EU Youth Conference

The EU Youth Conference will take place in Amsterdam, co-organised by the European Youth Forum together with the European Commission and the Dutch Presidency.

At the EU Youth Conference young people and policymakers from all EU member states will discuss topics affecting young people throughout Europe. The conference is part of the European policy process known as the Structured Dialogue, and is the first in a cycle of three planned during the Presidencies of the Netherlands, Slovakia and Malta. The results of the Structured Dialogue serve as input for the Council of the European Union. The goal of this initiative is to ensure that both European and national and local parties decide on youth policy with, and not merely for, young people, and that knowledge of youth policy is exchanged between young people and policymakers at European level.

The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the young people’s network NJR and the Netherlands Youth Institute are responsible for organising the EU Youth Conference. Over the next 18 months these parties will also participate in the European Steering Group responsible for coordinating the Structured Dialogue throughout Europe. The Steering Group also includes representatives of Slovakia, Malta, the European Commission and the European Youth Forum.

The EU Youth Conference will gather about 150 participants (young people and policy-makers) to exchange views and ideas on what the existing barriers and challenges are for young people to be provided with skills for inclusion.