Youth Action Plan in the European Union external action is Launched

The world's youth population is larger than ever before. Young people are agents of change across the world, but their prospects and capacity to act are often limited by lack of access to education, decent jobs, health care and social protection and, in many countries, by shrinking democratic and civic spaces. They bear the brunt of crises and instability. The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic added further negative consequences, and highlighted the need for greater intergenerational solidarity.

This Youth Action Plan (YAP) aims to respond to these challenges and provide a policy framework for a strategic partnership with young people in EU external action. This was called for by conclusions adopted by the Council of the European Union in 2020. The YAP aims at promoting the engagement of young people as strategic partners, supporting their empowerment and harnessing the demographic dividend, to build more resilient and inclusive societies and make progress towards global commitments.

The Communication was adopted by the European Commission and the EU's High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy on 4 October 2022, as a deliverable in the framework of the European Year of Youth.