Making EU policies youth-proof

July 2025

In 2025, the European Union has taken steps to strengthen the role of young people in policymaking. Through initiatives such as the Youth Check (Opens in a new window) and the EU Youth Test (Opens in a new window), as well as engagement projects like 'Your Europe, Your Say! (Opens in a new window)' (YEYS), the EU acknowledges young people as stakeholders and co-creators in shaping the future of Europe. This push for youth participation is not just a symbolic gesture. It reflects an ambition to future-proof EU governance by ensuring today's decisions are informed by the needs, insights and aspirations of tomorrow's citizens, thus future-proofing EU governance.

Why youth participation matters

Involving young people in policymaking can improve the quality, relevance and sustainability of public policies. Young people's perspectives offer fresh ideas, challenge outdated assumptions and highlight blind spots in governance. Furthermore, it fosters civic trust and democratic legitimacy by ensuring that younger generations see themselves reflected in decision-making processes. At a time of democratic decline and growing disillusionment, creating opportunities for young people is a step towards reinforcing Europe's democratic fabric.

The case for youth participation is both normative and practical. Policies that ignore the needs of young people risk being ineffective or counterproductive. The effects on youth are profound and often disproportionate, whether it is climate action, digitalisation, or housing policy.

Looking beyond the EU, pioneering initiatives have set powerful examples of forward-looking governance. In Wales, for example, the Office of the Future Generations Commissioner was established under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. The office holds public bodies accountable for long-term thinking and ensures that policies enhance the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of future generations. The Commissioner acts as a guardian of future generations’ interests and has the power to scrutinise and advise government bodies.

Similarly, the United Nations has been advocating for institutional reforms to promote intergenerational justice. These efforts include proposals for a UN Special Envoy for Future Generations and the development of international frameworks requiring states to consider the long-term impact of their actions. While broader in scope, these initiatives share a key principle with EU youth-focused efforts: governance should be forward-looking. See also our earlier blog post on considering future generations (Opens in a new window).

The EU’s youth participation tools, such as the Youth Check and Youth Test, differ in that they encourage future-oriented thinking from the perspective of today's young people. Rather than focusing on abstract future generations, they focus on those who will experience the medium- and long-term consequences of today's decisions. This makes youth involvement a tangible and immediate expression of intergenerational responsibility.

Youth Check: Mainstreaming youth into EU policymaking

The European Commission’s Youth Check is a step towards systematically integrating the perspectives of young people into EU policymaking. Introduced following the 2022 European Year of Youth, the Youth Check is currently being piloted and gradually integrated into significant initiatives in the Commission’s work programme, though it is not yet a binding requirement across all policy proposals.

The process begins with an assessment of whether a new policy initiative is likely to impact young people. If deemed relevant, the initiative undergoes a detailed analysis to explore its potential positive and negative effects on young people. This involves interdepartmental coordination within the Commission, led by the EU Youth Coordinator (Opens in a new window) and supported by the EU Youth Stakeholders Group (Opens in a new window).

The process includes structured consultations with youth organisations and stakeholders to ensure diverse youth perspectives are considered. The results of this analysis are then incorporated into the broader impact assessments required for all legislative and strategic proposals.

Although the Youth Check is still evolving, its implementation in 2025 represents a shift from sporadic youth consultation to consistent youth involvement. Its effectiveness now hinges on sustained political commitment, adequate funding, and meaningful follow-up to ensure that youth input translates into policy change.

EU Youth Test: A civil society-led framework

The EU Youth Test complements the Youth Check. It is an initiative led by the European Youth Forum (Opens in a new window), the largest platform of youth organisations in Europe. Representing over 100 youth organisations from across the continent, it campaigns for the rights and interests of young people in the EU and beyond. The Forum plays a key role in mobilising civil society to push for more inclusive and forward-looking governance.

The Youth Test is based on a five-pillar framework comprising relevance assessment, stakeholder engagement, impact analysis, mitigation measures and transparency. It is designed for use by not only EU institutions, but also Member States, civil society organisations and advisory bodies.

Unlike the Youth Check, the Youth Test is not formally embedded in the EU’s legislative process. However, it has been adopted by institutions such as the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), where youth delegates participate in opinion-forming processes, contribute to policy discussions and follow up on recommendations. Thus, the Youth Test operates both as a technical tool for policy evaluation and as a political instrument to promote accountability and intergenerational justice.

YEYS 2025: A platform for youth dialogue

In March 2025, the EESC hosted the latest edition of 'Your Europe, Your Say!' (YEYS), which brought together over 130 young participants from EU member states, candidate countries and the UK. The theme of this edition was civic resilience and youth action in a democratic Europe. Not only does YEYS serve as a platform for dialogue, it also acts as a bridge between young people and EU institutions.

Participants took part in debates, simulations and workshops, producing tangible policy recommendations. The event also fostered transnational networks among young people and strengthened their capacity to participate meaningfully in EU governance. With its focus on empowerment, YEYS illustrates how participatory tools can complement institutional reforms.

Conclusion: Youth participation as a cornerstone of future-proof governance

The EU's recent efforts to encourage youth participation show promising signs of momentum. By institutionalising youth-mainstreaming tools such as the Youth Check, promoting civil society–led instruments such as the Youth Test, and creating participatory spaces through YEYS, the EU is moving towards a form of governance that is both youth-inclusive and future-oriented.

These tools represent more than procedural innovations. They reflect a shift in political culture, moving from governing for youth to governing with youth. If this shift is sustained and expanded, it can help ensure that EU policymaking becomes more just and sustainable, and ultimately more democratic.

Still, challenges remain. Implementation is uneven, and participation opportunities often remain confined to those who are already engaged or have resources at their disposal. In order to democratise youth engagement, efforts must extend to marginalised and underrepresented groups, and participation must influence decisions in tangible ways.

As Europe navigates multiple transitions – climate, digital and demographic – youth participation is not a luxury. It is a necessity. The future deserves a seat at the table, and in 2025, the EU is finally starting to make room for it.

By Kai Böhme

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