Legal Framework for Youth Policy in the European Union

Abstract

This article analyzes the key legal acts of the European Union (EU) regulating youth policy, highlighting their distinctive features and strengths, as well as the institutional mechanisms for implementing youth support at the EU level. It is emphasized that within Europe, and particularly within the EU, a governance model of youth policy has been established, characterized by a broad network of institutions and organizations responsible for specific areas of activity. Decisions concerning youth policy are adopted by the Council of Europe and the governing bodies of the EU, with young people themselves actively engaged in discussions and the formulation of recommendations through various institutional platforms. The analysis of EU legal acts on youth policy demonstrates that policymakers recognize young people as one of the most significant social groups in contemporary Europe, actively involving them in policy-making and democratic life. Youth policy in EU Member States is aimed not only at fostering the personal and professional development of young people but also carries an important political dimension. The EU uses youth policy as a tool for consolidating Member States, both institutionally and ideologically. Thus, youth policy is intrinsically linked to the inclusion of young people in democratic institutions and their integration into the political structures of the EU.