Youth Forum members to assess quality of youth policy

Last weekend the European Youth Forum’s Expert Group on Youth Policy met to develop “quality standards” for youth policy, so that the Youth Forum’s member organisations can better assess the state of youth policy in their country or context.

The Expert Group, which includes eight members (the National Youth Councils of Ireland, Germany, Bulgaria, Croatia and Moldova as well as international organisations the Erasmus Students Network, the World Organisation of the Scout Movement and the Young European People’s Party), met in Zagreb, Croatia.

They discussed quality standards for youth policy, which are vital in order to create a common understanding of what good youth policy means. This is particularly relevant given that last year, in its Shadow Report on Youth Policy, the Youth Forum found that - based on analysis from youth organisations all over Europe - youth policy is not yet fulfilling its potential to address the huge issues that young people face, such as unemployment and social marginalisation.

The Expert Group is also preparing a policy document to be presented and voted upon at the Youth Forum’s Council of Members in April. The paper will propose the set of standards for youth policy. The Group also discussed an upcoming policy paper on EU Youth Policy that will make recommendations regarding the upcoming EU Youth Policy framework.