Shaping the post-2027 EU Youth Strategy: results from the public consultation

Atnaujinta Pirmadienis, 12/10/2026

The European Commission ran an online public consultation from 23 April to 16 July 2026 through the “Have your say” portal, in all 24 official EU languages. The aim was to gather ideas and views to help shape proposals for the EU Youth Strategy post 2027. The results summarised here reflect the replies received. They do not represent the official position of the European Commission and are not a representative sample of the EU population.

Young people call for a more participatory EU Youth Strategy

Young people want the next EU Youth Strategy to make their participation in democracy a priority. They expect a more inclusive approach that clearly improves their lives and gives them a real say in policy.

From April to July 2026, over 6 000 people took part in the public consultation on the 'Post 2027 EU Youth Strategy’. More than half were young people aged 15–29, with many responses also from NGOs. Their input shows how much they are driven by shaping future youth policy in Europe.

Key priorities for the next strategy

Respondents want the next EU Youth Strategy to focus on:

• Empowering young people as active citizens and involving them in decision-making.
• Promoting health and well-being.
• Helping young people move from education into work.

They also want a stronger youth focus in wider policies such as education and training, employment, democracy, and environment and climate policies.

Removing barriers to participation

Respondents see a clear need to remove barriers to participation. The most common obstacles were:

• Limited chances for young people to influence policy.
• Poor access to quality civic education.
• Too few opportunities to get involved in politics, including voting.

The most effective ways to engage young people in EU policies, according to respondents, are involving young people directly in EU decision‑making, making information more relevant, accessible and engaging, and creating more spaces for dialogue and meetings between young people and EU policymakers.

They also value digital participation tools, school and university‑based discussions, a stronger role for youth councils and youth organisations, and the use of online consultations and social media.

Inclusion, safety and support

Inclusion is a major concern. Respondents see an urgent need to tackle disinformation, hate speech and harassment. They also want better access to opportunities for young people who face barriers in making their voices heard.

Many highlighted the importance of support for learning mobility, volunteering, networking and cooperation across borders, especially for those facing disadvantage.

Youth work is seen as crucial. Respondents value structured activities that help young people handle life’s challenges, support mental and physical well-being, and encourage active citizenship.

Looking beyond the EU and across generations

On the global side, including for peacebuilding, security and preparedness, respondents place high value on cooperation between countries, research on international youth issues, more learning mobility and exchanges with non-EU countries, and youth participation in international policymaking forums.

Intergenerational fairness is another strong theme. Many want young people’s views to be better reflected in decisions at local, national and EU level, with more long-term thinking and ‘futures literacy’ in policy and promoting cooperation and knowledge‑sharing between generations.

The factual summary report on the public consultation on the EU Youth Strategy post 2027 provides a detailed picture of what priorities respondents believe should be at the centre of youth policy in Europe and how the future EU Youth Strategy can meet these expectations.