The EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027

Committee on Culture and Education

European Parliament resolution of 15 September 2026 on the implementation of the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027 (2025/2115(INI))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in particular Articles 9, 165(4), 166(4) and 214(5) thereof,

–having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (the Charter), in particular Articles 14, 15, 21, 24 and 32 thereof,

–having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,

–having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified by the EU in 2010,

–having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/888 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 establishing the European Solidarity Corps Programme and repealing Regulations (EU) 2018/1475 and (EU) No 375/2014,

–having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/817 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 establishing Erasmus+: the Union Programme for education and training, youth and sport and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1288/2013 (Erasmus+),

–having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1057 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 establishing the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1296/2013,

–having regard to Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act),

–having regard to the Commission proposal of 16 July 2025 for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Erasmus+ programme for the period 2028-2034, and repealing Regulations (EU) 2021/817 and (EU) 2021/888 (COM(2025)0549),

–having regard to the Council recommendation of 20 December 2012 on the validation of non-formal and informal learning,

–having regard to the Council recommendation of 30 October 2020 on A Bridge to Jobs – Reinforcing the Youth Guarantee and replacing the Council Recommendation of 22 April 2013 on establishing a Youth Guarantee,

–having regard to Decision (EU) 2021/2316 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 December 2021 on a European Year of Youth (2022),

–having regard to Decision (EU) 2023/936 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 on a European Year of Skills,

–having regard to its resolution of 21 November 2023 on the implementation of the European Solidarity Corps programme 2021-2027,

–having regard to its resolution of 16 January 2024 on the implementation of the Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027,

–having regard to its resolution of 13 September 2022 on the impact of COVID-19 closures of educational, cultural, youth and sports activities on children and young people in the EU,

–having regard to its resolution of 24 November 2022 on the European Year of Youth 2022 legacy,

–having regard to the Council Conclusions of 20 May 2014 on promoting youth entrepreneurship to foster inclusion of young people,

–having regard to the resolution of the Council 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,

–having regard to the resolution of the Council and of the representatives of the Member States meeting within the Council establishing guidelines on the governance of the EU Youth Dialogue – European Union Youth Strategy 2019-2027,

–having regard to the Council conclusions of 23 November 2023 on the contribution of education and training to strengthening common European values and democratic citizenship,

–having regard to the Commission communication of 11 April 2024 on the Interim evaluation of the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027 (COM(2024)0162),

–having regard to the report of September 2024 by Mario Draghi entitled ‘The future of European competitiveness’, which sets out strategic recommendations for strengthening productivity, innovation, skills and long-term economic resilience in the EU,

–having regard to the report of April 2024 by Enrico Letta entitled ‘Much more than a market’, commissioned by the European Council, which highlights the need for renewed competitiveness, economic resilience, quality employment and social inclusion across the EU,

–having regard to the Commission communication of 5 March 2025 entitled ‘The Union of Skills’ (COM(2025)0090), which seeks to boost skills development, improve skills intelligence and support better skills matching to enhance competitiveness and youth employability,

–having regard to the Commission communication of 5 March 2026 entitled ‘Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness’ (COM(2026)0110),

–having regard to the Commission communication of 30 September 2020 entitled ‘Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027 – Resetting education and training for the digital age’ (COM(2020)0624),

–having regard to the conclusions of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of 30 November 2023 on a comprehensive approach to the mental health of young people in the European Union,

–having regard to its resolution of 12 December 2023 on mental health,

–having regard to the diversity and inclusion strategy 2030,

–having regard to the Commission implementation guidelines entitled ‘Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps Inclusion and Diversity Strategy’, published on 29 April 2021,

–having regard to the Commission report of 24 March 2025 on the implementation of the EU Youth Strategy (2022-2024) (COM(2025)0117),

–having regard to the European implementation assessment entitled ‘The implementation of the reinforced Youth Guarantee – Trends in EU Member States, impact, EU funding and governance’, published by its Directorate-General for Parliamentary Research Services in December 2025,

–having regard to the European implementation assessment entitled ‘EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027: Taking stock and the way forward’, published by its Directorate-General for Parliamentary Research Services in January 2026,

–having regard to the Commission communication of 4 March 2021 entitled ‘The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan’ (COM(2021)0102),

–having regard to the Commission communication of 24 March 2021 entitled ‘EU strategy on the rights of the child’ (COM(2021)0142),

–having regard to the Commission communication of 20 January 2026 entitled ‘Union of Equality: Anti-Racism Strategy 2026-2030’ (COM(2026)0012),

–having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 18 September 2024 entitled ‘Promoting European intergenerational solidarity – towards an EU horizontal approach’,

–having regard to its Committee on Culture and Education’s #Engaged4YOUth strategy,

–having regard to the study entitled ‘Mapping the housing needs in the EU, assessing the impacts of scarcity and providing an overview of relevant EU legislation’, published by its Policy Department for Transport, Employment and Social Affairs in December 2025,

–having regard to the Commission report entitled ‘Youth mainstreaming, youth impact assessment and youth checks – A comparative overview’, published in July 2024,

–– having regard to the Council of Europe report entitled ‘Countering Violent Extremism and Youth Radicalisation – Using the European Youth Card to Promote Peaceful Communities’,

–– having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure, as well as Article 1(1)(e) of, and Annex 3 to, the decision of the Conference of Presidents of 12 December 2002 on the procedure for granting authorisation to draw up own-initiative reports,

–having regard to the opinions of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the Committee on Public Health (in the form of a letter),

–having regard to the report of the Committee on Culture and Education (A10-0219/2026),

A.whereas the EU Youth Strategy (EUYS) 2019-2027 has provided a common framework for cooperation on youth policy across the EU and has contributed to increasing the visibility of youth issues at EU level; whereas its implementation has taken place in the context of pre-existing challenges and multiple crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, security and geopolitical instability, digital risks, rising living costs and rural-urban disparities;

B.whereas the EUYS has provided a valuable framework for youth policy, but its effectiveness varies and depends heavily on Member State implementation, adequate funding, coordination at all governance levels and its capacity to reach young people, with a view to remaining tailored to local realities and enabling young people to participate actively in its creation and implementation;

C.whereas the digital information environment plays a central role in shaping young people’s participation in democratic life; whereas exposure to disinformation and manipulative content online may undermine trust in institutions and democratic processes; whereas strengthening media literacy and critical thinking is essential, and parents and educators play a key role in guiding young people towards responsible online behaviour;

D.whereas the specific needs of young people – especially of vulnerable young people – are not always sufficiently reflected in policy responses;

E.whereas the European Year of Youth 2022 (EYY2022) and its legacy showed appreciation for young people and highlighted their importance as drivers of a shared European future;

F.whereas the EUYS emphasises the need for young people to be at the centre of policymaking and to be actively involved in the planning, development, implementation, monitoring and assessment of all policies affecting them (‘youth mainstreaming’);

G.whereas youth mainstreaming is applied unevenly across Member States, which contributes to differing levels of youth engagement, trust and willingness to cooperate with public institutions; whereas some Member States have already implemented ‘youth tests’, proving that young people can be effectively involved at all stages of policymaking;

H.whereas young people must be actively and meaningfully involved in the co-creation of policies that affect them, as their perspectives can contribute to more effective, inclusive and forward-looking policies; whereas the Council has recognised that European youth is not a homogeneous group;

I.whereas the Commission has committed to introducing and consistently implementing the ‘youth check’ as a key action of the legacy of the EYY2022 and a major step towards ensuring accountability and that a youth perspective and the impact of policies and initiatives on young people are factored into youth-relevant policies and initiatives at EU, national, regional and local levels, and increasing young people’s trust that participation leads to concrete policy change; whereas all multiannual financial framework (MFF) proposals were designated by the Commission as youth-relevant, but a number of them did not consider the impact on young people in their impact assessments; whereas it is essential to appoint a youth correspondent in every directorate-general of the Commission; whereas the methodology used to identify youth-relevant files by the Commission should be published and integrated into the better regulation toolbox as a distinct instrument;

J.whereas the Committee on Culture and Education has already adopted its #Engaged4YOUth strategy demonstrating its commitment to youth engagement; whereas the systematic youth mainstreaming process should be further developed in order to give young people a voice in policymaking;

K.whereas it is important to maintain and strengthen cooperation between Parliament and European youth capitals, recognising their role as key local and regional actors in the implementation of youth policies, youth participation and civic engagement initiatives;

L.whereas the persistent disparities between and within Member States, particularly between urban centres and rural areas, as well as between continental European Member States and their outermost territories, limit young people’s access to quality education, employment, youth work, cultural engagement and basic infrastructure; whereas these imbalances can contribute to youth outmigration and brain drain from less developed regions;

M.whereas youth organisations play an essential role in supporting youth civic and political participation and providing non-formal education opportunities across Member States, despite facing persistent challenges such as a lack of stable and predictable funding;

N.whereas social isolation, discrimination, online extremist content, exposure to misinformation and disinformation, and declining trust in democratic institutions can increase young people’s vulnerability to radicalisation; whereas these challenges can be addressed through formal and non-formal education, media literacy, volunteering, intercultural dialogue and youth participation;

O.whereas digital media and online platforms have become a central space for young people to access and share information and engage in public debate; whereas the spread and amplification of harmful and polarising content in the digital information space contribute to societal polarisation, weaken democratic resilience and may adversely affect young people’s mental health, particularly by exposing them to cyberbullying, online hate speech, disinformation and harmful content; whereas strengthening media literacy, critical thinking and responsible online engagement, as well as responsible business practices of online platforms, is essential to safeguard informed participation and reinforce trust in democratic processes;

P.whereas young people with fewer opportunities are those who, for economic, social, cultural, geographical or health reasons, due to their migrant background, or for reasons such as disability or educational difficulties, or for any other reason, including reasons that could give rise to discrimination under Article 21 of the Charter, face obstacles that prevent them from having effective access to opportunities under European programmes;

Q.whereas young people with fewer opportunities remain under-represented in European programmes and continue to face fewer job opportunities, weaker infrastructure and poorer access to quality education, social services, healthcare, sport, cultural and leisure activities; whereas progress in participation and inclusion targets should be complemented by a stronger focus on the quality of inclusion, so that some of the most vulnerable young people, including those from Roma communities, can be reached through tailored outreach, trusted intermediaries and accessible, community-based entry points;

R.whereas decision-making on youth policies should include a gender perspective that takes into account the specific challenges and circumstances faced by young women and girls;

S.whereas the Youth Employment Initiative and the reinforced Youth Guarantee play an important role in addressing the complex barriers faced by young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) particularly those facing coverage gaps; whereas the implementation of the Youth Guarantee has been met with persistent challenges in Member States, such as outreach to young people, in particular those who are hard to reach, face social exclusion or are long-term unemployed;

T.whereas sustained efforts and stronger synergies between the EUYS, Erasmus+, ESF+ and the reinforced Youth Guarantee are needed to increase the active participation of young people in society, particularly NEETs and those at risk of social exclusion;

U.whereas youth policy should be recognised not only as a social priority but as a strategic investment in the EU’s human capital, competitiveness and long-term economic resilience, leading to enhanced social cohesion, improved living conditions and intergenerational solidarity in the EU; whereas Europe’s long-term competitiveness also depends on equipping young people with entrepreneurial skills, in line with the priorities identified in the Draghi report;

V.whereas an intergenerational approach to youth participation and inclusion is essential for fostering cooperation, solidarity and dialogue between older and younger people and promoting intergenerational fairness in policymaking;

W.whereas the absence of a clear definition of ‘traineeship’ in certain Member States may lead to legal uncertainty and uneven standards across the EU; whereas greater clarity and convergence are needed to ensure quality traineeships that provide meaningful learning experiences, adequate compensation and fair conditions for young people;

X.whereas vocational education and training (VET) provided through diverse education models and institutions is essential for preparing young people for labour market opportunities; whereas dual education systems combining classroom learning with practical workplace experience are particularly effective in facilitating smooth transitions into stable quality employment;

Y.whereas children, adolescents and young adults are increasingly being exposed to pressure and high expectations from society and are impacted by anxiety stemming from global threats, such as pandemics, the climate crisis, conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, uncertainty over the cost of living and the lack of affordable housing, and other factors that contribute to nearly half of young people in the EU reporting emotional or psychosocial problems, further exacerbated by growing socio-economic inequalities and disparities between countries, urban and rural areas and socio-economic groups, underscoring the importance of targeted interventions for vulnerable groups, including low-income youth, migrants and rural populations; whereas many young people continue to experience medium- and long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic;

Z.whereas mental health and well-being ranked among young people’s key priorities under the European Youth Goals (EYGs), but have not been directly addressed as a dedicated priority in any Council Trio Presidency cycle, revealing a need for stronger cross-sectoral mainstreaming at EU level to address current institutional gaps, including through the nomination of a dedicated youth correspondent within the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety;

AA.whereas families, schools, youth organisations, sports clubs, cultural organisations and public institutions play an important role in supporting young people’s mental health, their social inclusion and the development of children and young people;

AB.whereas bullying and cyberbullying can have severe long-term consequences for the mental health and well-being of young people, underscoring the need for preventive measures and accessible psychosocial support in line with EYG 5;

AC.whereas excessive use of social media, as well as certain online design features, such as addictive design, dark patterns, harmful online content and emerging AI-related risks, can negatively affect young people’s mental health and development, underlining the need for age-appropriate safeguards, digital health literacy and awareness-raising;

AD.whereas low levels of physical activity, along with tobacco use, vaping, alcohol, drugs and the recreational use of nitrous oxide, can have long-term consequences for young people’s physical and mental health and require targeted preventive measures;

AE.whereas discrimination, racism, gender-based violence and socio-economic inequalities can negatively affect the mental health and well-being of young people;

AF.whereas access to health education, including age-appropriate sexual education, can contribute to the well-being and autonomy of young people, while fully respecting national competences;

AG.whereas participation in the EU Youth Dialogue (EUYD) has grown substantially, from 10 733 participants in the 8th cycle to 38 042 in the 11th cycle; whereas the structured implementation of the EYGs and consistent support from the Council Trio Presidencies have contributed to the success of the EUYD in promoting meaningful youth participation and inclusion;

AH whereas education is a fundamental right enshrined in the Charter; whereas education plays an important role in equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to become committed citizens;

AI.whereas equal access to quality education and training is essential for equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and competences needed to shape their future, such as critical thinking and digital literacy; whereas financial and geographical barriers continue to exclude many young people from education and training across the EU; whereas bullying and cyberbullying also constitute significant barriers to learning, well-being and educational attainment;

AJ.whereas the growing shortage of qualified teachers and educational staff in many Member States undermines the quality, accessibility and inclusiveness of education systems; whereas stronger support for teachers, trainers and youth workers is essential for the early identification of learners at risk of disengagement or early school leaving, and for expanding access to mobility and non-formal learning opportunities; whereas strengthening the teaching profession requires adequate recognition, decent pay and better working conditions, while fully respecting national competences;

AK.whereas the EU has consistently recognised the interlinkages between digital competence and media literacy, as reflected in the digital education action plan, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive and the Digital Services Act; whereas adequate investment in education infrastructure, staffing, professional development, and innovative teaching and learning methods is essential for ensuring high-quality, inclusive and resilient education systems; whereas the use of AI tools has reshaped education, work and social interactions among young people;

AL.whereas the designation of a year of digital citizenship education by the Council of Europe highlights its crucial role in fostering democratic participation, media literacy, online safety and respect for human rights in the digital environment, particularly among children and young people;

AM.whereas citizenship education contributes to young people’s understanding of democratic institutions, fundamental rights and responsibilities, and fosters critical thinking, civic engagement and media literacy; whereas it should also strengthen knowledge of the history, language and cultural heritage of the Member States, as elements of social cohesion and the responsible participation of young people in democratic life;

AN.whereas non-formal and informal education, including volunteering, youth work, civic engagement and grassroots initiatives, are a key instrument for young people; whereas volunteering, youth work and other forms of non-formal education are valuable components of lifelong learning, contributing to employability, civic engagement and personal development;

AO.whereas strengthening participation in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education is essential for addressing skills shortages and fostering innovation; whereas encouraging greater participation of young women in this context is crucial for fully harnessing Europe’s talent potential and improving gender equality;

AP.whereas youth work and the education of youth workers are not formally recognised in all Member States, which results in discrepancies in EU youth programmes; whereas recognising youth work and the education of youth workers, including those with disabilities, would ensure comparable levels of experience and opportunities across the EU, strengthen the quality, inclusiveness and sustainability of projects carried out under Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programmes, promote professionalisation and capacity-building among youth workers, and enhance cross-border cooperation, mutual learning and the recognition of competences acquired through non-formal and informal learning;

Implementation and policy coherence of the EUYS

1.Welcomes the achievements of the 2019-2027 EUYS in providing a coherent framework for youth policy cooperation and ensuring the visibility of youth priorities across political cycles; stresses the need to maintain a high-level, adaptable framework built around the core EUYS areas (Engage, Connect, Empower) post-2027, that enhances the capacity of young people to navigate the digital environment safely, critically and responsibly, and gives a more prominent role to inclusion, volunteering and youth work;

2.Encourages the creation of a unified architecture in which the EYGs define the cross-sectoral priorities for the EUYS, the EUYD brings in young people’s experiences, Erasmus+ and other EU-funded programmes provide resources to act, and youth work translates European priorities into local realities, while ensuring concrete links between the EUYS/EYGs and national youth strategies and implementation plans;

3.Highlights that the development of the 11 EYGs through the EUYD has been an important milestone in youth policy; believes, however, that the EYGs must be re-evaluated and updated regularly, through an open, transparent and inclusive process, ensuring the broadest possible participation of young people and regular updates aligned with the cycle of the EUYS;

4.Calls for this process to embed new societal realities and cross-cutting issues affecting young people in order to reflect economic, technological and security challenges, including disinformation, mental health and media literacy, as well as climate change, social inequalities and civic participation;

5.Invites the Commission to organise this review in co-creation with youth and civil society organisations, young people with fewer opportunities, non-organised youth, children and adolescents, as well as researchers and academics, to ensure that long-term trends and foresight findings are considered;

6.Calls on the Commission and upcoming Council presidencies to ensure that the final EUYD cycles address the most pressing challenges currently affecting young people, including socio-economic conditions, digital transformation, mental health and participation in democratic life, and to methodically integrate the reviewed and updated EYGs, so as to ensure coherence and preparedness in view of the post-2027 EUYS;

7.Calls on the Commission, other EU bodies and the Member States to improve communication, visibility and stakeholder awareness of the EUYS to promote equal access and participation; encourages the Member States to increase awareness among regional and local authorities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), non-organised youth and small local organisations, including through coordinated outreach and multilevel engagement, by reinforcing Eurodesk and other youth information services, in particular in rural and remote areas;

8.Calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, to develop a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system for the post-2027 EUYS, including disaggregated data and regular reporting, with indicators assessing the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities, such as rural youth, NEETs and young people with disabilities, and to strengthen the use of the Youth Progress Index to assess inequalities and inform policy interventions;

9.Calls on the Commission to update the EUYS work plans to improve accessibility and targeted outreach through clearer language, and results-oriented, user-friendly formats;

10.Calls on the Member States to ensure that national youth councils are equipped with adequate resources;

11.Calls on the Commission, other EU bodies and the Member States to strengthen the sharing of best practices in youth participation, inclusion and empowerment;

Youth mainstreaming across the Union and policy areas

12.Welcomes recent Commission efforts to develop youth mainstreaming, in particular the introduction of the EU Youth Coordinator, the ‘youth check’, policy dialogues with Commissioners, and internal and external Commission youth networks; calls on the Commission to systematically evaluate and improve their implementation and reporting, and to include a chapter on the ‘youth check’ in the post-2027 EUYS;

13.Urges the Commission to strengthen and expand the mandate of the EU Youth Coordinator to ensure influence across directorates-general and meaningful regulatory scrutiny of youth-relevant initiatives; calls on the Youth Coordinator to work closely with Commission services and other coordinators in the future EUYS;

14.Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure the meaningful consultation of young people throughout the entire policy cycle and to report on how their contributions are taken into account when consulted on concrete legislative, policy or programme actions;

15.Urges the Commission to implement the ‘youth check’ systematically in every directorate-general, with designated minimum standards and transparency throughout the policy cycle, designating concrete legislative files as youth-relevant in its annual work programme, conducting impact assessments with specific youth chapters on those files, and assessing the impacts on young people in its evaluations;

16.Calls on the Commission to publish its current methodology for identifying youth-relevant files, including the specific criteria and assessment results, to include a chapter on the ‘youth check’ in the forthcoming communication on better regulation, and to integrate the ‘youth check’ as a specific instrument in the better regulation toolbox;

17.Encourages the Commission to consult young people in order to identify youth-relevant files, to ensure regular reports and follow-up on these files, to integrate the youth dimension into decision-making processes and to communicate results publicly;

18.Calls for a coherent youth mainstreaming approach across all of Parliament’s committees, by closely following youth-relevant files designated by the Commission, designating additional youth-relevant files at the initiative of Parliament, providing concrete opportunities for young people to engage with Parliament’s work through public hearings, stakeholder consultations and committee missions, promoting active Members’ participation in the EUYD and European Youth Events, and ensuring that these practices are applied consistently and include young people with fewer opportunities;

19.Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure that close ties with European youth capitals are preserved and further developed within the framework of the new EUYS, facilitating the exchange of good practices, innovation in youth policy and meaningful youth participation across the EU;

20.Calls on the Commission to ensure accessibility, transparency and inclusiveness of the Youth Policy Dialogues with Commissioners and their systematic integration into policy actions, rather than being a one-off activity providing only temporary support for youth mainstreaming, and to prioritise key structural challenges affecting young people in these dialogues, including housing affordability, access to education, training and labour market opportunities, and disaster risk preparedness, with the aim of enforcing the concept of ‘freedom to stay’ and fostering European values, as enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union;

21.Welcomes the progress in traditionally youth-focused areas, but stresses the need to better integrate youth perspectives into other key sectors, based on current and emerging youth priorities, especially in digital and media policies, democratic engagement and civic empowerment, well-being and mental health, housing, arts and culture;

22.Invites the Commission, the Member States, national, regional and local authorities to focus on youth mainstreaming efforts on key priority policy areas, and to strengthen synergies between the EUYS and related EU instruments, including the Youth Guarantee, the basic skills action plan and the intergenerational fairness strategy;

Youth participation and inclusion

Youth participation and inclusion in society

23.Emphasises that young people should be recognised as important stakeholders in policymaking and that their perspectives can contribute to more effective, inclusive and forward-looking policies, and calls for their meaningful involvement across all policy areas, rather than treating them merely as beneficiaries or consultees;

24.Calls on the Member States to ensure that the principle of inclusion and equality is embedded within their national and regional youth strategies and underlying actions, while preparing for the EUYS post-2027;

25.Emphasises the importance of preventing youth radicalisation by addressing social exclusion and a lack of opportunities; calls for targeted support, such as accessible counselling services, strengthened community-based youth work and targeted inclusive measures for marginalised and under-represented young people;

26.Emphasises that reducing structural inequalities affecting the conditions under which young people live, learn and participate across the EU should be a core priority of the future EUYS, in order to strengthen social cohesion, foster resilience and allow young people to fully achieve their potential, while improving access to quality education, employment, healthcare and housing and preventing youth homelessness;

27.Calls, in particular, for targeted measures to support young people from rural and remote areas in overcoming physical, social, digital and economic barriers, including reduced access to education, cultural, sporting and mobility opportunities, as well as barriers related to transport, affordability, youth information and services, with particular attention to NEETs;

28.Calls on the Member States to consider introducing targeted cultural vouchers for young people in order to reduce financial barriers, especially in rural and less accessible areas;

Quality youth employment and social inclusion

29.Calls on the Commission to intensify targeted support, policy coordination and enhanced monitoring in Member States facing structural youth unemployment, and to increase resources for programmes and projects, with the aim of ensuring that EU instruments effectively address long-standing labour market failures;

30.Stresses the importance of a strong and independent ESF+ in supporting youth employment, skills development and active labour market policies, particularly for young people with disabilities;

31.Stresses the need to promote participation in STEAM disciplines, including among young women and under-represented groups, through investment in digital, green and critical-thinking skills in order to strengthen innovation, competitiveness and social cohesion;

32.Calls on the Member States to strengthen VET, including dual learning systems and work-based learning, in order to support skills development and access to quality employment opportunities in the green transition, particularly for young people with fewer opportunities;

33.Calls on the Commission and the Member States to support the integration of young people into the labour market by promoting access to stable and quality employment, fair working conditions and equal opportunities; highlights the need to tackle age-based discrimination with regard to wages and working conditions;

34.Underlines the need to better understand the impact of technological developments, including AI, on youth employment and to support the development of relevant skills through education and training systems, including AI in education and training curricula, in order to equip young people for the labour market in the digital age;

35.Calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote quality and fairly remunerated traineeships that are accessible to all young people and to strengthen the legal framework on traineeships to effectively identify and combat practices that circumvent their purpose and the use of standard employment relationships disguised as traineeships;

36.Highlights that young people are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis, which limits their access to affordable and quality housing; underlines that this negatively impacts their employment opportunities, mobility and social inclusion; calls on the Commission and the Member States to support affordable and sustainable housing solutions for young people, including students, and stresses that housing should be one of the key pillars of the post-2027 EUYS;

37.Emphasises that the post 2027 EUYS should encourage the promotion of youth entrepreneurship and start-ups through simplified administrative procedures, improved access to finance and targeted skills support, including in emerging sectors such as the circular economy and sustainable innovation;

38.Calls on the Commission, in the context of the European strategy on intergenerational fairness, to ensure that long-term perspectives are effectively integrated into the EU’s employment, education and social policies, so that the interests of present and future generations are taken into account in policy design and implementation;

Health and well-being

39.Observes with concern the growing challenges faced by young people due to the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the excessive use of social media, socio-economic insecurity, war and conflict, social isolation and environmental factors; highlights the need for a cross-sectoral approach and for the next EU youth strategy to include sustainable public health interventions, school-based support and community based initiatives to address these cross-cutting challenges, while also tackling unhealthy lifestyles that disproportionately affect vulnerable groups;

40.Calls for stronger protection of young people online by addressing addictive design, cyber risks, cyberbullying and harmful online content, in alignment with the Commission’s forthcoming action plan against cyberbullying and the planned EU-wide inquiry on the impact of social media on the mental well-being of young people;

41.Stresses the importance of accessible and affordable mental health services, including early detection and intervention for children and young people; stresses the importance of integrating mental health awareness and education into school, youth work, sport and community settings; calls on the Member States and the EU to strengthen access to mental health support and counselling services in schools and universities, including for students participating in mobility programmes such as Erasmus+, and to invest in training teachers and caregivers to better identify mental health conditions;

42.Expresses concern about the growing use of tobacco, vaping and other nicotine products, as well as drug use among young people, and calls for stronger prevention, awareness-raising and health literacy measures that target addictive behaviours and lifestyle-related health risks;

43.Stresses that youth health measures must pay particular attention to young people in vulnerable situations and those with fewer opportunities, as they often face greater barriers to healthcare and psychosocial support;

44.Reiterates that sport and physical activity promote physical and mental well-being, social inclusion and cohesion, youth development and active citizenship by tackling rising rates of obesity, addiction and violence; emphasises the importance of grassroots sport organisations, local clubs and volunteering structures in providing accessible opportunities for young people across the EU;

Youth participation and inclusion in the EUYD

45.Welcomes the fact that considerable progress has been achieved on diversity and inclusion in the EUYD, the EU’s central instrument for structured youth participation; regrets, however, that rural youth and NEETs are under-represented in the 11th cycle; stresses the need to improve the quality of inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities; calls for the meaningful inclusion of young people from candidate countries in the EUYD;

46.Encourages national working groups to implement the toolkit for communicating about the EUYD and to strengthen its diversity and inclusion, in cooperation with national youth councils and local grassroots organisations as essential partners in reaching out to non-organised youth, including through targeted outreach strategies, in order to ensure a territorially balanced impact across all regions and among all relevant stakeholders;

47.Welcomes the creation of a permanent secretariat for the EUYD to serve a key role in the coordination of national working groups and ensure coherence and consistency between cycles; encourages the collection and sharing of best practices and the creation of a database of recommendations and outcomes of the dialogue; calls for a stronger feedback loop to ensure that young people understand how their engagement impacts policymaking and for clearer monitoring and dissemination of EUYD outcomes, including transparent follow-up at EU and national levels through measures such as formal written feedback from the Commission;

48.Stresses that EUYD priorities should be linked more clearly to the Commission work programme; calls on the Commission to reinforce the governance of the EUYS by combining a clear strategic direction with stronger accountability across relevant policy areas; stresses that youth priorities should be translated into concrete actions through sectoral initiatives of the competent directorates-general, supported by appropriate resources and developed in close consultation with EU and national youth organisations;

Youth participation and inclusion in EU programmes

49.Welcomes the adoption of the Erasmus+ and ESC inclusion and diversity strategy and the introduction of implementation guidelines; regrets that barriers persist in application and reporting; stresses the need to improve pre-financing, predictability of EU funding and support for first-time applicants and small organisations, including through technical assistance and simplified procedures, in order to improve access to EU programmes, reduce administrative barriers and facilitate long-term planning at local and regional level;

50.Calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote more continuous and sustainable outreach for young people with fewer opportunities, as well as to conduct qualitative studies and further establish clear inclusion targets and monitor their participation;

51.Stresses that the Commission and Member State authorities, such as Erasmus+ national agencies, should further strengthen inclusion, diversity and visibility within the EUYD and Erasmus+;

52.Calls on the Commission to align the post-2027 EUYS with new programmes under the MFF, such as Erasmus+, AgoraEU, Horizon Europe, the ESF+, etc, in cooperation with young people, in order to ensure coherence, promote synergies and broaden opportunities for youth participation across the EU; calls on the Commission to ensure that the youth actions within these programmes are coherent with the objectives of the post-2027 EUYS; stresses the need to ensure adequate funding in the next MFF, including through earmarked EU funding for inclusive mobility formats; calls, in particular, for stronger synergies and operational links with the reinforced Youth Guarantee;

53.Calls on the Commission and the Member States to apply intergenerational budgeting principles to the 2028-2034 MFF, ensuring that spending decisions are assessed for their long-term impact on younger and future generations and that policy choices affecting young people are clearly communicated and justified;

54.Calls on the Commission and the Member States to support young people through strong public investment to address their concerns, in particular affordable housing and the cost of living, education and training, skills development, mental health and well-being, healthcare and youth employment;

Quality education and training for young people, including volunteering and youth work

55.Reiterates that everyone has the right to education and access to vocational and continuing training, as well as lifelong learning opportunities; stresses that access to education should be guaranteed for all young Europeans, in accordance with Article 21 of the Charter and in line with the EU’s commitments to equal opportunities, inclusion and non-discrimination;

Formal education and training

56.Calls for the EU and its Member States to strengthen inclusive and high-quality education for all young people, from early childhood education through higher education, VET and lifelong learning, to prioritise support for learners at risk of early school leaving and disengagement and to reduce financial and practical barriers to access, in line with Article 14 of the Charter, including the possibility of receiving free compulsory education;

57.Welcomes ongoing work on a European degree label as part of the European Education Area, including through the European universities initiative; calls for further progress towards the development of a genuine European degree, ensuring quality, academic integrity and recognition across the EU, in order to strengthen the European Education Area and enhance the international attractiveness of European higher education;

58.Stresses that youth policies should also support traditional sectors of the economy, such as agriculture, craftsmanship and processing;

59.Calls on the Member States to support marginalised young people in accessing formal education and accessible learning environments; encourages the Member States to strengthen cross-sectoral coordination among youth-related services, in order to prevent early leaving from education and training and to support transitions into further learning, training, community participation or employment;

60.Calls on the Member States to increase public investment in education, strengthen school systems and address persistent shortages of qualified teachers and educational staff by improving professional development opportunities, working conditions and career attractiveness, including through improved pay and targeted recruitment strategies, and by supporting teacher training and retention, particularly in rural and remote areas; calls on the Commission to address these issues in the upcoming EU teachers and trainers agenda, and strengthen the take-up and dissemination of Erasmus+ teacher academies;

61.Calls on the Member States to put in place effective, affordable and accessible mechanisms for young people to acquire relevant skills, taking into account the recommendations on the establishment of individual learning accounts;

Digital education and media literacy

62.Urges the Commission and the Member States to strengthen digital skills and media literacy education across all forms of formal, non-formal and informal learning, with a view to fostering critical thinking, combating disinformation, promoting safe, responsible and inclusive online behaviour and preventing cyberbullying, in alignment with the basic skills action plan and the EU’s efforts to strengthen democratic resilience, with particular attention to vulnerable and marginalised groups;

63.Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure consistent enforcement of the Digital Services Act and the Audiovisual Media Services Directive to protect minors online and to integrate structured media literacy, critical thinking and algorithmic awareness education into the post-2027 EUYS;

European Citizenship education

64.Welcomes the addition of citizenship education as a basic skill in the basic skills action plan, but recognises the need to develop a more coherent policy on citizenship education; calls on the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, to present an EU strategy on citizenship education; emphasises that citizenship education, including digital citizenship education, should be built into formal, non-formal and informal education, in order to foster active citizenship, critical thinking, intercultural skills, participation in democratic life and engagement with EU values;

65.Calls on the Commission and the Member States to disseminate and exchange good practices on citizenship education by gathering and exchanging guidelines, materials and resources through an EU toolbox, including teaching materials, and to ensure that these are accessible and adaptable to diverse educational contexts and learners, while supporting teacher and youth work training to ensure their effective use in different educational and community settings;

66.Calls on the Commission to develop specific training modules on democratic citizenship education for teachers, trainers, leaders, policymakers and everyone who takes part in Erasmus+ or the ESC;

67.Calls on the Member States and civil society to actively promote comprehensive civic education for young people, meaningful youth participation in democratic processes at local, national and EU level, including through youth exchanges, volunteering projects and collective mobility activities;

68.Encourages the Member States to exchange good practices on initiatives that facilitate youth participation in elections, democratic processes and civic initiatives;

Non-formal and informal education, volunteering and youth work

69.Urges the Commission and the Member States to ensure that the European youth work agenda is translated into action and funding plans;

70.Calls on the Member States to strengthen the formal recognition of competences acquired via non-formal and informal learning, including volunteering and youth work, through qualification frameworks, Youthpass and Europass, training standards and accreditation systems, thereby enabling mutual recognition and mobility; underlines the key role of volunteering in equipping young people with skills and competences that enhance their employability, and calls for volunteering to be duly recognised and promoted;

71.Regrets that validation frameworks remain uneven, complex and insufficiently accessible in practice, and calls for clearer procedures, guidance and support so that young people and employers can use them effectively;

72.Calls on the Member States to provide guidance for employers on Youthpass and Europass; reiterates that volunteering is not a substitute for traineeships or jobs and must not be equated with employment;

73.Believes that the Member States should strengthen the recognition of volunteering as professional experience and professionalisation of youth work and non-formal and informal learning, to ensure that such experience is meaningfully recognised;

74.Calls on the Member States to encourage higher and vocational education institutions to award credits for volunteering activities and increased cooperation with education institutions in creating these synergies, including under the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS credits) and the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET credits) and, where possible, by recording volunteering experiences as digital credentials or micro-credentials;

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75.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, national agencies, and youth and volunteering organisations.