Youth participation

In 2021, European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen launched the first Youth Sounding Board for EU International Partnerships. The aim is to create a real, fundamental, long-lasting change in how the EU engages with young people in its development cooperation.

Composed of 25 individuals from around the world and selected via an open application process, the Youth Sounding Board is a space for young people to have an influence on EU external action, ensuring it is more participatory, relevant and effective for young people in EU partner countries.

Commissioner Urpilainen has appointed Special Advisers on youth: Ms Naja-Theresia Høegh from Greenland, in 2024; Ms Gómez Solano from Costa Rica, in 2023; Ms Qyira Yusri from Malaysia, in 2022, and Ms Bitania Lulu Berhanu from Ethiopia in 2021.

More and more EU Delegations (diplomatic representations of the EU around the world) have established national youth sounding boards or other kind of youth advisory structures adapted to local country contexts. The advice of local young people helps the EU to make its external action more youth-relevant. 

EU Guidelines for setting up and managing youth advisory structures are available to support delegations in the setting up of such structures

In addition, a network of youth focal points in EU Delegations worldwide play an important role in ensuring a coherent and coordinated approach to youth engagement in our partner countries, integrating youth perspectives into EU external action.

Find out more about youth advisory structures in EU Delegations 

EU Youth Sounding Boards achievements

• Youth empowerment and leadership
  Youth Sounding Boards contribute to personal growth and leadership of young people through community building, networking and the chance to actively shape their future. 
• A better understanding of youth needs, challenges and ideas
  Youth Sounding Board members work with EU Delegations to integrate local youth perspectives in the EU external action and make it more relevant for young people. Youth Sounding Boards contribute to connect the EU with civil society and youth groups, ensuring young voices are heard.
• Youth engagement in policy-making
  By working closely with EU Delegations, Youth Sounding Boards enable young people to take leadership roles and influence policy decisions affecting young people’s lives in their countries.
• Improved access of young people to EU funding
  Youth Sounding Boards advocates for funding aimed at youth engagement and empowerment, crucial for creating opportunities that benefit young people in their countries.
• Promotion of EU opportunities
  Youth Sounding Boards are effective channels to communicate with young people around the world and promote EU professional or training opportunities, as Erasmus+.

The Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) Youth Network pro-actively seeks the support of youth to partner with them to foster sustainable development, and acknowledge and enhance the contribution of youth in pursuing positive social changes worldwide.

The first OCT Youth Network was established in 2022 and connects 25 young people from 10 OCTs to each other, and with EU institutions and decision makers. 

A second edition of the network will start work in July 2023. 

On the 28 and 29 May, a group of 40 youth and civil society organisation representatives from across the Caribbean region participated in the EU-Caribbean ‘Meet the Leaders’ Civil Society and Youth Forum. The purpose of the forum was to engage in a constructive dialogue and to reach consensus on policy recommendations on climate, social issues, youth empowerment and economic growth. The policy recommendations were shared with Commissioner Urpilainen during her visit to the Dominican Republic.

On the 26 and 27 August 2024, a group of 40 youth and civil society organisation representatives from across the Pacific region participated in the EU-Pacific ‘Meet the Leaders’ Civil Society and Youth Forum hosted in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. The event sought to strengthen the EU-Pacific Partnership through a constructive dialogue on youth and civil society recommendations.

The Forum concluded with a set of robust recommendations reflecting the voice of youth and civil society representatives in the region. These recommendations, aimed at enhancing the EU-Pacific Partnership, emphasised the necessity for greater youth engagement in decision-making processes, a commitment to the rule of law and human rights, and a steadfast commitment to environmental sustainability.