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Croatia

1. Youth Policy Governance

1.3 National youth strategy

Last update: 27 January 2026
On this page
  1. Existence of a national youth strategy
  2. Responsible authority for the implementation of the youth strategy
  3. Revisions/Updates
On this page
  1. Existence of a National Youth Strategy
  2. Responsible authority for the implementation of the Youth Strategy
  3. Revisions/updates

 

 

Existence of a national youth strategy

In June 2023, the Government of the Republic of Croatia adopted the fourth youth strategy, titled the National Youth Programme 2023-2025.

The enactment of the Act on Strategic Planning and Development Management System of the Republic of Croatia, along with related documents, established a legal framework for a comprehensive strategic planning system at the national, regional, and local self-government levels. Additionally, the challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak have emphasised the issues faced by young people, necessitating the creation of new measures. Recognising these challenges and acknowledging the great potential of young people, as well as the importance of public policies for this population, the Central State Office for Demography and Youth (CSODY) has initiated the development of a new National Programme for young people which was adopted in 2023. 

Scope and contents

The document outlines six priority areas with 28 measures, for which five state administration bodies are in charge. Additionally, the document provides recommendations for regional and local self-government units. 

Table 2. Priority areas and measures in the National Youth Programme 2023-2025

 

PRIORITY AREA

MEASURE
1. Youth work
  • Development of national priorities for youth work development and implementation of complementary activities aimed at youth work development within youth policies  
  • Improving the quality standards for the operation of centres, clubs, and information centres for youth 
  • Strengthening the capacity of youth organisations and organisations for youth for youth work 
2. Youth participation in society 
  • Increased active youth participation in society
  • Creating a stimulating environment for the implementation of the EU Youth Dialogue
  • Improvement of local and regional youth policy
  • Empowering youth for involvement in Youth Advisory Boards 
  • Ensuring conditions for improving the work of Youth Advisory Boards 
  • Promoting sustainable community development
  • Encouraging youth for environmental protection
  • Creative and artistic expression of youth
  • Ensuring support for the work of the UN youth delegate
  • Ensuring support in the exchange of experiences and connecting Youth Advisory Boards at the national level
3. Education of youth
  • Strengthening a culture of non-violence with an emphasis on combating peer and digital violence
  • Empowerment of Youth Not in Employment, Education or Training (Youth in NEET)
  • Coordination of cross-sectoral approach to media literacy development
  • Enhancement of media literacy through empowerment of teachers, professional associates, librarians, and principals for implementing media literacy programmes
  • Long-term measurement of media literacy levels among secondary school pupils and university students
4. Youth and the European Union
  • Strengthening international youth mobility 
  • Implementation of European youth policies
  • Empowering civil society organisations to inform youth about the European Union and encourage their active participation
5. Youth in rural areas
  • Ensuring the development and implementation of youth-oriented activities in rural areas
  • Establishment of multifunctional youth centres 
  • Ensuring better housing for youth
  • Inclusion of youth in the secondary education system in sports programmes of health-focused physical exercise in rural areas
6. Health and the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic
  • Protection and improvement of youth health during and after the pandemic 
  • Enhancement of mental health literacy for all relevant stakeholders working with youth
  • Obesity prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyles

Responsible authority for the implementation of the youth strategy

The Ministry of Science, Education and Youth is responsible for proposing and implementing strategic documents, laws, acts, programmes, and projects related to youth policy, as well as for monitoring and evaluation of these initiatives. 

In terms of specific competencies, the main designated competent authorities are also:

Revisions/Updates

On 12 December 2025, the Government of the Republic of Croatia adopted a Decision on initiating the procedure for developing the National Youth Programme in the Republic of Croatia for the period until 2029. Further activities related to the development of a new strategic document in the field of youth are currently being planned, which will be based on the results of the evaluation of the current implementation and needs of young people in the Republic of Croatia.

The implementation of measures from the National Youth Programme is continued during the evaluation period.