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YouthProAktiv

YPA

YOUTHPROAKTIV is an organization aiming at creating a generation of proactive individuals ready to invest their talents for the BETTERMENT OF SOCIETY by starting their own business and CREATING JOBS for themselves and others.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Alicia Homs Ginel (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Sept 2025 · Event for the final conference of the SESI Project

Response to Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030

11 Aug 2025

YouthProAktiv welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the preparation of the new Gender Equality Strategy 20262030. As an international coalition of youth organisations working on employability, skills development, and entrepreneurship across the EU, we support a practical, results-oriented approach that improves equal access to opportunities in the labour market and strengthens Europes economic competitiveness. Concretely: 1. Equal access to employment opportunities: Ensuring that all individuals can fully participate in the labour market is essential to meet the EUs 2030 headline targets under the European Pillar of Social Rights. We recommend targeted measures to address barriers to entry and progression, particularly in sectors with skills shortages. This includes promoting access to training, mentoring, and work-based learning in high-growth areas. 2. Skills development for emerging sectors: To align with the green and digital transitions, the Strategy should prioritise upskilling and reskilling initiatives that prepare underrepresented groups for employment in STEM, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and digital services. Youth-focused programmes should be supported through existing EU instruments such as Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps, and the European Social Fund+. 3. Worklife balance and productivity: Policies that enable workers to balance professional and personal responsibilities (such as flexible work arrangements and accessible parental leave) can improve retention, productivity, and workforce participation. These measures should be designed to benefit both men and women and tailored to different national labour market contexts. 4. Support for entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship is a key driver of innovation and job creation. The Strategy should strengthen access to finance, mentoring, and market opportunities for entrepreneurs, including start-ups led by young people. Dedicated support for business incubation and cross-border cooperation would further boost competitiveness. 5. Addressing pay and career progression gaps: We encourage the adoption of transparent pay structures and objective criteria for recruitment, promotion, and career advancement. These should focus on skills, qualifications, and performance to ensure fair opportunities for all. 6. Data-driven policy and monitoring: Reliable, disaggregated data by gender, age, and region is essential for targeted and effective policy. We recommend investing in improved labour market intelligence to monitor progress, identify persistent gaps, and adapt interventions accordingly. 7. Collaboration with civil society and youth organisations: Youth organisations play a vital role in delivering skills development, mentoring, and labour market integration projects. The Strategy should actively involve these organisations in implementation at both EU and national levels, ensuring that initiatives reach those most in need. By focusing on equal access to opportunities, skills development, entrepreneurship, and data-driven policy, the 20262030 Gender Equality Strategy can deliver measurable benefits for individuals, businesses, and the EU economy as a whole. YouthProAktiv stands ready to contribute its expertise and network to advance practical solutions that strengthen competitiveness, employability, and social inclusion across the EU.
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Response to EU Civil Society Strategy

11 Aug 2025

YouthProAktiv welcomes the European Commissions commitment to developing an EU Civil Society Strategy that strengthens engagement, protection, and support for civil society organisations (CSOs). As an international coalition of youth organisations across Europe, we stress that youth-led and youth-serving organisations are an essential part of civil society and must be explicitly recognised and supported within the strategy. Concretely: 1. Recognising youth organisations as essential civil society actors: Youth organisations contribute directly to democratic resilience, social cohesion, and policy innovation. However, they often face structural barriers to meaningful engagement at both EU and national levels. The Strategy should explicitly recognise youth organisations as a distinct category of CSOs and integrate them into governance and monitoring mechanisms such as the Civil Society Platform. 2. Ensuring meaningful youth participation: The 2023 Recommendation on civic engagement highlights the importance of inclusive participation. For youth, this requires accessible formats, outreach through youth-friendly channels, and structured, regular dialogue between EU institutions, Member States, and youth organisations. Consultation on democracy, rule of law, and human rights should actively involve youth actors beyond the youth policy field. 3. Addressing shrinking civic space for youth actors: Youth organisations (particularly those advocating on climate action, human rights, and democratic reform) can face harassment, disinformation campaigns, funding restrictions, and political interference. The Strategy should include concrete measures to protect youth activists and organisations, including safeguards against online harassment, strategic lawsuits against public participation, and undue surveillance. 4. Sustainable and transparent funding: Many youth organisations rely on short-term, project-based funding, which limits strategic planning, staff retention, and long-term impact. The Strategy should promote accessible multiannual core funding, simplified EU programme procedures, and transparent national funding mechanisms that respect organisational independence. 5. Capacity-building for youth civil society: Strengthening organisational resilience requires targeted EU support for training in advocacy, fundraising, digital security, and cross-border cooperation. Existing instruments such as Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps should be leveraged for civil society capacity-building beyond mobility and volunteering activities. 6. Removing barriers to cross-border action: Youth networks frequently operate transnationally but face administrative and legal obstacles when registering or operating in multiple Member States. The Strategy should explore harmonised EU guidelines to facilitate recognition, registration, and cross-border operations of CSOs. 7. Monitoring and accountability: To ensure commitments translate into action, civic space monitoring should include disaggregated data on youth organisations and participation rates in EU and national consultations. Regular public reporting and an independent review mechanism should track progress in implementing youth-related measures. By integrating these recommendations, the EU Civil Society Strategy can address the specific realities of youth organisations, ensuring they are not only beneficiaries of EU policies but active co-creators of a vibrant, inclusive, and democratic civic space. YouthProAktiv stands ready to contribute its network, expertise, and partnerships to advance the Strategys objectives and strengthen the role of young people in safeguarding and promoting EU values.
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Response to The new Action Plan on the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights

11 Aug 2025

YouthProAktiv welcomes the Commissions commitment to renewing the Action Plan for the European Pillar of Social Rights. As an international coalition of youth organisations across Europe, we believe that the 20 principles of the Pillar and the 2030 headline targets cannot be achieved without placing young people at the centre of the EUs social policy agenda. Concretely: 1. A stronger youth dimension: While the current framework addresses NEET rates and skills development, youth are not sufficiently recognised as strategic partners in the Pillars implementation. We recommend embedding explicit youth-specific targets and indicators across the employment, skills, and poverty reduction goals, ensuring that policies are informed by the realities of young people in diverse contexts. 2. Skills for the green, digital and social transitions: The EU is far from its 60% skills target. Young people must be prioritised in upskilling and reskilling for emerging sectors such as renewable energy, digital services, and the care economy. This should include scaling quality training through existing EU instruments such as Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps, and the Youth Guarantee, while ensuring equal access for disadvantaged youth. 3. Tackling youth poverty and inequality: The poverty reduction target must explicitly address youth vulnerabilities, including housing precarity, underemployment, unpaid internships, and low coverage of social protection. The forthcoming Anti-Poverty Strategy should incorporate youth-specific measures such as affordable housing schemes, minimum income guarantees for young adults, and targeted investment in youth services. 4. Quality jobs for young people: The Quality Jobs Roadmap should commit to eliminating unpaid internships, ensuring fair wages in entry-level roles, and promoting safe, inclusive workplaces. Quality employment is critical not only for youth wellbeing but also for building sustainable economies. 5. Meaningful youth participation: We call for the creation of a Youth Advisory Group linked to the Action Plan, enabling structured and continuous youth input into policy design, implementation, and monitoring. Youth should be engaged in the European Semester process, national action plans, and evaluation mechanisms, ensuring their voices influence decisions that affect their futures. 6. Cross-sectoral policy coherence: The new Action Plan should be closely aligned with the EU Youth Strategy, the Youth Guarantee, and other sectoral frameworks to avoid fragmented approaches. Coordination between education, employment, health, and social inclusion policies is essential for delivering holistic support to young people. 7. Monitoring and accountability: Progress towards the 2030 targets must be tracked with disaggregated data by age, gender, socio-economic background, and region. Regular public reporting on youth outcomes will increase transparency, support evidence-based policymaking, and maintain public trust in the Action Plans delivery. By integrating these measures, the new Action Plan can move beyond headline targets to ensure that Europes youth are not only beneficiaries but also co-creators of a fairer, more inclusive, and resilient Social Europe. YouthProAktiv stands ready to contribute through our network to translate the principles of the Pillar into concrete, measurable improvements in young peoples lives.
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Response to Citizens energy package – protecting and empowering consumers in the just transition

11 Aug 2025

YouthProAktiv welcomes the European Commissions commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind in the energy transition. As a Brussels-based international coalition representing youth organisations across Europe, we believe that young people are essential actors in delivering the Citizens Energy Packages vision, yet their potential remains underutilised. Concretely: 1. Youth as key stakeholders: The Package briefly references youth engagement, but more explicit integration is needed. Young people are both current and future consumers, workers, and innovators in the energy sector. They face unique challenges, including precarious employment, limited access to affordable housing, and high exposure to energy poverty -especially students, young renters, and NEETs. We recommend embedding a strong youth dimension across the Packages pillars, with clear commitments for youth participation in platforms such as the Citizens Energy Forum, the Covenant of Mayors, and energy community governance. 2. Skills for the green transition: We welcome the recognition of unmet skills demand in clean energy sectors. The Package should include targeted upskilling and reskilling programmes for youth in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and community energy management. These could be linked to existing EU instruments such as Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps, and the Social Climate Fund, ensuring a coherent approach to green job creation. 3. Awareness and accessibility: Youth-friendly communication is vital for participation. Energy market rights, funding opportunities, and prosumer models should be promoted through accessible channels -social media, influencer partnerships, and youth networks. Collaboration with youth organisations can ensure messaging is adapted to different socio-economic and cultural contexts. 4. Addressing youth energy poverty: Energy poverty measures must reflect that vulnerable groups include not only low-income households but also young people in insecure housing or education-related accommodation. The Social Climate Fund and other targeted support should explicitly include these groups in eligibility criteria. 5. Youth-led energy communities: Legal, administrative, and financial barriers currently limit the ability of young people to establish and participate in energy communities. We recommend specific support for youth-led cooperatives, including seed funding, technical assistance, and simplified administrative procedures, to encourage their active role in local renewable energy generation. 6. Policy coherence: The Citizens Energy Package should be aligned with the EU Youth Strategy and the EU Youth Dialogue, ensuring cross-sectoral coordination and policy coherence between climate, energy, and youth empowerment frameworks. This would strengthen legitimacy, avoid duplication, and create synergies between the just transition and youth inclusion agendas. By integrating these elements, the Citizens Energy Package can both protect consumers and harness the creativity, skills, and commitment of Europes youth to drive the energy transition. We stand ready to contribute through our network to ensure young people are not only beneficiaries but also co-creators of a just, inclusive, and sustainable energy future.
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Response to Quality Jobs Roadmap

27 Jul 2025

YouthProAktiv (YPA) welcomes the European Commissions initiative and fully supports its goals to promote fair wages, decent working conditions, and inclusive labour markets. As a Brussels-based coalition representing over 57 youth organisations across Europe, YPA advocates for equitable access to employment, entrepreneurship, and lifelong learning opportunities for all young people, particularly those facing structural disadvantages. Based on our experience, we identify four key elements that we believe the Roadmap should address in order to improve the quality of jobs for young people across Europe: 1. Addressing youth-specific employment challenges: Young people continue to face systemic barriers to quality employment across Europe. To ensure that the Roadmap delivers on its promise of fairness and inclusion, youth-specific dimensions must be recognised and addressed through targeted measures: a) The creation of fair, entry-level jobs with adequate pay and career progression; b) Stronger implementation of the Youth Guarantee with binding quality standards; c) Greater involvement of youth organisations in policy dialogues on labour reform. 2. Supporting skills development and just transitions: Young people must be equipped with relevant, future-oriented skills to navigate todays evolving labour markets. We call on the Commission to invest in inclusive learning pathways that support meaningful job transitions: a) Investment in skills development through non-formal education and micro-credentials; b) Recognition of entrepreneurship and self-employment as viable pathways to quality work, with support for marginalised youth; c) Support for mentoring, coaching, and tailored transition pathways from education to employment. 3. Promoting collective representation and social dialogue: Young workers are significantly underrepresented in social dialogue structures. Increasing collective bargaining coverage must also include strategies to empower youth voices: a) Ensure the accessibility of unions and workers rights education for young and informal workers; b) Create dedicated youth advisory bodies within labour governance structures; c) Encourage youth-led organisations to participate in national and EU-level consultations. 4. Ensuring dignified work in the digital age: Youth are often the first to experience new, often precarious, forms of work shaped by digital platforms. To ensure fairness and dignity in the future of work, the Roadmap should: a) Uphold the human-in-control principle to govern the use of algorithms and AI in the workplace; b) Regulate platform work to guarantee fair contracts, wages, and social protections; c) Tackle psychosocial risks linked to digital work environments, including over-surveillance and burnout.
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Meeting with Vicent Marzà Ibáñez (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Jul 2025 · Access of Youth to EU Policies

Response to Mid-term review of the Charter strategy

4 Jul 2025

As YouthProAktiv, we welcome the midterm review of the Charter Strategy and the Commissions efforts to mainstream fundamental rights across EU policymaking. However, based on our direct engagement with young people and youth-led initiatives across Europe, we believe that further action is needed to ensure the Charters relevance and accessibility to youth, particularly those from disadvantaged or marginalised communities. While progress has been made in institutional coordination and awareness among public authorities, the Charter often remains distant from the lived experiences of young citizens. Civic and rights-based education remains underdeveloped, and many young people are unaware of the protections the Charter offers or how to invoke them in their daily lives. We urge the Commission to scale up funding and capacity-building opportunities for youth organisations that work at the grassroots level to raise awareness of EU values and rights, both online and offline. Youth workers, educators, and local actors need practical tools and training to help translate the Charter into meaningful civic engagement and rights-based participation. We also recommend a more proactive role for national Charter focal points in engaging with youth stakeholders, promoting visibility campaigns in schools, universities, and community spaces, and providing tailored guidance to young citizens navigating administrative and legal systems. Finally, we believe that the second phase of the strategy should strengthen partnerships between EU institutions and youth civil society, ensuring that young people are not only beneficiaries but active contributors to rights-based policymaking. A Charter that speaks to the realities, concerns, and aspirations of the EU youth is essential for strengthening democracy, civic trust, and social cohesion across the Union.
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Response to Anti-racism Strategy

4 Jul 2025

As YouthProAktiv, we welcome the renewal of the EU Anti-Racism Action Plan and support the development of a comprehensive strategy for 20262030 that puts youth at the centre; not just as beneficiaries, but as active contributors. Young people across the EU continue to face racial discrimination that affects their access to education, employment, housing, and participation in democratic life. We call for the inclusion of youth-led and grassroots organisations in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the strategy, as well as dedicated support mechanisms to enable their sustained involvement. The new strategy should include concrete action in key areas: inclusive education systems that promote diversity and critical thinking, fair and accessible pathways into the labour market, safer online spaces free from hate and discrimination, and more meaningful opportunities for young people to shape public policy. Stronger national-level implementation, improved data collection disaggregated by age and background, and mechanisms for transparent monitoring are essential. Additionally, the strategy should align with the EU Youth Strategy, Erasmus+ inclusion objectives, and the European Pillar of Social Rights to ensure that young people are empowered to lead efforts towards a more just and equal society.
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Response to European Democracy Shield

26 Apr 2025

YouthProAktiv warmly welcomes the European Commissions initiative to launch the European Democracy Shield. As a youth-led civil society organisation committed to promoting active citizenship, democratic participation, and a proactive culture among young people, we fully support the Shields objectives to strengthen societal resilience, protect democratic frameworks, and foster citizens engagement. We particularly appreciate the Shields emphasis on countering disinformation and foreign information manipulation, as well as reinforcing the fairness and integrity of electoral processes. Given the increasing vulnerability of young audiences to online misinformation, we believe that enhancing digital and media literacy among youth should be a key pillar of the initiative. We encourage the Commission to invest in youth-specific education programmes that empower young people to critically assess information, recognise manipulation, and actively contribute to a healthy, democratic public sphere. We also strongly support the Shields commitment to protecting civil society organisations, including youth organisations. In an increasingly challenging environment, it is essential to reinforce support for youth-led CSOs, ensuring that they have the resources, visibility, and safeguards necessary to continue their vital work in defending democratic values. In addition, we encourage the European Democracy Shield to prioritize inclusive youth participation across all phases of its development and implementation. Special attention should be given to ensuring the engagement of young people from rural areas, migrant backgrounds, and those with fewer opportunities, whose voices are often underrepresented in democratic processes. Finally, we recommend that the operationalisation of the Shield include direct, structured consultations with youth organisations, providing accessible and meaningful avenues for young people to shape actions that affect their democratic future.
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Response to EU Life sciences strategy

16 Apr 2025

YouthProAktiv (YPA) work focuses on youth empowerment, education, entrepreneurship, and civic participation, and we strongly advocate for more inclusive innovation systems that engage young people meaningfully in Europes future. We believe the Life Sciences Strategy must address not only technological development but also the social and educational ecosystems that enable talent, trust, and uptake. Concretely: 1. Skills and Talent Development: We support stronger EU efforts to address the skills gap in life sciences through both formal and non-formal learning. Youth organisations like ours are uniquely placed to foster early interest in STEM fields and build relevant skills through accessible, inclusive programmes. The strategy should recognise the role of non-formal education in promoting innovation readiness and equity in access to learning. 2. Youth Participation in Innovation Ecosystems: Many young people across our network are developing ideas in biotech, sustainable food, and health tech, but often face barriers accessing funding, mentorship, or regulatory guidance. We urge the Commission to create enabling environments for youth-led start-ups and social enterprises, with a specific focus on early-stage support and removing administrative burdens. 3. Public Trust and Science Communication: Mistrust and misinformation continue to undermine life sciences. Youth-focused science communication should be embedded in the strategy, promoting digital literacy, ethical reflection, and critical thinking. Co-creating these campaigns with youth will ensure relevance and improve societal engagement with emerging technologies. 4. Equity and Regional Cohesion: We work with youth organisations in regions that often lack access to research infrastructure and EU funding. The strategy should explicitly address geographic imbalances and support collaboration with neighbouring countries. Investment in underrepresented regions is key to building a resilient, inclusive life sciences landscape. In conclusion, we call for a Life Sciences Strategy that is not only competitive but participatory, one that integrates youth, civil society, and non-formal education actors as essential contributors. YouthProAktiv remains committed to supporting this effort and ensuring young voices are heard throughout its implementation.
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Meeting with César Luena (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Apr 2025 · Engaging young people in environmental policy

Meeting with Sirpa Pietikäinen (Member of the European Parliament)

16 Apr 2024 · Gender Equality

Meeting with Mohammed Chahim (Member of the European Parliament)

4 Apr 2024 · Impact of EU legislation on youth

Response to ESF+ mid-term evaluation

5 Feb 2024

The ESF+ plays a pivotal role in addressing key challenges faced by young people across the EU, including unemployment, lack of skills, and barriers to entrepreneurship. By focusing on these areas, the Fund has the potential to significantly contribute to the empowerment of the youth population, equipping them with the necessary tools and opportunities to succeed in the rapidly changing labor market. Despite the potential benefits of the ESF+, our experience and interactions with the target demographic reveal a significant gap in understanding how the funding mechanisms operate. This lack of clarity and awareness can hinder the accessibility of the Fund for those it aims to support, thereby limiting its impact, including: 1. Complexity of Funding Mechanisms: The procedures and criteria for accessing ESF+ funds can be daunting for individuals and organizations, particularly for those with limited experience in navigating EU funding landscapes. 2. Limited Awareness Among Youth: There is a noticeable disparity in the awareness levels of ESF+ and its opportunities among young people and youth-focused organizations. This gap is primarily due to insufficient targeted communication efforts that resonate with this demographic. To bridge these gaps and enhance the effectiveness of the ESF+, we propose the following strategies: 1. Simplified Communication Materials: Develop and disseminate simplified guides and materials that clearly explain the ESF+ funding mechanisms, eligibility criteria, and application processes. These should be designed to be youth-friendly and accessible to individuals with varying levels of expertise. 2. Targeted Outreach Campaigns: Implement targeted communication campaigns that specifically aim to increase awareness of the ESF+ among young people and youth organizations. These campaigns should utilize channels most frequented by the youth, such as social media, online forums, and youth networks. 3. Capacity Building Workshops: Organize workshops and training sessions for potential beneficiaries, focusing on how to effectively apply for and utilize ESF+ funding. These sessions could be conducted in partnership with local and regional youth organizations to reach a wider audience. 4. Feedback and Engagement Platforms: Establish platforms for feedback and engagement where potential and current beneficiaries can share their experiences, ask questions, and receive support. This could facilitate a more user-friendly approach to navigating the Fund's processes. The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) embodies a significant commitment to enhancing employment, social inclusion, and skills development across the EU. To maximize its impact, especially among the youth, it is imperative to address the identified communication gaps. By implementing the recommended strategies, the ESF+ can become more accessible and effective in reaching and benefiting its intended audiences. YouthProAktiv is eager to support and participate in efforts to improve the communication and implementation of the ESF+, ensuring that young people across the EU can fully leverage the opportunities it offers.
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Response to European Quality Assurance and Recognition System

5 Feb 2024

The initiative to establish a European Quality Assurance and Recognition System represents a pivotal step towards enhancing the coherence, trust, and transparency of higher education across the European Union. By fostering robust and adaptable quality assurance systems, this initiative is instrumental in supporting deeper cooperation among EU countries, facilitating seamless mobility, and ensuring the automatic recognition of qualifications, including joint European degrees and micro-credentials. As an organization dedicated to advancing non-formal education and enhancing employability through entrepreneurship, YouthProAktiv recognizes the profound importance of this initiative but also underscores the need for careful consideration of existing challenges. While the initiative is commendable, several challenges must be addressed to ensure its success: 1. Regional and National Differences: The diversity of higher education systems within the EU, characterized by varying standards, methodologies, and outcomes, poses a significant challenge to implementing a unified quality assurance system. It is imperative that any EU-wide initiative begins with a comprehensive understanding and clarification of these differences to establish a truly inclusive and effective system. 2. Accountability Mechanisms: The presence of mobility and exchange programs is not sufficient without clear accountability mechanisms to assess whether these programs achieve their intended educational objectives. Establishing robust evaluation systems is crucial to verify the quality and impact of educational experiences facilitated by mobility. 3. Funding for Evaluation Systems: The development and maintenance of quality assurance and evaluation systems require substantial funding. Ensuring that adequate resources are allocated is essential for the sustainability and effectiveness of these systems, thereby guaranteeing that quality education is consistently delivered across the EU. 5. Recognition and Labor Market Bias: There is a notable discrepancy in how degrees obtained from different institutions and countries are perceived, leading to biases in the labor market. This disparity raises important questions about the value placed on the institution versus the quality and relevance of the knowledge and skills acquired. Addressing this issue is vital for promoting a more equitable and merit-based labor market within the EU. Recommendations: 1. Comprehensive Mapping of Existing Systems: Undertake a detailed analysis of the diverse educational systems across the EU to identify best practices and areas for harmonization. 2. Development of Clear Accountability Frameworks: Implement transparent and rigorous accountability frameworks that can assess the effectiveness of mobility and exchange programs in achieving educational goals. 3. Secure Funding for Quality Assurance: Advocate for increased investment in the development and implementation of quality assurance systems, ensuring they are adequately resourced to maintain high standards of education. 4. Promote Equity in Recognition: Work towards a system where the recognition of qualifications and competencies is based on the quality and relevance of the education received, rather than the prestige of the institution. In conclusion, the European Quality Assurance and Recognition System is a foundational element for the future of higher education in the EU. By addressing the highlighted challenges and implementing the recommended actions, the EU can create a more integrated, transparent, and equitable higher education area. YouthProAktiv is committed to supporting initiatives that enhance the quality and recognition of education across Europe, recognizing that such efforts are crucial for the personal and professional development of individuals and for the prosperity of the European Union as a whole.
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Response to Joint European degree

5 Feb 2024

The Joint European Degree initiative, as outlined in the European strategy for universities, represents a significant step towards deepening European integration in higher education. By facilitating a degree that is recognized across member states and involves a consortium of institutions, the initiative promises to enhance the mobility, employability, and academic experience of students across Europe. YouthProAktiv, with its extensive experience in non-formal education, recognizes the value of such an initiative but also sees critical areas requiring careful consideration to ensure its inclusive success. The concept of a Joint European Degree at bachelor, master, and doctoral levels is an important evolution of the Erasmus exchange programme, which has long fostered cross-border educational mobility. This new degree structure has the potential to further harmonize educational standards, promote cultural exchange, and prepare students for a globalized job market. It embodies the spirit of European unity, offering a tangible pathway to a more integrated and collaborative higher education landscape. While the potential benefits are clear, YouthProAktiv raises important concerns regarding the extent to which a Joint European Degree will be accessible and beneficial to all EU citizens. These concerns include: 1. Financial Inequalities: The varying financial resources of students across the EU could impact access to Joint Degree programmes. Ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder participation is crucial for the initiative's success. 2. Regional and National Differences: The diversity of educational systems and standards across the EU poses a challenge to creating a universally accepted and valued degree. Addressing these differences requires a sensitive and inclusive approach to curriculum development and accreditation. 3. Educational Approaches and Evaluation Methodologies: The varied pedagogical traditions and evaluation methodologies across member states must be reconciled to ensure that the Joint Degree is equitable and reflects a broad range of educational philosophies. A critical aspect of the Joint European Degree's success will be its ability to integrate practical experiences, such as internships and traineeships, into the curriculum. These experiences are vital for bridging the gap between academic learning and the labor market, providing students with valuable work experience and skills. YouthProAktiv emphasizes the importance of these practical components, suggesting that partnerships with non-formal education organizations could enrich the programme and enhance student employability. Our recommendations: 1. Ensure Financial Accessibility: Implement scholarships, grants, and financial support mechanisms to make the Joint Degree accessible to all students, regardless of their financial background. 2. Harmonize Educational Standards: Develop a common set of criteria for the Joint Degree that respects the diversity of educational systems while ensuring high-quality and comparable standards across Europe. 3. Integrate Practical Experiences: Strengthen the degree's practical dimension by establishing formal partnerships with businesses, NGOs, and non-formal education organizations to offer internships and traineeships. 4. Promote Inclusivity and Flexibility: Adopt flexible curricular and evaluation approaches to accommodate the diverse educational backgrounds and needs of students across Europe. In conclusion, the Joint European Degree initiative holds great promise for advancing European integration in higher education and fostering a generation of students well-equipped for the challenges of a globalized world. However, its success hinges on its inclusivity, accessibility, and practical relevance.
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Response to Attractive and sustainable careers in higher education

5 Feb 2024

The evolution of the higher education sector has undoubtedly brought about significant improvements in educational delivery and outcomes. Yet, as an organization deeply involved in non-formal education, specifically YouthProAktiv, which is committed to enhancing youth employability through entrepreneurship opportunities, we continue to identify persistent biases and disconnects between the formal and non-formal education sectors. This response aims to shed light on these issues and propose solutions to forge more substantial and sustainable connections. Persistent Biases and Disconnects: Despite the potential of initiatives such as Erasmus+ for Entrepreneurs, which aims to bridge the gap between undergraduate and postgraduate students and the world of entrepreneurship, we observe a consistent disconnect in several EU countries. This divide is most evident between the practical, ground-level work conducted by organizations like ours and the research-focused endeavors prevalent within universities. Such a gap not only hinders the practical application of academic research but also limits the scope of non-formal education initiatives to contribute effectively to the academic discourse and development. Challenges in Progressing into Academia: Our constant interaction and training programs with the youth also highlight the daunting challenges faced by individuals aspiring to pursue academic careers. Financial constraints stand out as a significant barrier, preventing many from leading a dignified life while striving for academic excellence. This issue is compounded by the insufficient integration of entrepreneurship within the academic curriculum, creating an even more challenging environment for students keen on navigating a career path that straddles both the academic and entrepreneurial worlds. Recommendations for Strengthening Connections: 1. Enhanced Collaboration Frameworks: Establish more robust platforms and frameworks for collaboration between higher education institutions and non-formal education organizations. This can include joint research projects, internships, and entrepreneurship programs that allow for a seamless exchange of knowledge and opportunities. 2. Financial Support and Incentives: Implement more comprehensive financial support systems and incentives for students pursuing academic careers, especially those interested in entrepreneurship. This could involve scholarships, grants, and fellowships tailored to support interdisciplinary research and entrepreneurial ventures. 3. Curriculum Integration: Advocate for the integration of entrepreneurship and non-formal education principles within the academic curriculum. This approach can help bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, preparing students for diverse career paths in both academia and entrepreneurship. 4. Policy Reforms: Encourage policy reforms at the EU and member state levels to recognize and value the contributions of non-formal education to the higher education ecosystem. Such reforms could facilitate greater mobility between formal and non-formal educational pathways and recognize non-formal education achievements within academic frameworks. In conclusion, the potential for collaboration between the higher education sector and organizations like YouthProAktiv is immense and largely untapped. By addressing the identified gaps and biases, we can unlock new opportunities for youth, enhance the sustainability of academic careers, and foster a more integrated educational ecosystem. It is imperative that we work collectively to create a more inclusive, connected, and flexible higher education landscape that truly supports the aspirations and needs of all learners.
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Response to 2014-2020 Ex post evaluation of ESF and YEI

25 Nov 2023

In light of the details provided, it is evident that there is a compelling need to allocate increased resources towards bolstering youth employment, particularly in rural areas, disadvantaged urban settings, and among individuals with disabilities, migrant and refugee backgrounds
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Meeting with Diana Riba I Giner (Member of the European Parliament)

15 Nov 2023 · Youth policies

Meeting with Alicia Homs Ginel (Member of the European Parliament)

14 Nov 2023 · Collaboration "Meet your MEPs"