EU Youth Dialogue

What is the EU Youth Dialogue?

The EU Youth Dialogue is a platform that fosters communication between young people and decision-makers, operating within the framework of the EU Youth Strategy.

Why the EU Youth Dialogue?

The EU Youth Dialogue ensures that the opinions, views, and needs of young people and youth organisations are considered when shaping EU youth policies.

It plays a key role in implementing the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027, which focuses on three core areas: connect, engage, and empower. The dialogue also promotes cooperation among EU countries on all matters affecting young people.

How Does the EU Youth Dialogue Work?

The EU Youth Dialogue runs in 18-month cycles, each focusing on a theme set by the Council of Youth Ministers.

The EU Youth Dialogue is currently in its 11th Cycle (Jan 2025 – June 2026), under the trio Council Presidencies of Poland, Denmark, and Cyprus. The overarching theme is ‘Connecting EU with Youth’. The main focus of the 11th cycle is EU Youth Goal #1 – Connecting EU with Youth.

National working groups in each Member State lead consultations with youth, organisations, and policymakers.

The Trio Presidency, in collaboration with the European Commission, National Agencies, and the European Youth Forum, steers the process at the EU level.

How to Participate?

You can take part in the EU Youth Dialogue through a youth organisation, mainly at the national level. To get involved as an organisation or individual, contact your national youth council ([link to contacts]).

In some cases, direct participation at the EU level is possible through an international youth organisation, depending on the Dialogue’s current theme.

What is the Outcome?

After national and European activities conclude, results are analysed and discussed at the EU Youth Conferences, where youth representatives and policymakers collaborate to deliver a joint message to the EU. These conferences, held twice a year, are hosted by the EU Presidency country.

Findings from the EU Youth Dialogue are presented to the Council of the European Union, which may adopt policy documents reflecting young people’s views. For example, in 2018, the process led to the creation of 11 Youth Goals, later integrated into the EU Youth Strategy.

Cycle 1 : Youth employment

1st Cycle (1 January 2010 – 30 June 2011).

The trio presidencies of Hungary, Belgium and Spain focused on “Youth Employment”. At the end of the cycle the Council of the European Union adopted the Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on the structured dialogue with young people on youth employment.

Cycle 2: Youth participation in democratic life in Europe

2nd Cycle (1 July 2011 – 31 December 2012).

The Trio presidencies of Cyprus, Denmark and Poland focused on “Youth participation in democratic life in Europe”. At the end of the cycle the Council of the European Union adopted the Resolution of the Council and of the representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on the overview of the structured dialogue with young people on youth participation in democratic life in Europe.

Cycle 3: Social Inclusion of young people across Europe

3rd Cycle (1 January 2013 – 30 June 2014).

The Trio presidencies of Ireland, Lithuania and Greece chose to focus on “Social Inclusion”. At the end of the cycle the Council of the European Union adopted the Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on the overview of the structured dialogue process including social inclusion of young people.

Cycle 4: Youth autonomy

4th Cycle (1 July 2014 – 31 December 2015).

The Trio presidencies of Italy, Latvia and Luxembourg focused on “Youth autonomy”. At the end of the cycle the Council of the European Union adopted the Council Resolution on encouraging political participation of young people in democratic life in Europe.

Cycle 5: Enabling all young people to engage in a diverse, connected and inclusive Europe, Ready for life, ready for society

5th Cycle (1 January 2016 – 30 June 2017).

The Trio presidencies of Netherlands, Slovakia and Malta chose the overall thematic priority of “Enabling all young people to engage in a diverse, connected and inclusive Europe, Ready for life, ready for society”. At the end of the cycle the Council of the European Union adopted the Council Resolution on the Structured Dialogue and the future development of the dialogue with young people in the context of policies for European cooperation in the youth field, post 2018.

Cycle 6: Youth in Europe: What’s next?

6th Cycle (1 July 2017 – 30 December 2018).

The Trio presidencies of Estonia, Bulgaria and Austria chose the overall thematic priority of “Youth in Europe: What’s next?”. This cycle was marked by the adoption of the European Youth Goals annexed to the Resolution of the Council of the European Union and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council on a framework for European cooperation in the youth field.

Cycle 7: Creating opportunities for youth

7th Cycle (1 January 2019 – 30 June 2020).

The Trio presidencies of Romania, Finland and Croatia chose the overall thematic priority of “Creating opportunities for youth”. At the end of the cycle the Council of the European Union adopted the Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council on the Outcomes of the 7th Cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue European Union Youth Strategy.

Cycle 8: Europe for YOUth – YOUth for Europe: Space for Democracy and Participation

8th Cycle (1 July 2020 – 31 December 2021).

The Trio presidencies of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia chose the thematic priority of “Europe for YOUth – YOUth for Europe: Space for Democracy and Participation”. At the end of the cycle the Council of the European Union adopted the Resolution of the Council and of the representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council on the Outcomes of the 8th Cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue.

Cycle 9: Engaging together for a sustainable and inclusive Europe

9th Cycle (1 January 2022 – 30 June 2023).

The Trio presidencies of France, Czech Republic and Sweden chose the overall thematic priority of “Engaging together for a sustainable and inclusive Europe”. At the end of the cycle the Council of the European Union adopted the Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on the Outcomes of the 9th Cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue.

Cycle 10: We need youth

10th Cycle (1 July 2023 – 31 December 2024).

The Trio presidencies of Spain, Belgium and Hungary chose the thematic priority of “We Need Youth”. At the end of the cycle the Council of the European Union adopted the Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on the Outcomes of the 10th Cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue.

Cycle 11: Connecting the EU with Youth

11th Cycle (1 January 2025 – 30 June 2026).

The Trio presidencies of Poland, Denmark, and Cyprus have chosen the thematic priority of “Connecting the EU with Youth”. The Maltese National Working Group will be conducting the consultations with young people t feed into the Council Resolution that will be proposed for adoption at the end of the Cycle.