Spotlight on youth in the EU: the Committee’s pioneering Youth Test initiative is gaining momentum

At its May plenary session, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) called on the EU institutions to include young people’s views in EU policies on a regular and systematic basis. With just one week left until the European elections, the EESC has stepped up its own youth engagement by urging youth organisations to take part in the EESC Youth Test. Designed to strengthen the voice of young people in policy making, the "EESC Youth Test" call for applications will be open until 30 June.

The EESC has been testing the EESC Youth Test over the last year. Youth representatives from various backgrounds across Europe were able to contribute to the process of drafting opinions on key issues such as democracy, the future of the Common Agricultural Policy and EU-UK youth engagement by submitting written comments, working with rapporteurs and taking part in hearings and study group meetings. The pilot project has been a success and so the EESC has made it a permanent tool, calling on other EU institutions to follow suit.

During the EESC plenary debate, youth representatives said that they were pleased that their organisations will be consulted on a permanent basis and that consultation of young people will not be limited to the climate crisis and what are deemed to be ‘youth topics’.

“As the house of civil society, we are not just opening our doors: we are giving young people a seat at the table. They need to be able to shape the policies of today and tomorrow. Elections cannot be the only time that they speak up. Thanks to the Youth Test, we can make sure that young people’s views are included in EU policies on a regular basis. Young people have been calling for more say in the EU decision-making process and the EU institutions must respond”, said EESC President Oliver Röpke. As he pointed out, including young people in the EU’s decision-making process is not just the EESC's priority, it is also a political commitment which is included in his manifesto.

This week, the EESC has launched a call for applications for youth organisations keen to take part in the EESC Youth Test. Organisations are invited to apply by 30 June 2024. The selected organisations will be able to flag up the EESC opinions they would like to work on. As part of the programme, they will be able to participate in meetings and hearings, provide written contributions and follow the uptake of opinions endorsed by young people, which will be published on the EESC website.

There are a number of eligibility criteria: for instance, the youth organisations must be democratically established, accept the principles of the European Convention on Human Rights and have structured activities run entirely by young people and/or a decision-making body led by young people.

Transnational partnerships play a key role in promoting youth participation at all levels of governance. This has been made clear by the excellent working relationship in place between the EESC and Albania: this country is striving to be a model in the field of youth policy, demonstrating the value of having people in office who are responsible solely for youth issues. Albania’s Minister for Youth and Children, Bora Muzhaqi, attended the EESC plenary session. She said that “I truly believe that with our work today with youth and for youth, we are preparing our young people for the future. We are teaching them the skills they will need for the jobs of the future, we are safeguarding them from the dangers of artificial intelligence, we are advising them on how to cope with mental health issues, and we are empowering them to be the leaders of the present to ensure they inherit a sustainable and ecologically diverse planet.”

Katrīna Leitāne, President of the EESC’s ad hoc Youth Group, said that “For some years now, the EESC has been working on how to better integrate the voice of young people into both its work and the EU decision-making process. And I think we can all be proud of where we are today! However, this is just a start, the document is a living document and will be improved by experience. Nevertheless, the course the EESC has taken towards youth engagement, by continuing youth-related initiatives and introducing the EU Youth Test, has been set and is here to stay!”

The EESC Youth Test should set a precedent in the EU. By involving young people directly in the consultation process, the EESC aims to pave the way towards a more inclusive and participatory policy-making framework across the European Union’s institutions. The Youth Group will report back on progress and the initial results. This will ensure that this initiative remains dynamic and meets the needs of young Europeans.

Elias Dray, Vice-President of the European Youth Forum, emphasised the importance of systematically incorporating youth perspectives into policy making. He commended the EESC for leading by example: “Congratulations to EESC President Oliver Röpke, Youth Group president Katrīna Leitāne, and the EESC Youth Group on incorporating the Youth Test. Proud to have contributed. I encourage youth organisations to join the next stage of the journey and be part of the expert pool for the EESC’s Youth Test to bring their perspective to all future EESC opinions.”

Background: For several years, the EESC has been working on ways to integrate the voice of young Europeans into its work and the EU decision-making process more effectively. In September 2022, it adopted an opinion on the EU Youth Test, becoming the first EU institution to commit to implementing it. In July 2023, the EESC took the next step by deciding to establish a pilot project to implement the EU Youth Test and to set up a Youth Group to coordinate youth-related initiatives.

In December 2022, the EESC adopted the resolution The long-lasting legacy of the European Year of Youth: youth mainstreaming and empowerment to ensure that the European Year of Youth will have meaningful impacts on the participation of young people in the EU decision making process. The EESC also runs the youth event Your Europe, Your Say! (YEYS). Every year, more than 100 students from EU Member States and candidate countries come to Brussels and work together to draft recommendations which are presented to the other EU institutions at the highest level. This year's edition took place in March 2024 as part of the Civil Society Week, and the recommendations aimed at the next EU leaders are available online.

For more information, please contact:

EESC Press Unit

E-mail: aikaterini.serifi@eesc.europa.eu

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