EYF: Youth Included in Public Policy Priority List But Not High Enough

07 April 2006

The European Youth Forum published a report on the situation in the youth sector in Croatia in its �E-Youth Opinion� Newsletter. The report is based on the visit by the EYF delegation to Croatia, in early March 2006, on invitation by the Croatian Youth Network.

According to the report, the visit aimed to collect as much information about youth activities and youth policies in Croatia, as well as the manner in which the European Youth Forum could support the youth status and activities in Croatia in the future.

EYF states that the situation in Croatia is very promising, having in mind the fact that there is a national NGO platform, currently in the process of establishment. In addition, the overall scene appears lively and vibrant (28000 organizations, of which more than 2000 are youth organizations).

Nonetheless, much remains to be done from structural and legislative point of view. Although the Government promotes the youth inclusion and cooperates, on partnership basis, with youth organizations in certain areas, there is still no government ministry or a special department that will be specifically and explicitly charged with youth issues.

The National Youth Policy, adds the Report, has not been completed: the youth remains excluded from the decision making process, and administrative actions are weak. The youth and their work are present in the national priority list, but their positioning is low. On the other hand, the youth NGOs make strong push towards the position of active partners and stakeholders in the society, believes EYF.

According to the Report, the latest events show that the establishment of a strong national youth NGO platform could assist the development of youth activities, not only in the civil society area, but also in front of national and local authorities. Such a platform should be based on a consensus between all areas of youth activities, combined with transparent structure and democratic principles. Only that could contribute that youth action is taken seriously and is recognized on both national and international levels.

EYF will continue to support the work of youth organizations in Croatia and their climbing up the ladder of priorities of national policies. Croatia, as one of the most developed countries in the region and highly developed youth NGO scenes in SEE, can be seen as a sign of future trends of youth action in the regiona. Together with the other countries in Southeast Europe, Croatia is a fertile ground for a variety of youth activities: cultural and sports exchange; conflict resolution; intercultural and interreligious dialogue; political and economic cooperation.

Once the countries of the SEE become capable of structuring and legislative regulation of their own youth action areas, thus canalizing their diverse activities, it would be easier and simple to solve some obstacles and difficulties and achieve better results. Such findings make EYF optimistic about the future development and prepared to support the prioritization of the region as the main focus of the regional cooperation, concludes the EYF.