Youth Action Plan (YAP) in EU external action 2022–2027. Promoting meaningful youth participation and empowerment in EU external action for sustainable development, equality and peace

Summary:

Joint Communication adopted by the European Commission and the EU's High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, setting out a Youth Action Plan in the European Union external action for the period between 2022 and 2027.

Further information:

The world's youth population is larger than ever before. Young people are agents of change across the world, but their prospects and capacity to act are often limited by lack of access to education, decent jobs, health care and social protection and, in many countries, by shrinking democratic and civic spaces. They bear the brunt of crises and instability. The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic added further negative consequences, and highlighted the need for greater intergenerational solidarity.

This Youth Action Plan (YAP) aims to respond to these challenges and provide a policy framework for a strategic partnership with young people in EU external action. This was called for by conclusions adopted by the Council of the European Union in 2020. The YAP aims at promoting the engagement of young people as strategic partners, supporting their empowerment and harnessing the demographic dividend, to build more resilient and inclusive societies and make progress towards global commitments.

The Communication was adopted by the European Commission and the EU's High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy on 4 October 2022, as a deliverable in the framework of the European Year of Youth. The Council of the European Union adopted a set of conclusions on the Youth Action Plan on 28 November.

• Primary Source

• Alternative Source

News

EurActiv, 28/11/2022: EU steps up efforts to boost young people’s political participation worldwide https://www.euractiv.com/section/participatory-democracy/news/eu-steps-up-efforts-to-boost-young-peoples-political-participation-worldwide/

---

Official

European Commission: Analysis of the targeted consultation of the Youth Action Plan in EU External Action (January 2022) https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/document/13731e4b-8447-4ccf-839c-44e6d4fa9628_en

European Commission: Press Release, 04/10/2022: European Year of Youth 2022: EU adopts the first Youth Action Plan in EU External Action to strengthen engagement with young people worldwide https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_5884

European Commission: Questions and Answers: Youth Action Plan in EU external action for 2022-2027 (4 October 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_22_5882

European Commission: Opening remarks by Vice-President Šuica and Commissioner Urpilainen at the press conference on the Youth Action Plan (4 October 2022) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_22_5969

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 28/11/2022: Youth Action Plan: Council involves young people in policy-making https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/11/28/youth-action-plan-council-involves-young-people-in-policy-making/

---