The Belgian EU presidency for Youth programme
From January 1 to June 30, 2024, Belgium was, even more so than usual, the beating heart of the EU. This generated a lot of additional international attention and was an excellent opportunity to showcase the Belgian expertise in youth affairs. As presidency, we were not only responsible for maintaining the continuity of the EU agenda and ensuring good cooperation between the member states, but we also had the chance to emphasize our own priorities.
The youth priorities during the Belgian presidency were involving, empowering and connecting young people. The EU Youth Presidency focused on the following topics:
- Promote the social inclusion of young people and implementing the European youth goal 'inclusive societies'.
- Help further develop youth work within Europe with a focus on local youth work and democracy.
- Evaluate the European and international policy agendas on children, youth and children's rights.
Central to the presidency was the Youth Council. The European conferences organised by the department, however, also played an important role. In European youth policy, the participation of young people is central and during our presidency, too, we continued along these lines. During our conferences, more than 120 young people were be able to give their input..
The Youth Council
EU ministers competent for youth met during the Youth Council. In addition to continuing the rolling European dossiers, the Presidency tabled two council conclusions and a council resolution. Unlike legislation, council conclusions are not legally binding but express the member states' position on a particular topic. Council resolutions are also not legally binding but express a commitment by member states to implement certain actions. Those council acts were all prepared in the council youth working group, negotiated by the diplomats in COREPER and finally approved by all 27 youth ministers. The Council, by adopting the council acts, therefore adopted a political position on the topics adressed after debate among the member states.
The first council conclusions focus on the theme 'inclusive societies for young people'. Young people formulated this objective in the participatory process of the EU Youth Dialogue. The conclusions call on member states and the Commission to strive for social cohesion, equity and inclusion, and to ensure the participation of young people in democratic life. This can be done through inclusive measures that facilitate the meaningful participation of all young people in decision-making, especially through youth work.
The second council conclusions deal with the evaluation of the European and international policy agendas on children, youth and children's rights. This council conclusion points to opportunities for better cooperation, coordination and exchange in order to create stronger links between youth and children's rights policies, not only at the European level but also with other multilateral fora such as the Council of Europe and the United Nations.
Finally, the council resolution on 'youth work policies in an empowering Europe' was also proposed. Since the previous council resolution on youth work in 2010, our society has changed in many ways. The resolution aims to strengthen youth work so that it can support young people in navigating towards autonomy within these new realities. The text therefore calls on Member States and the Commission to support the development of quality youth work and youth work policy at all levels.
Events
Expert seminar on European and international policy agendas on children, youth affairs and children's rights - January 21-23, 2024
We kicked off the Belgian Presidency for the Youth Council with an expert seminar where experts and policy makers discussed youth and children's rights policies. The seminar focused on the update of the 2010 council conclusions on the European and international policy agendas on youth and children's rights and evaluation of the 5 biennial updates of the state of the art document.
Those council conclusions and the state of the art document introduced an overview of existing international and European youth and children's rights policies. The document offers policy makers and experts a valuable overview of developments in each other's policy areas. Experts and policymakers discussed policy coherence between youth and children's rights and formulated recommendations. More coherence between national and international policy agendas on youth and children's rights can ensure a seamless transition from childhood to adulthood. Better information sharing, coordination and cooperation can ensure more effective policies that more strongly support young people.
Read the complete report on the conference, including the recommendations.
European conference on local youth work and democracy - February 20-23, 2024
The European Conference on Local Youth Work and Democracy brought together 350 youth workers and youth organisations, municipalities, young people and youth policy practitioners to evaluate the role of local youth work and youth participation in the field of European youthwork policy. Local youth work and participatory environments, active citizenship and the role of municipalities in supporting local youth work were the focus during these 3 days.
The conference provided new impetus for youth work within Europe at the local level by addressing the need to improve the quality, conditions and recognition of youth work and the role of local, regional and higher levels of government in supporting local youth work. The event highlighted more than 30 good practices and thereby inspired youth work and youth work policies, especially at the local level.
Read the complete report on the conference and the recommendations that were incorporated in the Council resolution on youthwork in an empowering Europe.
The European Youth Conference - March 2 to 5, 2024
From March 2 to 5, 2024, the EU Youth Conference took place in Ghent. For 4 days about 300 young people, politicians, experts and policy makers from the European Union debated with each other. The recommendations the young people formulated, were taken to the Council working groups, the Council of Ministers of Youth and the Directors-General meeting.
The Youth Conference was part of the EU Youth Dialogue, the largest structured civic participation process in the world. The 10th cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue focused on the European Youth Objective #3 ‘Inclusive Societies’. A consultation phase took place prior to the conference. In it, more than 28,000 young people were consulted on ways to promote inclusive societies. During the conference in Ghent, the voices of those young people, were translated into recommendations and concrete actions, by 120 youth representatives from 39 countries. The Belgian EU Presidency integrated those ideas into the Council conclusions on inclusive societies for young people.
Read the complete report on the conference, including the 6 recommendations and 34 implementing measures.
Meeting for the Directors-General of Youth and the Directors of National Agencies - March 26 to 28, 2024
To support the work in the Youth Council, the Department organised, for the first time, a meeting and exchange moment between the Directors-General of Youth and the Directors of the National Agencies for Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps. The programme included the mid-term evaluation of the European Youth Strategy 2019-2027 and the evaluation of the European youth programmes Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps.
Participants looked ahead and reflected on the role of EU youth programmes in safeguarding democracy and European values, how the programmes can contribute to the quality and development of youth work, and on the needs in terms of operational and financial improvements and challenges. By preparing for future evaluations, Belgium had the opportunity to have an impact on the next EU youth strategy and to help shape future EU youth programmes.
Read the complete report of the meeting.
Other events
During the presidency, we also actively cooperated with other events, like Ghent European Youth Capital and the Youth Week. Ghent European Youth Capital 2024 offers a unique opportunity for young people, organisations, and institutions to shape the city's future by focusing on three central priorities: voluntary engagement, creating spaces for youth, and addressing mental health, diversity, and sustainability.
European Youth Week celebrated young people's engagement in their communities, and featured a wide array of events in 33 countries as part of the European Union's Youth in Action Programme, including film festivals, flashmobs, concerts, and street parties.
