Flemish Parliament Act of 20 January 2012 on a renewed youth and children's richts policy

This decree started in 2012. It allow a better transversal approach in order to respect in a more holistic way young people’s life, enhance participation of young people and participation of the youth sector in the design and in the implementation of youth work, allow evaluation on the basis of quality and not only on the basis of quantity, reinforce the participation of the municipalities in design and implementation of youth policy.

Decentralisation (from 2017)

The Parliament Act of 6 July 2012 on ‘the support and stimulation of the municipal youth policy and the determination of provincial youth policy’ came into place. An all-encompassing municipal policy plan (term = 6 year) will replace the former youth policy plan and other domain-specific plans. Municipalities don’t have to submit a youth policy plan to the Flemish Government. All legislation concerning local sectoral support (youth, but also culture, sport, ...) from Flemish level will be eliminated and the budget will be allocated directly to the municipalities. Municipalities have an independent authority in developing youth policy and are responsible for the establishment of a Youth Council.

Provincial tasks limited to a closed list of grounded-tied competences (from 2017) 

The provincial governments will no longer grant 'provincial' funds to youth organisations. In accordance with a general political choice on the management of government, provincial youth policy too, is being confined within limits. Most competences that are person-oriented, such as youth and also culture and education, will be transferred to the regional or the local level.