The European Union is the main institutional partner of the European Youth Forum. Developments in the last decade, notably the launch of the EU White Paper on youth in 2001 followed by the introduction of the Open Method of Coordination in the youth field and the adoption of the European Youth Pact in 2005 within the framework of the Lisbon Strategy have increased the relevance of the European Union for the youth field.

The European Youth Forum is a recognised partner of the different institutions and bodies of the European Union and receives core-funding for its activities through the general budget of the European Union. In particular, the European Youth Forum is the main interlocutor of the European Commission in the youth field at the European level.

However, the European Youth Forum also intensively cooperates with other institutions and bodies of the EU. First and foremost, the YFJ actively promotes its policies towards the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, and also liaises with European Economic and Social Committee as well as the Committee of the Regions.

In the spirit of a cross-sector approach to youth policy, the European Youth Forum follows the work of the European institutions across all policy areas affecting youth. This means that, besides the policies and programmes specifically aimed at the youth field, the YFJ contributes to initiatives in other relevant areas such as employment, equality, social affairs, education, health, sustainable development, etc.