European Commission Youth Check
The European Commission runs a ‘youth check’ on its key policy proposals. Through this process, the Commission examines the potential impact of its new policies on young people.
How does the youth check help?
The youth check supports the EU Youth Strategy, especially the objective ‘to improve policy decisions regarding their impact on young people across all sectors’.
It contributes to youth mainstreaming, ‘an approach that incorporates the perspective and needs of young people in the processes of policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation, as well as in decision-making processes’ (C/2023/1342),
The youth check helps future-proof EU policymaking and contribute to intergenerational fairness.
How does the youth check work?
The Commission applies the youth check on key initiatives of the Commission work programme. The process is mandatory for all initiatives in Annex I of the programme.
The youth check process consists of assessment of youth relevance and youth consultations. In certain cases, the impact is further analysed in an impact assessment report and by the Regulatory Scrutiny Board.
Who is part of the youth check process?
The policy departments of the Commission are in the lead of the youth check process. They are supported in this task by the Commission Youth Network of youth correspondents (focal points of contact on youth issues in Commission departments).
The EU Youth Stakeholders Group facilitates the youth check process, in particular the consultations of young people and youth organisations.
The Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture provides advice and information to Commission departments on the youth check process, (on assessment of youth relevance, consultations with young people, availability of evidence and data linked to young people).
The EU Youth Coordinator coordinates work on the youth check process.
If you have any question related to the process, you can contact [email protected].
How can I get involved?
You can share your views on proposals of new EU policies, legal acts and existing laws on the Have your say portal. You can also contribute to discussions on the Citizens’ Engagement Platform.
EU national youth councils and many European youth organisations represent the views of young people in the EU Youth Stakeholders Group. Find out who are the member organisations, get in touch with organisations in your country or those which focus on your areas of interest.
Consultations in the youth check process
This is a non-exhaustive list of consultations, which have contributed or will contribute to the youth check process.
- The EU’s next long-term budget – EU funding for cross-border education, training and solidarity, young people, media, culture, and creative sectors, values, and civil society
- Public consultation on the Democracy shield
- Ideas from the youth policy dialogues with Commissioners on the Citizens Engagement Platform
- New Intergenerational Fairness Strategy on the Citizens Engagement Platform
Background
The youth check was put forward by the European Commission in its Communication on the European Year of Youth 2022, adopted on 10 January 2024 (COM/2024/1). This initiative was welcomed by Member States. At its meeting on 13 May 2024 the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council called upon the Commission to explore the implementation of the youth check at EU level. The proposed approach by the Commission was welcomed by the European Parliament and has received wide support from civil society stakeholders.