European Year of Youth 2022

SUMMARY OF:

Decision (EU) 2021/2316 on a European Year of Youth (2022)

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION?

It designates 2022 as the European Year of Youth, first announced on 15 September 2021, aiming to empower, support and engage with young people, including those with fewer opportunities, after the COVID-19 pandemic, and to trigger reflection on the future of youth and their active participation in building the future of Europe.

KEY POINTS

The 2019–2027 European Union youth strategy recognises that young people are the architects of their own lives, they help to make a positive change in society and to enrich the European Union’s (EU) ambitions. It also recognises that youth policy can contribute to creating a space where young people can seize opportunities and relate to EU values. Europe needs the vision, engagement and participation of all young people to build a better future. It also needs to give young people opportunities for the future, a future that is greener, more digital and more inclusive.

Objectives

In announcing the European Year of Youth 2022, the EU aims to renew the positive perspectives for young people, after the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, while highlighting how the green transition, the digital transition and other EU policies and instruments offer opportunities to young people. It aims to do this by:

drawing inspiration from young people’s actions, visions and insights;
listening and taking into account their needs and concerns; and
supporting them in developing practical and inclusive opportunities.

It aims to empower and support young people to become active and engaged citizens, inspired by a European sense of belonging, especially those:

with fewer opportunities;
from disadvantaged and diverse backgrounds;
from vulnerable and marginalised groups; or
from rural, remote, peripheral and less-developed areas and outermost regions.

It seeks to promote existing and new opportunities available to young people as a result of public policy, in order to support personal, social and professional development.

It aims to bring a youth perspective into policymaking at all levels, in line with the 2019–2027 European Union youth strategy.

Programmes and events

The types of activities planned include the following.

Conferences, cultural events and policy initiatives targeting young people to encourage a conversation about the challenges being faced, including those brought about by difficult social situations or working conditions, poor access to education and training, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Promoting youth participation and innovative tools, channels and programmes for young people to reach policymakers by identifying, collecting and sharing experiences and good practice.
Gathering ideas using participatory methods to co-create and co-implement the Year of Youth 2022.
Information, education and awareness-raising campaigns to convey values such as respect, equality, justice, solidarity, volunteering, a sense of belonging and safety, and a feeling of being heard and respected.
Creating the means to turn challenges into opportunities and ideas into actions in an entrepreneurial spirit, while fostering creativity, community and cooperation.
Research and data gathering on the situation of young people in the EU, paying particular attention to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Promoting programmes, funding opportunities, projects, actions and networks relevant to young people, including through social media and online communities.

Monitoring and evaluation

The European Commission will submit a report by the end of 2023 with an overall assessment of the year’s implementation and results, including ideas for further activities, with a view to creating a long-lasting legacy for the European Year.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DECISION APPLY?

It has applied since 1 January 2022.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

European Youth Portal (European Union).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Decision (EU) 2021/2316 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 December 2021 on a European Year of Youth (2022) (OJ L 462, 28.12.2021, pp. 1–9).

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