Context and background

 

The European Youth Work Conventions (EYWCs) have been held regularly every five years since 2010 and became a significant forum mainly for youth work practitioners, but also involving other actors whose contribution is critical, such as policymakers, researchers, voluntary youth organisations and youth service providers.

They aim at strengthening youth work development and identifying directions to further support the youth work field in its roles.

The work and declarations of the three previous EYWCs (2010, 2015, and 2020), other related EU and Council of Europe recommendations and resolutions, and Youth Partnership research will underpin, inform, and provide the knowledge base for the Convention in Malta.  The work is therefore framed around the outcomes of the three previous conventions:

The following initiatives and key policy documents will also inform the process:

In particular, the Convention will seek to build on and advance the work of the European Youth Work Agenda (EYWA) and ensure both symmetry and continuity in promoting youth work policy development and implementation, recognition and quality practice.

 

Media event to launch the Convention

The event took place on 27 February 2025 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, Malta.

Distinguished speakers include Matjaž Gruden, Director for Democracy at the Council of Europe; Michael Teutsch, Acting Director for Youth, Education, and Erasmus+ at the European Commission; and Nina Grmuša, Chair of the Joint Council on Youth. Additionally, representatives of the Maltese authorities, including Keith Azzopardi Tanti, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research, and Innovation, will address the audience.

 Check the press release in French and English.

Preparatory process and steering group


The Steering Group is the main platform for the preparation of the 4th EYWC and offers a room for regular exchange of information between the European Commission and the Council of Europe, and those who play a role in youth work development at European level.

Members of the Steering Group

The Steering Group involves representatives of the partner institutions of the Youth Partnership, namely the European Union and the Council of Europe, and the European Youth Forum, the statutory bodies of the Council of Europe (Steering Committee on Youth (CDEJ) and the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ)), national agencies of the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps programmes, SALTO Resource Centres as well as of the community of youth work practitioners.

More information

Recent Events on Youth Work