European Youth Work Agenda

The European Youth Work Agenda (EYWA) aims to boost youth work. Established as a strategic framework, it intends to strengthen and further develop youth work practice and policies in Europe.

The EYWA consists of two core elements: the political commitment of the European Union and the Council of Europe on the one hand, and the engagement of the youth work community of practice on the other. With the European Youth Work Agenda, political documents and a vibrant community process go hand in hand to propel youth work forward.

How did the European Youth Work Agenda come about?

The German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth established the European Youth Work Agenda (EYWA) during Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union and its Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

To boost Youth Work

The European Youth Work Agenda is a strategic framework to strengthen and further develop youth work practice and policies in Europe.

The European Youth Work Agenda was first called for in the final declaration of the 2nd European Youth Work Convention in 2015. The task of establishing it comes from the European Union Youth Strategy 2019-2027 and the Council of Europe’s Recommendation on youth work from 2017. In its Youth Sector Strategy 2030, the Council of Europe declares youth work to be one of its priorities. In its meeting on 30 November 2020, the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the member States meeting within the Council took note of a Resolution for a framework to establish a European Youth Work Agenda.

After years of youth work development at the local, regional, national and European level, 2020 was a unique opportunity for both the European Union and the Council of Europe to take their cooperation on youth work and youth work development to the next level.

But it did not stop with political documents. The 3rd European Youth Work Convention kicked off an implementation process known as the Bonn Process. Since its inception, the youth work community of practice has been invited and encouraged to help shape and take action for youth work development within the common framework of the European Youth Work Agenda.

Having read about the history of the European Youth Work Agenda, we now invite you to sit back and enjoy watching the explainer video the explainer video on the EYWA. Please also refer to our factsheet on the EYWA.