Progress on the European Commission Youth Check: Amplifying Young Voices in EU Policymaking
L-aħħar aġġornament sar fi L-Erbgħa, 30/07/2025
The European Commission is making real progress on the Youth Check, to ensure that the voices, needs, and perspectives of young people are at the heart of EU policymaking.
What is the Youth Check?
The Youth Check is a process where the European Commission examines the potential impact of new policy proposals on young people. Before any key EU policy is launched, its relevance to youth is assessed, and consultations with young people are conducted. This initiative was announced as part of the legacy of the European Year of Youth.
Why it is important?
The Youth Check enhances young people’s role in EU decision-making by integrating youth perspectives across all policy areas that concern them. It serves as an essential tool for mainstreaming youth involvement. Learn more details on the Youth Check.
2025 screening
The Commission applied the youth check to its 2025 Commission Work Programme.
Various Commission departments assessed initiatives for their impact on young people and committed to consult young people on 12 initiatives:
- 2030 Consumer Agenda, including an action plan for consumers in the Single Market
- An EU fit for enlargement: policy reviews and reforms
- A new action plan to implement the European Pillar of Social Rights
- EU Anti-racism Strategy
- EU Preparedness Union Strategy
- EU Strategy to support, protect and empower the civil society
- European Democracy Shield
- European Ocean Pact
- Post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework proposals
- Quality jobs roadmap
- Union of Skills
- Vision for Agriculture and Food
Young people and youth organisations were engaged through various platforms, including Youth Policy Dialogues with Commissioners, EU Youth Conferences of the EU Youth Dialogue, the EU Youth Stakeholders Group, workshops, focus groups and dedicated meetings, the European citizens’ panels and the Citizens’ Engagement Platform. Special attention was given to the responses by young citizens in the public consultations.
Evidence on young people’s needs and concerns is also gathered through large scale surveys, such as the Eurobarometer on EU challenges and priorities: young Europeans' views, reaching over 25 933 young people aged 16-30. Data on the situation of young people in Europe underpins the analysis on the impact of policies on young people.
Looking ahead
The Youth Check represents a concrete step toward making EU policymaking more inclusive, transparent, and responsive to young people’s needs. As the Commission prepares its 2026 Commission Work Programme, it is already applying the youth check to initiatives planned for next year.