Growing youth work in Europe: A methodology for mapping studies on national youth work ecosystems
In recent years, the Council of Europe and the European Commission have decided to enhance their cooperation on youth work. The Council of Europe’s Recommendation CM/Rec(2017)4 on youth work, the 3rd European Youth Work Convention (2020), and the consequent European Union Council Resolution on
the European Youth Work Agenda (EYWA) in 2020 were key milestones in this direction. In line with these developments, in 2022–23, the Youth Partnership stepped up its activities on youth work and on the implementation of the EYWA, among others, by conducting research on European youth work ecosystems.
The aim of the publication ”Growing youth work in Europe. Results of the mapping study ‘Mapping European Youth Work’” (2025) was to depict the diversity of actors and their initiatives, with special respect to the implementation of the EYWA, by providing a systematic overview of actors and contents.
However, the research was limited to what is known as the European youth work ecosystem.
The current publication is meant to complement the European mapping study by presenting the methodology of conducting a mapping at the national or sub-national level. By doing so, it hopes to encourage and provide methodological support for future initiatives aimed at systematically discovering the current state of youth work, and point out its gaps and potential for implementing the EYWA on national, regional and local levels.
Growing youth work in Europe: Results of the "Mapping European youth work ecosystems" study
In recent years, the Council of Europe and the European Commission have decided to enhance their co-operation on youth work. Recommendation
CM/Rec(2017)4 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on youth work, the 3rd European Youth Work Convention (2020) and the consequent
European Union Resolution of the Council on the European Youth Work Agenda (EYWA) in 2020 were key milestones in this direction. In line with these
developments, in 2022-23, the EU–Council of Europe Partnership in the field of youth stepped up its activities on youth work and on the implementation of the EYWA, among others, by facilitating the dialogue within the youth work community of practice.
The EYWA is a strategic framework for strengthening and developing quality and innovation in, and recognising, youth work. Within this framework, a field of action has been established where a variety of European stakeholders, first and foremost the European Union and the Council of Europe, provide guidance
through European policy documents and initiate activities and measures to further develop youth work structurally and in terms of content. At the
European level, several institutions, organisations, agencies and individuals address the contents of the EYWA.
The aim of the “Mapping European youth work ecosystems” study is to depict the diversity of actors and their initiatives and to highlight thematic overlaps, on the one hand, and thematic gaps, on the other hand, by providing a systematic overview of actors in this field and contents. Based on the findings of
the study, several recommendations for the European community of practice have been developed, including the need for further dialogue on the nature
of the EYWA and the need to reach a common understanding of its purpose and priorities.
Putting the puzzle pieces together. Study on models for the recognition of youth workers competences in Europe.
This study, commissioned by the European Commission and the Council of Europe Partnership in Youth, explores scenarios for a pan-European framework to recognize youth workers’ competences. It reviews national and cross-border models from higher education, vocational training, and non-formal learning contexts, proposing two web-based accreditation models. Model A involves a two-stage system with self or peer assessment and a European-level governing board. Model B offers a single-stage process focused on accessible self-assessment for youth workers in the voluntary sector. The study highlights potential benefits for youth workers, institutions, and policymakers while addressing challenges in implementation, governance, and stakeholder impact.
Youth brain drain from the Western Balkans, the Eastern Partnership and Türkiye
This study explores policy strategies to address youth brain drain and its impact on the youth sector in the Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership, and Türkiye. As global connectivity grows, many talented young people from these regions are increasingly moving abroad—mainly to EU countries—seeking education and work, causing significant human capital loss and economic and social challenges at home. The study analyses causes, consequences, and possible policy responses, examining the socio-economic and cultural effects on young people and the broader youth sector. Covering definitions of "young people" as per regional legislation, the five chapters present an overview, regional causes and effects of brain drain, policy implications, and youth sector interventions. It concludes with recommendations for transforming brain drain into brain circulation. Insights from interviews and surveys with experts and youth workers further enrich the analysis from a youth sector perspective.
Social inclusion is a process that enables a young person to build up self-esteem, self-realisation and resilience, to become an autonomous and productive member of society, able to reach selffulfilment and contribute to the development of society as a whole. However, certain groups of young people face multidimensional barriers in this process.
This study explores the extent to which digitalisation can support the process of social inclusion for various groups of young people, such as youth with disabilities; NEET youth; young refugees and migrants; LGBTI youth; young women and girls; youth suffering from substance abuse or dependency; youth from minority ethnic, racial or religious backgrounds; socio-economically marginalised youth; homeless youth; youth in abusive households and those who have committed or have been a victim of crime.
The authors examine, using the literature review and data collected through the survey, the policy instruments developed by European, national and local authorities, aimed at addressing social inclusion within the context of increasing digitalisation. The study further presents a collection of existing digital platforms, online tools and educational and training opportunities available to young people and youth workers or teachers. Finally, it takes a critical look at the opportunities and risks associated with social inclusion of young people within an increasingly digitalised society.
Meaningful youth political participation in Europe: concepts, patterns and policy implications
Young people’s political participation has many diverse forms – it can be conventional and unconventional, including activities such as voting, being members of political parties, serving on a local youth council, engaging through a youth organisation or taking part in online political activism, boycotts or a protest movement. Contemporary engagement of young people in political processes is taking place within the context of a shrinking space for civil society, rapid digitalisation, advancement of populist ideologies, increased inequalities, a rise of global youth movements and a health pandemic.
The study “Meaningful youth political participation in Europe: concepts, patterns and policy implications” examines young people’s participation within this changing context, by reflecting on the key concepts of political participation, types of democratic environments within which young people engage with the system and various mechanisms of participation. Both conventional and unconventional types of participation are covered in this study. Avenues for conventional participation are explored through a reflection on the idea of political socialisation and learning democratic values through participation and non-formal learning. It follows with the presentation of concepts, examples, opportunities and challenges related to unconventional participation, and in particular the examination of inequality and exclusion. The study concludes with the reflections on the latest developments and future trends for youth political participation, with a focus on the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and recommendations for facilitating young people’s political participation.
Social, political and economic turmoil in South-East Europe over the last three decades have affected young people, youth work and youth policy implementation in the region. This research, aimed at young people, youth workers, researchers and policy makers, offers a comprehensive insight into the perspectives, challenges and potential of youth work in 12 countries of South-East Europe: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo,* Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Türkiye.
The study analyses legal frameworks and youth policies at the national level, structures supporting youth work, educational opportunities for youth workers, recognition and validation of youth work and funding. It makes recommendations on how to advocate for better positions for youth workers and youth work in national and international contexts.
The findings indicate that while the youth sector in all the observed countries faces similar obstacles, youth workers and civil society organisations continue to demonstrate high levels of resilience, innovation and adaptability to sudden social changes, which have been essential for the youth sector’s growth and development in the region.
* All references to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.
Youth Work in Eastern Europe: Realities, perspectives and inspiring initiatives
How much do you know about youth work policies and realities in the eastern European countries involved in the Eastern Partnership initiative? With youth work becoming a key focus in European youth policy co-operation, this publication is a first attempt to explore the reality of youth work by country and across the region in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
The publication draws on the expertise and knowledge shared during the peer learning on strengthening the capacity of youth work in eastern Europe, expert interviews and evidence gathered by the partnership between the European Commission and the Council of Europe in the field of youth over recent years. It explores definitions, implementation, financing, education, training, methods, quality standards and infrastructure of youth work in European, national and local frameworks. More than 20 inspiring initiatives on youth work development complement the analysis. The final chapter includes a summary of country presentations.
We hope this will inspire youth policy makers, practitioners and researchers to contribute to strengthening the potential of youth work in the region and beyond.
For over 20 years, the partnership between the European Union and the Council of Europe in the field of youth has been gathering, analysing and disseminating knowledge for better youth policy and practice. Based on the principle of promoting knowledge-based youth policy and taking into account the benefits of youth policy evaluation, this review aims at supporting those involved at various levels in evaluating youth policy to enhance its relevance, effectiveness and impact. The lessons learned from the monitoring and evaluation of youth policy are extremely valuable to decision makers as they work to develop agile and adequate policy proposals to address young people’s needs.
In 2019, the European Knowledge Centre for Youth Policy correspondents contributed to showing how youth policy evaluation happens across 30 countries in Europe, what positive approaches exist and how young people are involved in such processes. The resulting review is the first publication in the youth sector on this topic. It seeks to answer the following questions.
What are the key concepts and steps in the youth policy monitoring and evaluation cycle, and how are young people involved?
What is the real situation at national level?
What good practice can be shared to inspire further initiatives?
What are the strengths of investing in youth policy monitoring and evaluation?
How can they contribute to promoting better understanding and a better impact of such policies in young people’s lives?
Radicalisation leading to violence has become a growing issue of concern in Europe and its neighbouring regions. This emerging concern has highlighted the need to work with young people in order to address the root causes of extremism, but also promote living together and community cohesion. Youth work can play an important role in this respect. This study includes concepts that can be useful for youth work practitioners in understanding the phenomenon of radicalisation leading to violence. It includes 20 examples of youth work practices, grouped in five categories: peer education; online campaigns and digital media; co-operation with other stakeholders; providing opportunities; and education and training. It also analyses the needs and challenges youth work faces.
Youth work empowers young people to have a greater degree of autonomy, self-determination and control over their lives in order to enable them to represent their interests in a responsible way. Youth work also supports young people to deal with challenges they face and strengthens their resilience and critical thinking.
This study was prepared with input from the following partners: SALTO EuroMed, SALTO EECA, SALTO SEE, and the National Agencies of Erasmus+ Youth in Action of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and the United Kingdom.
Putting the puzzle pieces together. Study on models for the recognition of youth workers competences in Europe.
Download the publication: Social inclusion, digitalisation and young people
