Existence of a National Youth Strategy

The current national youth strategy does not provide for the participation of young people in its formulation.

Every year, the national Government sets up youth policies priorities, upon close consultation with the Regions, and other relevant local Authorities.

The strategy is agreed upon in the framework of the “Unified Conference” (Conferenza Unificata) that meets every year. The Unified Conference includes the National Government, the Regions, the autonomous Provinces, the National Association of Italian Municipalities (Associazione Nazionale dei Comuni italiani - ANCI) and the Union of the Italian Provinces (Unione delle Province d’Italia -UPI).

The Department for Youth Policies and the Universal Civic Service avails of a yearly Fund for Youth Policies aimed at promoting youth rights and implementing the annual strategy. The amount of the Fund is set annually with the budget law. The official act produced by the Unified Conference establishes the division of the fund between the national Government, Regions, and Local Authorities.

The Department directly manages the part of the Fund earmarked for national interventions through calls for projects open to youth organizations and the civil society. The part of the Fund allocated to the Regions and local Authorities is managed through separate agreements between the Department and the different Regions, and between the Department, ANCI and UPI. The Department may also sign agreements with the National Youth Council, the Italian Youth Agency and other entities that carry out activities in favour of young people.

Scope and contents

Since 2006, the national Fund for Youth Policies has been financing measures oriented to promote the following:

• Non-formal and informal education;
• youth-friendly information;
• access of young people to the job market, including the development of start-ups and youth entrepreneurship;
• social inclusion, and specific measures to reach out to marginalized and vulnerable groups;
• participation and youth rights;
• cultural activities, development of talents;
• prevention and measures against addictions;

• volunteering and access to international and European programmes and projects.

Responsible authority for the implementation of the Youth Strategy

The Prime Minister is the authority in charge of youth policies and strategy. He/she may delegate the responsibility to a third political authority. At present, the delegated authority for youth policies has the rank of Minister.

The Department for Youth Policies and the Universal Civic Service is responsible for the implementation and coordination of the strategy.

Revisions/updates

The first National Youth Plan was adopted in February 2007 by the then Ministry for Youth Policies and Sports Activities (POGAS).