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EACEA National Policies Platform
Bulgaria

Bulgaria

9. Youth and the World

9.3 Exchanges between young people and policy-makers on global issues

Last update: 28 November 2023
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  1. Global issues exchanges with policy-makers at the domestic level
  2. Global issues exchanges with policy-makers at the international level

Global issues exchanges with policy-makers at the domestic level

The Public Council on Youth Issues is the main formal body for exchanges between young people and policy-makers at national level. The meetings of the council are organised to discuss specific issues within the framework of the national youth policy, strategic priorities, legislative amendments, etc. The Public Council on Youth Issues is a key instrument for exchange of views on youth issues, including global issues, with young people.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports administers the National Working Group on EU Youth Dialogue chaired by the National Youth Forum. The members of the National Working Group comprise representatives of governmental institutions, youth organisations and NGOs. One of the tasks of this working group is to improve the dialogue between young people and institutions.

Global issues exchanges with policy-makers at the international level

Twice a year young people from Bulgaria participate in the political debates of the youth ministers within the frames of informal lunches or breakfasts organised during the regular sessions of the EU Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council. They have the opportunity to discuss with policy-makers various themes on important issues set out by the Presidency of the Council of the EU, such as human rights, young people’s role in the fight against climate change and environment protection, youth work, youth participation, etc.

The EU Youth Conferences organised twice a year is another mechanism for exchange of views with politicians. The official Bulgarian delegates who participate in these conferences are selected by means of contest organised by the NYF and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Candidates need to be young people or representatives of youth organisations experienced in the field at the age of 15 to 29 years, or youth workers (without age limits).

In addition to the regular participation of the Bulgarian youth delegation in the EU Youth Conferences, the Ministry of Youth and Sports makes efforts to provide young people the opportunity to participate in various exchanges at international level.

During 2022, the Ministry coordinated and funded the participation of young people in the following international events:

  • Council of Europe Youth Action Week Youth Here: Democracy Now! aimed at revitalising democracy and strengthening mutual trust between young people and democratic institutions and process with focus on human rights, meaningful youth participation and impact of digitalisation as factors of democartisation;
  • European Year of Youth 2022 – Claim the Future Legacy Event;
  • High Level Expert Meeting on “Youth as a Pillar for Building Resilient and Peaceful Societies in the framework of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Central European Initiative.

At the beginning of 2023, the Ministry of Youth and Sports will publish an open call for youth participants in the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2023.

The Bulgarian UN youth delegates took part in the work of the ECOSOC Commission for Social Development, the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. They are also among the organisers of events on Youth Participation in Urban Transformation and Youth Well-Being: How did COVID-19 affected Young People Worldwide?

Structured dialogue  (now the EU Youth Dialogue) in the youth sector is also a tool that ensures that young people’s opinion has been taken into account for the formation of youth-related policies within the European Union. In order to achieve this, structured dialogue unites young people, youth organisations, representatives of youth organisations and policy-makers across the EU to jointly discuss issues relevant to young people and to get involved in the youth policy at national and European level.