Youth Test showcases EESC’s commitment to young people, says Commissioner Micallef

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) reaffirmed its commitment to youth inclusion in policymaking during a high-level debate with European Commissioner Glenn Micallef at the EESC plenary session. The debate brought together EU stakeholders, youth representatives and institutional leaders to discuss the future of youth participation, intergenerational fairness and the practical tools that make youth mainstreaming a reality, chief among them the EESC Youth Test.

The EESC Youth Test, the first of its kind at the EU institutional level, has inspired the Commission’s upcoming 2025 Youth Check initiative. It has also been recognised by the European Parliament and referenced in the Commission’s recent report on youth mainstreaming and impact assessment, marking a growing shift in how institutions engage with young people.

Since the Youth Test was launched in September 2024, 40 opinions have undergone the process, with 27 already adopted. The network now includes 72 youth organisations from EU Member States and candidate countries.

Glenn Micallef, Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, praised the EESC for working with young people as equal partners in shaping policy, in addition to advocating for them. He emphasised that young people have been a political priority for the Commission from day one, with initiatives such as the Youth Policy Dialogues helping build record-high levels of trust among young Europeans, trust that must be earned through real power and responsibility.

‘The challenges of housing, mental health, quality education and youth employment are not future concerns: they are today’s priorities,’ said Commissioner Micallef. ‘The trust young people place in Europe is not automatic; it must be earned. That means giving them real responsibility, real power and real space to lead. From affordable housing to mental health action plans, the Commission is determined to turn participation into policy and ensure youth engagement from day one. And with the 50% budget increase for Erasmus+ proposed today, we will further strengthen our support for young people in Europe.”

Oliver Röpke, President of the EESC, also underlined the significance of the Youth Group’s work and the Committee’s forward-looking vision: ‘The EESC is firmly committed to working with EU institutions to build a fairer, more inclusive Europe for all generations. We welcome both the Commission’s efforts to strengthen youth participation and its focus on intergenerational fairness, a priority we strongly share. As access to housing, quality employment and community-based living models become more urgent challenges, we must ensure that young and older people alike can fully participate in society and the economy. The future of Europe is not something we wait for – it’s something we build together, every day. And to the young people who have worked with us: your trust, courage and ideas have inspired us to do better and we have.’

Since being set up in July 2023, the EESC Youth Group has been instrumental in embedding youth perspectives into EU policymaking. The group, made up of 12 EESC members, was tasked with implementing the EESC Youth Test, strengthening cooperation with youth organisations and coordinating initiatives to ensure meaningful youth involvement at EU level.

Katrīna Leitāne, President of the EESC Youth Group, reflected on the group’s achievements and future goals: ‘Implementing the EU Youth Test was a challenging journey, but its undeniable impact is already resonating across Europe. By leveraging our collective strengths, we can build a Europe that young people truly believe in and can take part in.’

Youth representatives also took part in the debate, calling for structural inclusion rather than symbolic involvement. Rareș Voicu, President of the European Youth Forum, advocated for a clearly defined EU Youth Check, one that assesses the relevance of proposals, consults young people, analyses impact, implements mitigation measures and publishes results. The representatives urged the Commission to integrate this process into the Better Regulation toolbox as part of the interinstitutional agreement on better lawmaking.

Ozer Sahoglu, representative of the EESC President Youth Advisory Council, raised concerns over rising youth poverty, unaffordable housing, underfunded education and the contrast with expanding military budgets, stressing that young people must be prioritised, not just heard.

The EESC has long championed youth inclusion, embedding structured participation through initiatives like the Youth Test, Youth Delegate to COP, Youth Climate and Sustainability Round Tables and the flagship Your Europe, Your Say! programme. These initiatives have made the EESC a leader among EU institutions in turning youth engagement from principle into practice. The EESC Youth Delegate to COP programme, launched in 2021, is the first of its kind at EU institutional level and continues to grow, this year receiving nearly 500 applications.(ks)