Existence of a national strategy to increase young people's political and civil society participation

The Austrian Youth Strategy (Jugendstrategie) provides a national framework for strengthening youth policy through cross-sector cooperation and places youth participation at its core. Reaffirmed by the Federal Government in 2020, it aims to empower young people, primarily aged 14 to 24, with some measures extending to 30, to actively shape their lives and society. Meaningful political and civic engagement is promoted as a key element of social inclusion (see Chapter 1.3). Through structured participation formats such as Reality Checks, young people help inform policymaking across ministries. 

Scope and contents

Participation of Young People in Austria

With a voting age of 16, Austria is considered a European leader in encouraging early and sustained democratic participation. Beyond elections, young people can participate in a wide range of civic, cultural and social activities, at local, regional and national level  (see Chapter 5.4). However, these opportunities are not always equally accessible or widely used by all young people. Hence, ensuring that participation formats reflect young people’s needs and removing barriers, especially for disadvantaged groups, remains a key priority. 

National Youth Goals for Participation

Within the National Youth Strategy, concrete participation goals are being pursued across ministries, including: 

• Political engagement and civic learning: Supporting civic education and education for sustainable development to enhance political awareness among youth (Federal Ministry of Education).
• Citizen science: Empowering youth and young adults to engage directly in science and research projects (Federal Ministry of Education).
• Sports policy dialogue: Involving youth in shaping sports policy through structured dialogue processes (Federal Ministry of Housing, Arts, Culture, Media, and Sports).
• Cultural participation: Promoting access to art and culture to strengthen cultural inclusion among young people (Federal Ministry of Housing, Arts, Culture, Media, and Sports).

• Workplace participation (Teilhabe im Betrieb): Expanding the participation of young workers in workplace co-determination (Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection). 

   

Participatory Development of the Strategy

The Austrian Youth Strategy was developed through a participatory process. Young people contributed directly to it through consultations, youth dialogue sessions and ‘reality checks’, thereby ensuring that their perspectives shaped both the goals and the measures. Indirect participation also occurs through youth research and the work of the Austrian Youth Council, which represents young people’s interests at a national level. This process closely aligns with the EU Youth Strategy 2019 – 2027, integrating insights from the EU Youth Dialogue. 

Institutional Support and Guidelines

The National Working Group on Youth Dialogue and Participation (NAG) is a key organisation that helps to shape Austria’s guidelines on children’ and young people’s participation (Materialien zur Jugendbeteiligung). The NAG develops quality standards, coordinates stakeholders from government and youth organisations, and supports the implementation of participation processes that align with national and European youth policies. By facilitating dialogue between young people, policymakers and experts, the NAG promotes meaningful youth involvement in decision-making processes. Through these efforts, the NAG strengthens the institutional and practical basis for youth participation across Austria. 

Responsible authority for the implementation of the strategy

The implementation of Austria’s youth strategy on the participation of young people is carried out in an interministerial and interdisciplinary manner: all federal ministries run their own youth campaigns and initiatives, sharing responsibility for youth participation and the strategy’s implementation. The central coordination, implementation, and monitoring of the youth strategy is the responsibility of the Department for Families and Youth at the Federal Chancellery, which acts as the main contact point and ensures long-term planning, networking, and support of all stakeholders through the Youth Competence Centre.

Additionally, the federal states, cities, and municipalities are responsible for implementing youth participation within their own policy areas. The National Working Group on Youth Dialogue and Youth Participation (NAG) complements these structures by serving as an interface that connects various youth policy actors, coordinates activities, develops quality standards, provides training, and fosters dialogue between young people, political decision-makers, and experts. In this way, NAG supports the implementation of the youth strategy specifically in the field of youth participation and promotes a stronger involvement of young people at all levels.

Revisions/Updates

Youth research provides an evidence-based evaluation of the implementation.

The Austrian Youth Strategy is regularly evaluated and updated. The revision takes place continuously and at least once per legislative period.