EU4YOUTH: Main insights and programme overview

Young people remain a top priority on the European agenda. The EU’s commitment to youth is evident through initiatives like Erasmus+, the Youth Guarantee, and the EU Youth Dialogue, while in 2023 several pilot projects were launched worldwide as a result of the Youth Action Plan. Beyond the EU, young people are considered important actors for change in their countries. In line with the Youth Action Plan and the EU youth strategy, the EU4Youth regional programme continues to engage, empower, and connect young people in the Eastern partner countries, reducing youth unemployment and promoting active citizenship.

Marking the 6th year of the EU4Youth programme, this report highlights the results achieved in 2023. The investment of over EUR 50 million since 2018 has considerably strengthened youth employment and entrepreneurship, encouraged active citizenship, and supported international commitments such as the Paris Climate Agreement and the 2030 Agenda.

The EU4Youth programme, the flagship initiative for EU support to young people in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine – focuses on Education and Employability, Employment and Entrepreneurship, and Engagement and Empowerment. In 2023, the programme has demonstrated its strong capacity to adapt to local realities and political developments, while continuing to address youth issues in a dynamic fashion.

Responding to the ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine, the programme has also continued to repurpose funds, releasing EUR 2 million towards youth employment and entrepreneurship projects in Ukraine. This funding aims to strengthen youth resilience and to encourage active participation in Ukraine’s recovery.

The EU’s investment in young people in the EaP countries promotes democracy, stability, and economic development. By getting involved in decision-making, young people can push for democratic reforms and resist authoritarian influences, fostering a pro-European sentiment vital for regional stability.

Economically, investing in youth enhances employability, encourages innovation and supports social entrepreneurship, boosting local economies and creating new markets for EU goods and services. Socially, supporting youth promotes cohesion and inclusivity, also thereby reducing migration pressures.

With the EU4Youth programme, the EU will continue to support young people’s innovative visions, engagement, and participation, striving to give them better opportunities for the future, and supporting them to become more resilient in the face of global and regional challenges.

Launched in 2017 and led by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations(DG NEAR), the EU4Youth programme seeks to increase investment in young people’s skills, entrepreneurship and employability, and to encourage active youth engagement in democratic life.

Tailored to each of the Eastern Partnership countries, the programme has been systematically collecting and analysing its impact at the national level over the past six years. With the 2023 edition of the EU4Youth Achievements Report, there are now five comprehensive documents for policymakers, civil society leaders and educators designing and implementing youth empowerment initiatives and policy measures in the Eastern Partnership region.

Please find the Main insights and programme overview – EU4Youth Achievements Report 2023 – EU4Youth Days