site.btaDeputy Minister of Youth, Sports Mladenov: EU Youth Dialogue Is Bridge between Young People and Policymakers

The EU Youth Dialogue is an important mechanism that builds a bridge between young people and policymakers, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Petar Mladenov said during the Education, Youth, Culture, and Sport Council meeting, which is taking place in Brussels on May 13 and 14. The highlight of the meeting was a policy debate on the follow-up of the outcomes of the EU Youth Conference in Ghent (March 2-5, 2024), the Ministry of Youth and Sports said in a press release on Monday.

Mladenov noted that the EU Youth Dialogue provides a unique opportunity for decision makers to get a better understanding of young people. In this regard, it is important that young people are well informed, actively committed, and consulted so they can provide perspectives and opinions, he added.

"A National Working Group for the Implementation of the EU Youth Dialogue has been established in Bulgaria. It aims to contribute to the organization of consultations and reinforce the promotion and impact of the Dialogue. It has a balanced representation, and the participation of experts from the public sector, youth NGOs, and other stakeholders contributes to the implementation of the European Youth Goals at the national and local levels," Mladenov said at the meeting. "In order to improve the monitoring and feedback on the results of the EU Youth Dialogue, we need to pursue closer coordination and dialogue between young people and political representatives at the EU level," the Minister added.

Mladenov pointed out that the EU Youth Conference in Ghent had provided a solid foundation for political action.

"The recommendations and possible concrete measures for their implementation, identified by the young participants, directly reflect their needs and the challenges they face as members of modern society. We believe that they need to be taken into account in the development of local, national, and European policies relevant to young people. Institutional support also plays an important role, as it is essential to providing young people with the necessary information regarding the implementation of these measures," Mladenov said.

"We welcome the measures proposed by young people and addressing the European Youth Goal regarding inclusive societies, and we will work together to implement them," he said.