Guidelines for the Implementation of the International Reviews of National Youth Policies

One of the priority objectives of intergovernmental co-operation in the Council of Europe’s youth field is to promote and support the development of youth policies 1 in the member States. Different texts have been elaborated by the European Steering Committee for youth (CDEJ), with a view to developing a Council of Europe approach to youth policy, which could be described as follows: Fundamentally, the approach of the Council of Europe’s youth sector to youth policy is one that aims to support young people’s participation as a citizen and their - often complex - transition to autonomy. An expert report on youth policy indicators2 in 2003 defined the governing ideas of youth policy as: (a) (lifelong) learning (b) inclusion/social cohesion (c) citizenship and participation and (d) safety, health and well-being. It continues by contending that these ideas imply that youth policy should approach young people and their issues not as problems to be solved - a so-called ‘fire brigade approach’ - but holistically across policy domains and through clear objectives that can be assessed. Youth policy-makers can also display a commitment to being ‘for, by and with young people’ by involving young people in their formulation, and by being made meaningful through evidence-based development, research-based assessment and evaluation.