received  feedback  from  young  people,  who  had  greatly  appreciated  being 
involved in the final conference. 

The Micro Grants schemes were often highlighted because they made it possible to reach new 
organisations and to raise awareness on a large scale of the opportunities available to young 
people and organisations. NCs noted that this wide reach would not have been possible without 
the grants. 

However, some NCs stated that the Year had not achieved its full potential because of its late 
announcement  and  the  late  availability  of  budget.  Communication  of  the  initiative  at  short 
notice meant that not every young person and relevant stakeholder could be involved. Some 
respondents nevertheless stated that activities had already been planned, regardless of the EYY. 

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Another common concern was that young people will be forgotten once the Year is over, and 
that  the  commitment  to  them  will  need  to  be  continued.  Further  efforts  will  be  required  to 
ensure the EYY’s legacy and to mainstream youth issues at all levels. 

Given the dual role of NCs at EU and national levels, their input on what actions will be taken 
at those levels as follow-up to the EYY was analysed. The survey gathered suggestions on a 
range of actions to increase young people’s  participation, engagement and representation in 
decision-making processes and policy development at EU, national and local levels. 

The  word  cloud  below  visualises  the  most  frequently  recurring  words  in  the  open-ended 
answers on action at EU level. 

Figure 39. Word cloud based on open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs 

NCs  underlined  the  need  to  continue  to  support  the  EYY  NCs/SH  Group;  provide  more 
opportunities for young people’s voices to be heard at all levels; disseminate good practices; 
integrate recommendations into policies; and create more targeted activities, based on young 
people’s needs as voiced throughout the EYY. 

Furthermore, NCs recommended ongoing information campaigns to promote young people’s 
further involvement in decision-making processes at EU, national and local levels; continuing 
dialogues between politicians and young people; promoting youth in all policy areas; providing 
networking  opportunities  for  NCs  and  broader  stakeholders;  and  creating  accessible  online 
platforms to easily communicate opportunities in the EU. 

Finally, NCs highlighted the importance of involving young people directly in the preparation 
of various initiatives, proposals, etc. as an example of good practice. The Swedish Presidency 
of the Council hosted the EU Youth Conference between 20 and 22 March 2023; this is cited 
as a positive example because young people’s proposals were included in the preparation of 
the Resolution of the Council and of the representatives of the governments of the Member 
States on the outcomes of the ninth cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue. 

The word cloud below visualises the most recurrent words in the open-ended answers on action 
at national level. 

141 

 
 
 
Figure 40. Word cloud based on open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs 

NCs described a series of actions and initiatives that should be taken as follow-up to the Year. 
These  actions  were  aimed  at  supporting  and  informing  young  people,  promoting  youth 
participation  and 
involvement,  and  strengthening  cooperation  between  government 
organisations and youth organisations. 

Some of the initiatives mentioned in the text included organising local and national conferences 
and workshops, and continuing to work as part of the EU Youth Dialogue. 

NCs also mentioned the publication of tools and resources for young people, such as the online 
Lithuanian publication Žinau viską apie viską (I know everything about everything) and the 
translation into Lithuanian of ‘Algorithms for working with young people’ – a tool that shares 
good practices for future international cooperation in the field of youth work. 

NCs highlighted the importance of engaging young people in the policymaking process and 
mentioned the critical role of a multistakeholder approach to youth-related matters (involving, 
for example, young people, youth workers, youth organisations, youth centres and local youth 
councils). 

Finally, NCs were asked what aspects of the Year they felt should be continued beyond 2022. 
As shown in Figure 79, the main recommendation is that there should be more opportunities to 
make young people’s voices heard at all levels. Overall, 73% of NCs indicated that they would 
like to  see more opportunities to  involve young people in  policymaking beyond 2022. NCs 
underlined the relevance of  More dialogues  between young people and high-level  decision-
makers (65%) and More efforts to include the youth perspective in all policy areas (65%) going 
forward  beyond  2022.  In  addition,  38%  of  NCs  perceived  More  networking  and  capacity-
building opportunities for young people as vital. 

4.4 Stakeholders’ survey 

The survey targeted all EYY stakeholders (youth organisations, youth-led organisations and 
national  youth  councils)  who  were  part  of  the  EYY  NCs/SH  Group  that  organised  and 
published activities on the EYY Activities map. It was launched on 7 March 2023 and closed 
on 14 April 2023. 

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4.4.1 Sample composition 

The survey’s target group was stakeholders in the youth field. A total of 446 responses were 
received: 355 from within the EU and 91 from outside (shown in Figure 41). 

Responses were received from stakeholders representing all Member States. Croatia led with 
the highest number of responses (55), but Cyprus, Lithuania and the Netherlands contributed 
only two responses each. 

Figure 41. Please select your country. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

Most responses received from outside the EU were from stakeholders in Türkiye (75), but there 
were also responses from stakeholders in Angola, Belarus, Georgia, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, 
Norway and Serbia. 

Respondents were asked to select the organisation they represented. As shown in Figure 42, 
around 1 in 5 selected Youth organisation (21%, 95 responses), Universities or school (21%, 

143 

 
 
 
 
 
94 responses), Public administration (20%, 87 responses) or Civil society organisation (18%, 
81 responses). 

Figure 42. Please, select the organisation you represent: 446 responses from stakeholders) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

Figure 43 shows, there was a balance between organisations that are youth-led (52%) and those 
that are not (48%). Overall, only 27% of international or intergovernmental organisations and 
24% of other organisations were youth-led, while youth organisations (74%), youth networks 
(69%) and citizens groups/communities (60%) were more youth-led. 

144 

 
 
 
 
Figure 43. Would you say your organisation is youth-led?’ (446 responses from stakeholders) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

As shown in Figure 44, 28% of organisation representatives knew that their organisation was 
a member of the EYY NCs/SH Group. A quarter of respondents (24%) did not know whether 
their organisation was a member of the EYY NCs/SH Group. This was particularly the case for 
universities and schools (30%). 

Figure 44. ‘Is the organisation you represent a member of the European Year of Youth national coordinators 
and Stakeholders Group?’ (446 responses from stakeholders) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

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As Figure 45 shows, the Year was the first time that one in three organisations had contributed 
to an EU initiative. 

Figure 45. ‘Was the European Year of Youth the first time your organisation contributed to a European Union 
initiative?’ (446 responses from stakeholders) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

4.4.2. Executive summary 

This  section  presents  the  results  of  the  survey  sent  to  stakeholders.  The  survey  sought  to 
measure the impact of EYY. 

Key findings 

•  The survey revealed that the two objectives that were most fully achieved and saw 

the highest engagement among stakeholders were: 

o  promoting  opportunities  for  young  people  to  support  their  development 

(79%); and 

o  helping young people to become active and engaged citizens, and building 

capacity for youth participation and civic engagement (78%). 

•  By contrast, bringing a youth perspective to the EU’s policies (46%) and highlighting 
how the green and digital  transitions and other policies provide opportunities for 
young  people  (41%)  were  among  those  in  which  stakeholders  had  invested  fewer 
resources. 

•  According to stakeholders, the Year allowed them to accomplish organisation-related 
goals.  Among  their  key  achievements,  stakeholders  identified:  raising  awareness 
about prejudice, climate change, digitalisation, fake news, physical and mental health 
and well-being, disability, sexual orientation and social disadvantage; and increasing 
young people’s awareness of opportunities in the EU by providing information on 
subjects such as the European institutions, volunteering and Erasmus+. Furthermore, 
64% of stakeholders agreed that the Year had contributed to more information being 
shared about opportunities available to young people, such as volunteering or youth 
exchanges;  54%  thought  the  Year  had  provided  more  opportunities  to  meet  and 
exchange with other young people; and 56% noted that there was more support for 
young people to become active and engaged citizens. 

•  An important theme that emerged in the results is that of building networks, mainly 
by  strengthening  connections  with  youth  organisations,  networking,  building  new 
partnerships  with  official  institutions  and  NGOs,  and  facilitating  collaboration 
among young people. 

146 

 
 
 
 
 
•  Another key topic was increasing youth engagement. Successful efforts to get more 
young people involved in EYY events and activities led to young people becoming 
more  engaged  in  their  local  communities  (e.g.  as  volunteers)  and  reaching  out  to 
individuals who had no prior involvement in youth projects. 

•  Some  organisations  described  the  activities  they  had  organised  as  workshops, 
training  courses  and  capacity-building  sessions  (55%);  conferences  or  events  for 
young  people  (49%);  and/or  promotion  of  opportunities  for  young  people  (40%). 
Only  28%  of  stakeholders  organised  dialogues  and  debates  with  young  people, 
leaving room for stakeholders to promote dialogue between policymakers and young 
people to strengthen young people’s meaningful participation in decision-making on 
issues that affect them. Stakeholders stated that the overall reach of their activities 
was  around  473  million  young  people.  53%  of  stakeholders  believed  that  the 
activities organised were directly related to the Year.  

Recommendations 

•  More  opportunities  to  make  young  people’s  voices  heard  at  all  levels  (77%  of 

stakeholders). 

•  More  networking  and  capacity-building  opportunities  for  young  people  beyond 

2022 (69% of stakeholders). 

•  More  efforts  to  include  the  youth  perspective  in  all  policy  areas  (44%  of 

stakeholders). 

4.4.3. Survey results according to the European Year of Youth’s objectives 

4.4.3.1 European Year of Youth objectives 

Stakeholders  were  asked  whether  they  agreed  or  disagreed  that  the  EYY’s  overarching 
objectives had been achieved through the organised activities. 

As shown in Figure 46, overall, stakeholders stated that Promoting opportunities available to 
young people to support their development (79%) and Helping young people to become active 
and  engaged  citizens,  and  building  capacity  for  youth  participation  and  civic  engagement 
(78%)  were  the  two  options  that  had  been  best  achieved.  Fewer  stakeholders  stated  that 
Bringing a youth perspective on the EU’s policies (46%) and Highlighting how the green and 
digital transitions and other policies provide opportunities for young people (41%) had been 
achieved. 

147 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 46. ‘On a scale of 1 to 5, to what extent were the EYY’s overarching objectives achieved in your 
activities?’ (446 responses from stakeholders) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

Stakeholders were asked to indicate whether the Year had contributed to specific objectives. 
As shown in Figure 47, almost all organisations indicated that the EYY had played a key role 
in  the  achievement  of  certain  objectives.  For  instance,  64%  of  stakeholders  selected  More 
information about the opportunities available to youth and 56% of stakeholders selected More 
support for young people to become active and engaged citizens and actors of change. 

However, 26% of stakeholders identified the need for More efforts to reach out to young people 
from disadvantaged backgrounds; 17% stressed the importance of More involvement of young 
people in policy and decision-making processes, and 14% emphasised the need for More efforts 
to mainstream young people’s perspectives into policymaking. 

148 

 
 
 
 
Figure 47. ‘The European Year of Youth contributed to the following developments:’ (446 responses from 
stakeholders) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

4.4.3.2 Outreach and engagement 

Stakeholders  were  asked  how  many  young  people  in  total  were  reached  through  the  EYY 
activities implemented by their organisation. Figure 48 shows that the overall estimated reach 
of EYY activities declared by stakeholders was around 473 million (472 828 231) people. This 
figure is relatively high and may include organisations’ outreach efforts through social media, 
among  other  indicators.  One  stakeholder  response  indicates  a  reach  of  approximately 
454 million young people, but this figure appears highly improbable and is probably a false 
entry. 

149 

 
 
 
 
 
Figure 48. ‘How many young people in total have been reached through the EYY activities implemented by your 
organisation?’ (446 responses from stakeholders) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

Stakeholders  were  asked  whether  and  how  they  had  engaged  with  content  posted  by  the 
Commission, and could select all survey options that applied. As shown in Figures 49 and 50, 
most stakeholders shared or engaged with the content, but just over 1 in 4 (28%) did not engage 
with the EYY content through the Commission’s social media channels. 

Overall, Facebook was the preferred channel for stakeholders (55%), while Twitter was the 
least preferred, with only 17% engaging through that social media platform. 

Figure 49. ‘Did you re-post, share or engage with content posted on the European Commission’s youth social 
media account “European Youth EU” on the following social media?’ (446 responses from stakeholders) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

150 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 50. ‘I did not re-post, share or engage with content from the “European Youth EU” account’ (446 
responses from stakeholders) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

4.4.3.3 Making young people’s voices heard 

Stakeholders were asked whether they felt that the EYY had enabled young people to express 
their opinions and make their voices heard, using the 1 to 5 star rating system. Overall, 89% of 
respondents agreed, giving ratings of 3, 4 and 5 stars. 

Figure 51. Do you feel that during the European Year of Youth young people had opportunities to make their 
voice heard/to express their opinion? Please rate: 1: not at all - 5 to a large extent. (446 responses from 
stakeholders) Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

4.4.3.4 EYY measures and activities 

Respondents were asked what activities they had organised that contributed to the EYY. As 
shown in Figure 52, stakeholders indicated that three types of activities were organised most: 
Workshops, trainings and capacity-building sessions (55%); Conferences or events for young 
people (49%); and Promotion of opportunities for young people (40%). These were followed 
by Information and awareness-raising campaigns for young people (33%); Festivals, meetups 
or other activities and spaces where young people can meet and interact (30%); and Dialogues 
and debates with young people (28%). The activities that were organised least were Specific 
activities targeting young people belonging to vulnerable groups (15%) and Studies, surveys 
and research on youth issues (10%). 

151 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 52. In 2022, my organisation launched/implemented/organised the following activities which contributed 
to the objectives of the European Year of Youth (including online activities). (446 responses from stakeholders) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

4.4.3.5 Main achievements linked to the European Year of Youth according to stakeholders 

Stakeholders were invited to describe their top achievements by responding to an open-ended 
query. Numerous keywords emerged as recurring themes and are depicted in the word cloud 
below. The size of each word corresponds to how frequently it occurred. 

Figure 53. Word cloud based on open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

152 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Many respondents highlighted the creation of events such as workshops, meetings, festivals, 
conferences, seminars and exhibitions as a key achievement of their organisation in relation to 
the EYY. 

Another  main  achievement  that  was  highlighted  was  that  the  organised  activities  helped  to 
increase  awareness  on  a  wide  range  of  topics,  including  prejudice,  climate  change, 
digitalisation,  fake  news,  physical  and  mental  health  and  well-being,  disability,  sexual 
orientation and social disadvantage. They also helped to increase young people’s awareness of 
opportunities in the EU by providing information on areas such as the EYY, the EU institutions 
in general, volunteering and Erasmus+. 

The  box  below  contains  a  selection  of  quotes  from  stakeholders  highlighting  their 
achievements with regard to increasing awareness. 

‘Workshops were held on the topic of prejudice towards students with special educational 
needs.’ (Croatia) 

‘Organising an exhibition with portraits and stories of LGBTQIA+ students.’ (Romania) 

‘We were promoting opportunities of Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps to youth in 
our local community.’ (Slovenia) 

‘To increase  awareness  of local  youths about  the European opportunities in  my  region.’ 
(Türkiye) 

Figure 54. Selection of quotes from open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

Another  achievement  that  emerged  relates  to  increasing  youth  engagement.  Some 
organisations highlighted successful efforts to get more young people involved in events and 
activities related to the Year. A few responses described young people becoming more engaged 
in their local communities (as volunteers in some cases) and reaching out to individuals who 
had no prior involvement in youth projects. 

The  box  below  contains  a  selection  of  quotes  from  stakeholders  highlighting  their 
accomplishments with regard to youth engagement. 

‘Boost youth engagement and participation on activities, actions and events related to the 
EYY.’ (Greece) 

‘We organised a series of national and international events to promote the participation of 
young  people  in  society  and  encourage  their  active  citizenship.  This  initiative  included 
conferences, seminars and workshops, where young people could exchange ideas, discuss 
issues and engage in meaningful dialogue.’ (Portugal) 
‘Our organisation involved over 360 young people in its activities during EYY.’ (Czechia) 

Figure 55. Selection of quotes from open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

153 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The theme of capacity building and training was also deemed important by stakeholders. A few 
stated that individuals had developed skills as a result of the activities that they had organised. 
Others said that they had successfully increased the capacity of their own organisation. 

The  box  below  contains  a  selection  of  quotes  from  stakeholders  highlighting  their 
achievements with regard to capacity building and training. 

‘Dreamcatchers: training course  for youngsters  who want  to  write a solidarity project,  a 
participation project or a youth exchange.’ (Belgium) 

‘Building the capacity of our youth members through training.’ (Ireland) 

‘Workshops, trainings and capacity building sessions.’ (Croatia) 

‘It helped us to develop our capacity.’ (Türkiye) 

Figure 56. Selection of quotes from open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

Finally, some organisations described facilitating dialogue between policymakers and young 
people, providing an opportunity for issues affecting youth to be discussed at a high level of 
government. 

The  box  below  contains  a  selection  of  quotes  from  stakeholders  highlighting  their 
accomplishments with regard to facilitating dialogue between policymakers and young people. 

‘Discussions, dialogues and debates of young people on improving living conditions in 
the local environment.’ (Croatia) 

‘More dialogue between politicians and youth and awareness for youth participation.’ 
(Austria) 

‘We managed to host a public dialogue with the local/municipal authorities, where young 
people expressed their views directly to the mayor, addressed major concerns of the 
community and proposed ways of implementing these into real life. We believe such an 
initiative is crucial because it facilitates the social responsibility of the youth and thein 
political involvement into public affairs.’ (Greece) 

Figure 57. Selection of quotes from open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

Respondents were also asked about the sustainability of any new youth activities or initiatives 
that began as part of the Year and might continue beyond 2022. Their responses emphasised 
the same themes as the question on key achievements, and described the reasons for continuing 
activities. 

The  box  below  contains  a  selection  of  notable  quotes  by  stakeholders  highlighting  their 
achievements with regard to new youth activities or initiatives launched within the framework 
of the EYY. 

154 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
‘Digital Skills Training: In response to the pandemic, we have launched a series of digital 
skills training programmes for young people. We will continue to develop and expand these 
initiatives, providing young people with the necessary skills to thrive in the digital world 
while promoting safe and responsible use of technology.’ (Portugal) 

‘Youth engaging activities in cooperation with the interinstitutional network on youth 
outreach and engagement.’ (Belgium) 

‘Bridging/narrowing the gap between politics and youth engagement, getting more young 
people involved in politics.’ (Germany) 

‘Workshops, trainings and capacity building sessions.’ (Türkiye) 

Figure 58. Selection of quotes from open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

4.4.3.6 Activities that took place because 2022 was designated the European Year of Youth 

Respondents were then asked to agree or disagree with the statement that most of the activities 
took place because 2022 had been designated as the EYY. Most stakeholders agreed (51%), 
while 41% disagreed, and 6% said that they did not know. However, most responses (71%) 
were from stakeholders outside the EU. Almost half of EU-based stakeholders (48%) agreed 
with the statement. 

Figure 59. ‘Do you agree with this statement: The majority of these activities took place because 2022 was 
designated as the European Year of Youth.’ (446 responses from stakeholders) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

155 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.4.3.7 Tools, resources and expertise from the Commission 

49%  of  the  stakeholders  asked  had  used  tools,  resources  or  expertise  provided  by  the 
Commission when implementing activities. Responses were evenly divided between ‘yes’ and 
‘no’. Stakeholders belonging to international/intergovernmental organisations (68%) and youth 
networks (75%) implemented activities using tools provided by the Commission. 

Figure 60. ‘Did you implement any activities using tools, resources or expertise from the European Commission 
(e.g. European Youth Portal, stakeholders’ toolkit, presentations, speakers, visual materials, etc.)?’ (466 
responses from stakeholders) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

If respondents gave an affirmative response to this question, they were then asked to provide 
more  information  in  an  open-ended  format.  This  particular  query  has  been  subject  to  a 
qualitative analysis. 

Use of the Youth Portal accounted for the largest share of responses, followed by the use of 
visual materials,  toolkits,  logos and presentations. Across all items,  stakeholders mentioned 
that resources were used for promotional purposes, to provide information, and during training 
sessions. Materials were used online and offline, including for posters and leaflets, social media 
posts and events. 

Figure 61. Word cloud based on open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

156 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.4.3.8 Bringing a youth perspective across all relevant EU policy fields (EYY objective 4) 

Another theme that emerges from the open-ended question on the three main achievements was 
the topic of collaboration and building networks. Some stakeholders described how they had 
strengthened their connections with youth organisations, while others mentioned networking 
or building new partnerships with official institutions and NGOs. A few organisations said that 
they had facilitated collaboration between young people. The importance of this collaboration 
can be seen in the willingness of stakeholders to continue collaborating with other organisations 
and working to embed the youth perspective into EU policymaking. 

The box below contains a selection of quotes by stakeholders highlighting their achievements 
with regard to collaboration and building networks. 

‘Improving the network among public and private operators.’ (Italy) 

‘More young people showing interest and joining youth organisations, realising their 
initiatives through them.’ (Latvia) 

‘Collaborating more closely with the officials.’ (Cyprus) 

‘Within the scope of the EU youth year, we have gained more networks for more local and 
EU-supported projects on youth.’ (Türkiye) 

‘We  will  continue  with  workshops,  exchanging  knowledge  between  the  students,  and 
collaboration of students from our region of Croatia. We will also involve our students in 
Erasmus mobilities and give them the opportunity to take part in learning and meeting their 
peers from other European countries.’ (Croatia) 

‘Developing collaboration with other stakeholders in Italy has allowed us to further spread 
EU opportunities and policies to youth. We are definitely continuing.’ (Italy) 

Figure 62. Selection of quotes from open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

4.4.4. Stakeholders’ views on the European Year of Youth and recommendations for beyond 

2022 

The survey aimed to obtain feedback from stakeholders on aspects that they considered should 
be continued beyond 2022. As shown in Figure 79, 72% of stakeholders underlined the need 
for More opportunities to make young people’s voices heard at all levels. Stakeholders also 
stressed the importance of providing More networking and capacity-building opportunities for 
young  people  beyond  2022,  with  this  item  ranking  second  overall  (59%).  Slightly  fewer 
respondents  (53%)  opted  for  More  dialogue  between  young  people  and  high-level 
decision-makers.  This  was  followed  by  More  efforts  to  include  the  youth  perspective  in  all 
policy  areas  (44%),  and  Mapping  activities  and  events  that  are  relevant  for  young  people 
across Europe on the Youth Portal (37%). Of those who chose the ‘Other’ option, only 8 gave 
an  open-ended  response.  The  main  themes  centred  around  the  need  for  increased  youth 
engagement through projects, with a particular focus on providing more opportunities to those 
from  disadvantaged  backgrounds,  and  better  support  for  local  youth  work  in  the  form  of 
improved financing and structure. 

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The box below contains a selection of quotes highlighting stakeholders’ views on the EYY and 
their recommendations for beyond 2022. 

‘More structural support of local youth work’ (Germany) 

‘More  efforts  to  involve  young  people  with  fewer  opportunities,  the  economic 
disadvantaged ones  in  particular. The number of poor young people is  increasing  which 
results  in  increased  frustration  and  distancing  from  both  national  as  well  as  European 
institutions.’ (Italy) 

‘More participation from people from vulnerable groups - active reach out and support is 
needed.’ (Belgium) 

Figure 63. Selection of quotes from open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Stakeholders 

4.5 Young people’s survey 

The  survey  targeting  young  people  was  published  on  the  dedicated  EYY  webpage  and  the 
Youth  Portal  on  7 March 2023  and  remained  open  until  14 April 2023.  It  was  promoted 
through various channels, including Commissioner Gabriel’s social media channel, as well as 
the Commission’s European Youth social media and EYY stakeholder newsletters, in order to 
ensure a representative sample of respondents. 

4.5.1 Sample composition 

The term ‘young people’ defines as individuals in the 15–29 age group and this definition and 
age  range  was  applied  throughout  the  survey  analysis.  The  survey  was  published  on  the 
European Youth Portal and promoted extensively on the European Commission's social media 
youth channels to maximize reach. The total number of responses obtained was 1 590, which 
included respondents of all ages and those outside as well as inside the EU (1 223 responses 
from young people inside the EU and 367 from young people in other countries). Nevertheless, 
to accurately analyse the Year’s target group, only 1 435 responses from young people under 
30 have been considered in this analysis. Respondents in this age group were selected to reflect 
the target audience for the majority of European Year of Youth policy initiatives, as indicated 
on the EYY website. 

Responses  were  received  from  young  people  in  all  Member  States.  Young  people  from 
Bulgaria submitted the most responses (217), but very few were submitted by young people in 
Denmark (5), Malta (5) Luxembourg (6), Estonia (7), Slovenia (8) and Finland (9). 

The  vast  majority  of  responses  received  from  outside  the  EU  were  from  Türkiye  (298). 
Responses were also  received from  Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, 
Georgia, Ghana, Iceland, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Macedonia, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, 
Russia, Serbia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia and the UK. 

The young respondents were first asked to provide demographic information. 

As shown in Figure 64, of the 1 590 respondents, those aged 15–19 accounted for the largest 
age group (720 responses, 51%). This was followed by those aged 20–24 (489 responses, 34%). 
Respondents under the age of 15 represented the smallest age group (14 responses, 1%). 

158 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 64.‘How old are you?’ (1 590 responses from young people) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Young people 

As for responses from within the EU, very few (only 1%) were received from those aged 15 
and under. However, there was a fairly even split in responses from young people aged 15–19 
(43%), 20–24 (39%), and 25 and over (18%). Most of the responses from outside the EU (74%) 
were from young people aged 15–19. 

Overall, respondents under the age of 30 represented 90% of the sample (1 435 responses). The 
following analysis focuses on this group, in line with the Eurostat definition. 

As shown in Figure 65, 52% of respondents within or outside the EU and under the age of 30 
were from a large town or city, 34% were from a small or medium-sized town, and 14% were 
from a rural area or village. 

Figure 65.‘Would you say you live in a …?’ (1 435 responses from young people) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Young people 

As shown in Figure 66, most respondents (54%) described themselves as female, while 43% 
said they were male. A few respondents described their gender as ‘Other’ or preferred not to 
say. 

159 

 
 
 
 
 
Figure 66. ‘What is your gender?’ (1 435 responses from young people) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Young people 

4.5.2 Executive summary 

This section presents the results of the survey sent to young people with the aim of measuring 
the impact that the EYY had on them. 

Key findings 

•  Almost a third of respondents (30%) indicated that they found out about the Year on 
social media. This was followed by 14% who found out about the EYY via the Youth 
Portal, and 12% who found out about it via European networks (such as Eurodesk, 
the  European  Youth  Card  Association,  the  European  Youth  Information  and 
Counselling Agency, the Erasmus Student Network and the European Youth Forum). 
Another 12% found out about the EYY through schools or universities, and only 9% 
(139) said that they were unaware of it. 

•  Overall, 64% of respondents participated mostly in activities categorised as learning 
and  mobility  opportunities  (26%);  conferences,  workshops  or  training  sessions 
(22%); and meetups and exchanges with young people (19%). 

•  66% of young people stated that they felt they had opportunities to make their voices 
heard  by  engaging  in  youth  participation  activities,  such  as  Erasmus+,  European 
Solidarity  Corps  or  national  programmes;  communicating  on  social  media;  and 
participating in debates and dialogues (22%). 

• 

In terms of the achievement of the EYY objectives, almost half of the respondents 
(43%) highlighted their feeling that they were more informed about the opportunities 
available to  them at  all levels following the EYY. Some also  stated that they had 
more  opportunities  to  meet  and  exchange  with  other  young  people  or  felt  more 
supported and empowered to become active and engaged citizens. Almost a quarter 
of respondents (21%) felt that none of the statements applied to them. 

•  With  regard  to  young  people’s  opinion  of  the  EU,  70%  responded  that  the  EYY 

positively changed their knowledge or view of the EU’s work. 

160 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Recommendations 

•  Young people broadly support the continuation of the Year’s aims beyond 2022. For 
example,  young  people  expressed  the  need  for  more  opportunities  to  make  their 
voices heard at all levels, as well as for continued mapping of youth activities in the 
Youth Portal. 

•  What is more evident is  that all of the age groups stated the importance of  young 
people remaining at the heart of EU policies despite the Year being over, because 
youth empowerment is an important key action for them. 

4.5.3 Survey results in relation to the European Year of Youth’s objectives 

4.5.3.1 Benefits that the EYY brought to young people in line with the Year’s objectives 

As shown in Figure 67, almost half of respondents (44%) highlighted their feeling that they 
were More informed about the opportunities available to them at all levels following the EYY. 
That was followed by 25% of respondents expressing that they had More opportunities to meet 
and exchange with other young people and 24% who felt More supported and empowered to 
become an active and engaged citizen. However, just over a fifth of respondents (21%) felt that 
none of the statements applied to them. 

161 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 67. ‘Following the European Year of Youth, I feel …’ (1 435 responses from young people) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Young people 

4.5.3.2 Discovering the initiative 

As shown in Figure 68, around a third of the respondents (31%) stated that they had found out 
about  the  Year  on  social  media,  followed  by  14%  who  found  out  about  the  EYY  via  the 
European Youth Portal. A further 12% of respondents found out about the EYY via European 
networks  (such  as  Eurodesk,  the  European  Youth  Card  Association,  the  European  Youth 
Information and Counselling Agency, the European Student Network and the European Youth 
Forum),  while  11%  found  out  about  the  EYY  through  schools  or  universities.  Only  9%  of 
respondents said that they were unaware of the European Year of Youth. 

Figure 68. ‘How did you find out about the European Year of Youth?’ (1 435 responses from young people) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Young people 

4.5.3.3 Making your voice heard 

Young people were asked to state, using the 1 to 5 star rating system, whether they felt that the 
EYY had enabled them to express their opinions and make their voice heard. Overall, 66% of 
respondents stated that the Year had offered them opportunities to make their voice heard. 25% 
of these responded with 3 stars, 20% with 4 stars and 21% with 5 stars. However, a fifth of 
respondents (20%) felt that they did not have any opportunity at all to express their opinion. 

162 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 69. ‘Do you feel that during the European Year of Youth you had opportunities to make your voice heard 
/ express your opinion? Please rate: 1 not at all – 5 to a large extent.’ (1 435 responses from young people) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Young people 

Young people were asked what methods they had used to make their voices heard over the last 
year, and were able to select up to three options for this question. 

Key responses included Engaging in youth participation activities or solidarity projects (28%); 
Communicating on youth-related topics on social media (26%); and Participating in debates 
and dialogues (22%). Some respondents highlighted the fact that they had voted in elections 
(20%). 

Figure 70. ‘How did you make your voice heard?’ (1 435 responses from young people) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Young people 

4.5.3.4 Young people’s participation in activities 

Young people found out about the EYY largely online (shown in Figure 68 above), 31% found 
out about it on social media, and 14% through the Youth Portal. The highest numbers of them 
participated through Learning and mobility opportunities (25%); Conferences, workshops or 
training sessions (20%); and Meetups and exchanges with young people (19%). However, few 

163 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
young people interacted  with  decision-makers  at  national  or sub-national  level (9%),  at  EU 
level (8%), or with journalists (6%) (as shown in Figure 71). 

Figure 71. ‘In the context of the European Year of Youth, a number of activities were organised. Which 
activities, if any, did you participate in?’ (1 435 responses from young people) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Young people 

4.5.3.5 Young people’s opinion of the EU 

Young people were asked to rate whether the Year had improved their opinion of the EU, using 
the 1 to 5 star rating system. Overall, the responses to this question point to a very positive 
sentiment:  70%  of  respondents  stated  (with  a  rating  of  3,  4  or  5  stars)  that  the  Year  had 
positively changed their knowledge or view of the EU’s work. A quarter of them (26%) gave 
5 stars, indicating that the EYY had positively changed their view of the EU’s work to a large 
extent; 22% gave 4 stars; and 22% gave 3 stars. Just under a third of respondents (30%) gave 1 
star (20%) or 2 stars (10%). 

164 

 
 
 
 
 
Figure 72. ‘Has the European Year of Youth positively changed your knowledge or view of the work of the 
European Union? Please rate: 1 not at all – 5 to a large extent.’ (1 435 responses from young people)  
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – Young people 

4.5.4. Young people’s views on the European Year of Youth and recommendations for 
beyond 2022 

Finally, young respondents were asked what aspects of the EYY they felt should be continued 
beyond 2022. Respondents could select up to three options. Almost all respondents within the 
EU selected this maximum of three options. 

As shown in Figure 79, the survey results indicate that a majority of 61% expressed the need 
for More opportunities to make young people’s voices heard at all levels. This was followed 
by More involvement of young people in decision-making at all levels (38%); More dialogue 
between young people and high-level decision-makers (38%); and Mapping of activities and 
events relevant to young people across Europe on the European Youth Portal (38%). However, 
only 27% asked for More efforts to include a youth perspective in all policy areas. 

4.6 Comparative analysis of the three surveys 

4.6.1. Sample composition 

1 435 responses were received from young people75, 446 from stakeholders and 26 from NCs. 

Most  (23)  of  the  responses  from  NCs  were  submitted  by  respondents  from  ministries  and 
National Agencies, and one national youth council within the EU. Three answers were received 
from  NCs  outside  the  EU  (one  from  the  National  Agency  in  Liechtenstein,  one  from  the 
National Agency in Serbia, and one from the National Agency in Türkiye). 

Stakeholders from all Member States were represented and submitted relevant answers. Croatia 
was  the  most  represented,  with  a  total  of  55  responses.  The  most  active  stakeholders  from 
outside the EU were those in Türkiye, who provided 75 answers. 

75 Under the age of 30, in line with the Eurostat definition. Available from: 
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/yth_demo_010/default/table?lang=en. 

165 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Young people from all Member States submitted responses Bulgaria submitted the most (190) 
and Luxembourg the fewest (3). The vast majority of responses received from young people 
outside the EU were from Türkiye (287). 

4.6.2 Survey results according to the European Year of Youth objectives 

4.6.2.1 Activities organised and participation 

As part of the survey, stakeholders and NCs were asked about the activities they had organised 
for  the  Year,  while  young  people  were  asked  about  the  EYY  activities  in  which  they  had 
participated. The questions were the same for NCs and stakeholders but different for young 
people, so two different charts are used to illustrate the responses. 

As  shown  in  Figure  73,  65%  of  NCs  organised  Conferences  or  events  for  young  people 
(compared with 49% of stakeholders); and 54% of NCs organised Information and awareness-
raising  campaigns  for  young  people  (compared  with  33%  of  stakeholders).  Dialogues  and 
debates  with  young  people  were  organised  by  38%  of  the  NCs,  compared  to  28%  of 
stakeholders.  By  contrast,  only  27%  of  NCs  organised  Workshops,  training  and  capacity-
building sessions (compared to 55% of stakeholders). Both NCs and stakeholders devoted less 
attention to Studies, surveys, and research on youth issues. 

Figure 73. ‘In 2022, the following activities were launched/implemented/organised in my country, which 
contributed to the objectives of the European Year of Youth:’ (26 responses from NCs and 446 from 
stakeholders) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs, stakeholders and young people 

As  shown  in  Figure  71,  the  most  popular  activities  that  respondents  participated  in  were 
Learning  and  mobility  opportunities  (25%);  Conferences,  workshops  or  training  sessions 
(20%); and Meetups and exchanges with young people (19%). 

166 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.6.2.2 Benefits and achievements 

Young people were asked about the main benefits derived from their engagement in the Year. 
As shown in Figure 67, almost half the respondents (44%) reported that they felt More informed 
about the opportunities available to them. 25% felt they had More opportunities to meet and 
exchange  with  other  young  people,  and  24%  who  felt  More  supported  and  empowered  to 
become an active and engaged citizen. 

NCs and stakeholders were asked an open-ended question that invited them to articulate their 
main achievements76. The responses from stakeholders and NCs revealed themes and common 
areas that shed more light on the answers from young respondents. 

Increasing awareness of opportunities at EU, national and sub-national level was a common 
theme identified by NCs and stakeholders, in line with young people’s views about how the 
Year  had  benefited  them  (44%  of  young  people  said  they  were  More  informed  about 
opportunities available at all levels; and 17% said that they were More informed about key 
policy initiatives). This shows that there is a widespread desire among young people to be more 
informed about opportunities and key policy initiatives at various levels of government within 
the EU and highlights the importance of improving access to information for this demographic. 

The box below contains a selection of quotes from survey submissions. 

‘We were promoting opportunities of Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps to youth in 
our local community.’ (Slovenia, stakeholders’ survey) 

‘To increase  awareness  of local  youths about  the European opportunities in  my  region.’ 
(Türkiye, stakeholders’ survey) 

‘The  creation  of  a  significant  media-campaign  on  websites  and  social  networks 
(Jeunes.gouv,  Facebook,  Twitter,  TikTok,  Instagram,  YouTube)  watched  by  1.7  million 
people, with the realisation and spread of short videos “I inform myself, I express myself, I 
engage myself” (Je m’informe, je m’exprime, je m’engage)’ (France, NCs survey) 

‘Young  people  are  more  familiar  with  opportunities  they  have  at  local,  national  and 
European levels’ (Serbia, NCs survey) 

Figure 74.. Selection of quotes from open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs, stakeholders and young people 

Building networks  was  another key theme in  responses. NCs  and stakeholders highlighted 
how their countries or achievements had centred on creating connections for young people, in 
line with the perceived benefits for them (25% of young people responded that they had More 
opportunities to meet and exchange with young people). NCs and stakeholders also highlighted 
that  they  had  strengthened  connections  with  other  organisations  and  institutions.  Building 
networks  and  connections,  both  between  young  people  and  with  other  organisations  and 
institutions, is therefore a crucial factor in promoting opportunities and achievements in this 
context. 

76 The questions asked were not the same, however. Stakeholders were asked about the three main achievements 
of the respondent’s organisation (Q8) and NCs were asked about the three main achievements in their country 
(Q5). 

167 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The box below contains a selection of notable quotes obtained from survey submissions. 

‘More young people are showing interest and joining youth organisations, realising their 
initiatives through them.’ (Latvia, stakeholders’ survey) 

‘Collaborating more closely with officials.’ (Cyprus, stakeholders’ survey) 

‘Created lasting initiatives, reaching more young people than ever before; new networks 
and connections between NAs and youth organisations.’ (Lithuania, NCs survey) 

Figure 75. Selection of quotes from open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs, stakeholders and young people 

Supporting  and  empowering  young  people  as  actors  of  change  was  another  key  theme 
derived  from  comparing  the  survey  results,  which  show  that  24%  of  young  people  support 
being  actors  of  change  themselves.  Stakeholders  mentioned  that  young  individuals  had 
developed skills through the activities organised in the context of the EYY. Stakeholders also 
responded that they had succeeded in increasing the capacity of their own organisations. NCs 
emphasised  their  achievements  in  terms  of  informal  and  non-formal  education  for  young 
people (including tools such as Youthpass), and how young people were empowered by being 
involved in co-creating the design and implementation of activities. NCs also underlined the 
importance of the Micro Grant schemes in supporting, empowering and expanding networks 
of  young  people  and  youth  organisations,  including  newcomers  to  programmes  such  as  the 
European Solidarity Corps. 

The box below contains a selection of quotes from survey submissions. 

‘Dreamcatchers: training course  for youngsters  who want  to  write a solidarity project,  a 
participation project or a youth exchange.’ (Belgium, stakeholders’ survey) 

‘It helped us to develop our capacity.’ (Türkiye, stakeholders’ survey) 

‘Increased interaction and development of relationships between EU NAs and newcomer 
organisations  –  81%  of  Micro  Grant  beneficiary  organisations  were  newcomers  in 
Erasmus+ or European Solidarity Corps.’ (Ireland, NCs survey) 

Figure 76. Selection of quotes from open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs, stakeholders and young people 

Stakeholders  and  NCs  also  highlighted  achievements  in  terms  of  involvement  in  policy 
decision-making  and  exchanges  with  decision-makers,  as  well  as  reaching  out  to  young 
people from disadvantaged backgrounds. 

The box below contains a selection of quotes from survey submissions. 

168 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
‘Workshops were held on the topic of prejudice towards students with special educational 
needs.’ (Croatia, stakeholders’ survey) 

‘Organising an exhibition with  portraits  and stories of LGBTQIA+ students.’  (Romania, 
stakeholder survey) 

‘Targeting young people, in particular NEETs.’ (Italy, NC survey) 

‘The  “Your  Europe  –  Your  Year!”  campaign  aimed  at  encouraging  youth-led  dialogues 
between young people and decision-makers at all levels’ (Germany, NCs survey) 

Figure 77. Selection of quotes from open-ended question. 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs, stakeholders and young people 

4.6.2.3 Making young people’s voices heard 

Respondents were asked if they felt that the EYY had allowed young people to express opinions 
and make their voice heard 77, using the 1 to 5 star rating system. 

As shown in Figure 78, 89% of stakeholders agreed (28% responded with 5 stars, 36% with 4 
stars and 25% with 3 stars). 100% of the surveyed NCs responded positively to the question 
(31% responded with 5 stars, 31% with 4 stars and 38% with 3 stars). In the survey of young 
people, 66% agreed that EYY had provided them with the opportunity to voice their opinions 
and be heard (21% responded with 5 stars, 20% with 4 stars and 25% with 3 stars). 

Figure 78. ‘Do you feel that during the European Year of Youth you had opportunities to make your voice 
heard/express your opinion? Please rate: 1 not at all – 5 to a large extent.’ (26 responses from NCs, 446 
responses from stakeholders, 1 435 responses from young people) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs, stakeholders and young people 

Young  people  were  also  asked  what  methods  they  had  used  to  make  their  voices  heard. 
Responses  included  engaging  in  youth  participation  activities  or  solidarity  projects  (28%), 
communicating on youth-related topics on social media (26%), and participating in debates and 

77 Young people were asked whether they had opportunities to make their voice heard. NCs and stakeholders were 
asked whether young people had the opportunity to make their voice heard.  

169 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
dialogues (22%). Some respondents stated that they had voted in elections (20%), and others 
mentioned activism and petitions. 

In conclusion, as can be seen in Figure 115, a majority of stakeholders (64%) and NCs (62%) 
stated  that  the  EYY  had  made  it  easier  to  express  opinions  and  make  oneself  heard.  In 
comparison, 41% of young people acknowledged the Year’s role in  enabling them to make 
their voice heard and highlighted various methods of engagement, including participation in 
youth activities, social media discussions and debates. 

4.6.3 Overall views on the European Year of Youth and recommendations for beyond 2022 

Finally, respondents were asked what aspects of the Year they felt should be continued beyond 
2022 78. Figure 79 shows that all respondent groups thought that More opportunities to make 
young people’s voices heard at all levels was the main aspect that should continue. 

Stakeholders felt that More dialogues between young people and high-level decision-makers 
(53%) and More networking and capacity-building opportunities for young people (59%) were 
also particularly important. A majority of respondents selected them. 

Almost two thirds of responding NCs selected More dialogue between young people and high-
level decision-makers (65%) and More efforts to include the youth perspective in  all policy 
areas (65%). 

A majority of young people selected More opportunities to make young people’s voices heard 
at all levels (61%). More activities and events relevant for young people across Europe on the 
European  Youth  Portal  (38%)  and  More  dialogue  between  young  people  and  high-level 
decision-makers (38%) ranked joint second in importance. 

78 Respondents could select up to three options. The options were not exactly the same across the three surveys, 
so the chart only includes those that were given in all of them. 

170 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 79. ‘What do you want to see beyond 2022?’ (26 responses from NCs, 446 from stakeholders and 1 435 
from young people) 
Source: EYY Assessment Survey – NCs, stakeholders and young people 

In  summary,  most  respondents  across  all  groups  strongly  emphasised  the  need  to  continue 
providing  more  opportunities  for  young  people  to  have  their  voices  heard  at  all  levels. 
Additional importance was placed on increased dialogues with high-level decision-makers and 
enhanced networking and capacity-building opportunities, reflecting a collective commitment 
to youth engagement and empowerment. 

The survey results revealed several major findings. For instance, there was strong engagement 
from stakeholders, NCs and young people in the Year’s activities, and this was centred around 
youth  empowerment,  networking  and  policy  engagement.  Notably,  stakeholders  and  NCs 
broadly agreed that the European Youth Portal had been effective in amplifying voices (64% 
of stakeholders and 62% of NCs agreed that it had). In addition, respondent groups collectively 
emphasised the importance of continuing efforts to empower young voices, promote dialogues 
with decision-makers and expand relevant activities on the Youth Portal. This underscores their 
shared commitment to youth empowerment and engagement across all levels. 

171 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5. Conclusion and next steps 

This  staff  working  document  provides  details  on  the  implementation,  key  results  and 
achievements  of,  and  feedback  on,  the  European  Year  of  Youth  2022.  It  accompanies  the 
Communication on the European Year of Youth, which proposes future follow-up actions in 
the field of youth to create an enduring legacy for the Year. 

It  is  critical  to  sustain  and  build  further  on  the  level  of  commitment  to  youth  that  was 
demonstrated by the EU institutions and Member States in 2022. 

In order to empower and involve the EU’s young people, the Year’s legacy will be aligned with 
the interim evaluation of the EU Youth Strategy. This alignment will build on and boost the 
impact  of this  dedicated year in  the framework for the EU’s youth  policy cooperation. The 
objectives of the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027 to promote youth participation in policymaking 
and embed the mainstreaming of youth policy are central to this endeavour. The EYY’s legacy 
achieves these objectives and enhances the overall consistency of youth empowerment efforts. 

Central to this approach is the spirit of the Year itself, as a co-creative endeavour that resonates 
with young people’s perspectives in creating and enabling an ecosystem for youth engagement 
and participation, and increasing ownership and accountability at all levels. It is a narrative of 
unity, moving forward collectively, building trust and shaping aspirations for the future. The 
Year  consolidated  a  common  understanding  that  actions  targeting  young  people  are  more 
efficient  and  effective  when  created  and  implemented  in  collaboration  with  them,  and  with 
youth stakeholders. Results are amplified when EU institutions and national, regional and local 
authorities are open and dedicated to cooperation and continuous dialogue. 

This  spirit of shared vision and ownership will be especially important  in  efforts to  engage 
young people in participating in the 2024 elections for the European Parliament. It is essential 
that young Europeans feel engaged by this EU-wide exercise in democracy. The next European 
Parliament will have a key say in the adoption of the EU’s multiannual financial framework for 
the years after 2027, as well as the priorities linked to it, such as the future of the Erasmus+ 
and European Solidarity Corps programmes. The European Parliament will continue to play a 
deciding role in the adoption of legislation in fields such as the environment, climate change, 
consumer protection and non-discrimination. It is therefore crucial that young citizens seize the 
opportunity to express their choice for the EU and ensure their preferred representation in the 
EU’s democratic community. 

Youth participation does not start and end with voting, however. It grows from an initial small 
step, such as volunteering for a community theatre project; taking part in a national beach clean-
up campaign; running for a student council; launching a petition; taking part in an EU Youth 
Dialogue  consultation;  joining  an  international,  non-governmental  youth  organisation; 
attending the European Youth Event or the European Youth Week; or taking part in an action 
organised by the EU youth programmes. The opportunities given to young people will shape 
them as people, including the choices and paths they take, and will ultimately shape the EU’s 
future,  so  young  people  will  remain  at  the  heart  of  EU  policies.  Youth  empowerment  is  as 
important for young people themselves as it is for our democratic societies. 

172 

 
 
 
 
 
6. Annexes 

6.1 List of abbreviations 

Abbreviation 

Stands for 

Commission 
CoR  
CAP 
Council 

Decision 
DG  

DG EAC 
The Union 
EESC  
EYY or the Year 
EYY Activities map 

EYY NCs/SH Group 

Flash Eurobarometer 520 survey 
LGBTIQ 
MEP 
NA 
NCs 
SWD 
NC 

NEET 
NGO 
SG 
VET 
Youth Portal 

European Commission  
Committee of the Regions  
Common Agricultural Policy 
Council of the European Union 
Decision (EU) 2021/2316 of the European 
Parliament and of the Council of 
22 December 2021 on a European Year of 
Youth (2022) 
Directorate-General 
European Commission’s Directorate-General 
for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture 
European Union 
European Social and Economic Committee  
European Year of Youth 2022  
Activities map on the EYY webpage 
European Year of Youth national coordinators, 
National Contact Points and Stakeholders 
Group  
2022 Flash Eurobarometer on Youth and 
Democracy in the European Year of Youth 
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, Queer 
Member of the European Parliament 
National Agency 
National coordinators 
Staff Working Document 
National coordinator 
Young people neither in employment nor 
education or training 
Non-governmental organisation 
Secretariat-General 
Vocational education and training  
European Youth Portal 

173