On 29 July, a roundtable in Bratislava brought together youth leaders, policy-makers and civil society to explore integrating the EU Youth Test into Slovakia’s national decision-making. Developed by the EESC in 2024, the Youth Test assesses how legislation affects young people and promotes their structured involvement in policy design. The Youth Test was the focus of a high-level debate during the last EESC plenary in July.

The event in Bratislava, co-organised by the EESC and the European Parliament’s Liaison Office in Slovakia, marked a key step in adapting the EU-level initiative locally. Over 30 participants discussed barriers and opportunities for deploying the Youth Test in Slovak ministries and agencies.

‘We must ensure that young people are not just a target group but active participants in the design of future-facing policies,’ explained EESC member and co-host of the Bratislava roundtable, Miroslav Hajnoš.

‘Young people are experts on their reality, and our policies should reflect their lived experience – not only their future, but their present,’ said Lucia Yar, Member of the European Parliament.

Ján Hrinko, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, stressed that youth participation enhances policy legitimacy. Civil society leader Juraj Lizák praised the Youth Test for deepening cooperation between grassroots organisations and institutions.

The Youth Test is built on three pillars: meaningful consultation, impact assessment and mitigation of negative effects. It has already influenced EU bodies, prompting initiatives like the European Commission’s Youth Check. Since its launch, 40 EESC opinions have undergone the Youth Test, with 27 adopted, supported by a network of over 70 youth organisations.

The Bratislava roundtable demonstrated strong engagement, even during summer, reinforcing the relevance of youth participation. Plans are underway for further joint activities to strengthen democratic involvement. (lm)