Welcome to the EU Youth Dialogue,

a structured process of youth participation

in the European Union.

It facilitates continuous interaction

between young people and decision makers,

ensuring that EU policies are shaped by the needs

and priorities of young people.

The EU Youth Dialogue is an essential part of the EU Youth Strategy

the EU's framework for youth policies.

This strategy contains the eleven European Youth Goals,

addressing topics that young people in Europe care about

and want to see improved.

The EU Youth Dialogue operates in cycles of 18 months.

During one cycle,

three countries work together on a specific topic,

often connected to a Youth Goal.

In each EU country,

a national working group

is usually composed of the national youth council,

the youth ministry,

and the national agency for Erasmus+ youth.

This group organises consultations with young people.

And their findings are discussed during EU youth conferences.

These Conferences are at the heart of the EU Youth Dialogue.

There are three EU Youth Conferences per cycle,

one in each presidency.

The majority of the participants are young people,

sent by national youth councils or youth organisations,

and they represent the voices of the youth

from their national or local context.

These youth delegates

engage in dialogues with representatives

from national youth ministries,

researchers,

experts, and policymakers from the local

to the European level.

Ministerial delegates bring their expertise to the table

and ensure that youth perspectives are integrated

into policy making processes.

Inclusivity is key.

The EU Youth Dialogue aims to give every young person

a chance to participate

and be heard during the consultations and conferences.

Each cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue

is divided into a consultation and an implementation phase.

At the start of the consultation phase,

participants explore and define the central topic

and contribute to gathering information,

knowledge and expertise.

As a result,

the first EU Youth Conference

“sets the scene” of the entire cycle.

In the consultation buzz,

national working groups organise events, surveys,

polls, or focus groups

to gather the perspectives from young people.

Fast forward to the second EU Youth Conference,

where the collected input

becomes the conversation starter

across all EU countries.

In the implementation phase,

the spotlight shifts to discussing

and spreading the results of the consultation

on both EU and national levels.

And at the third EU Youth Conference

participants conclude the cycle

by formulating recommendations for future policy changes,

with the ambition to turn insights into impactful actions.

The national working groups work

towards the implementation of these outcomes at national,

regional and local level,

and inform young participants about the outcomes.

At the end of each cycle,

the outcomes and policy recommendations

stemming from the Dialogue

are communicated

to the Ministers of Youth in the Council

and captured in a political text.

The EU Youth Dialogue is a catalyst for positive change.

Initially with small steps,

but over a long time, small steps can make a big change.

Overall, the EU Youth Dialogue

leads to a better representation

of young people’s interests,

needs and expectations in policy making.

Are you a young person in the EU?

Then you can get involved in the EU Youth Dialogue!

Reach out to your national youth council

or find more information on:

www.youth-goals.eu

or our Instagram account:

@youthconf