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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

In 2013, Croatia joined the European Union (EU) and started implementing the structured dialogue, now referred to as the EU Youth Dialogue in Croatia. Its goal is to make young people’s voices heard in the national and European youth policy-shaping process. In Croatia, it is known under the slogan EU asks.

The National Workgroup for EU Youth Dialogue, composed of representatives from the state-competent body, the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes, the Association of Youth Information Centres in Croatia, and the Croatian Youth Network, leads the implementation of the initiative. 

The 10^th EU Youth Dialogue cycle started on 1 July 2023 and will run until 31 December 2024, spanning the Spain, Belgium, and Hungary EU presidencies. The thematic priority of the 10^th cycle is ‘We Need Youth’. Croatia participated in the 7^th EU Youth Dialogue cycle from January 2019 till mid-2020, with the thematic priority ‘Creating Opportunities for Youth’. The Croatian national priority was ‘Opportunity for Rural Youth’. 

Training for local coordinators of the EU Youth Dialogue in Croatia was held in October 2023. 

Global issues exchanges with policy-makers at the international level

The EU Youth Dialogue in Croatia also enables communication between young people and policy-makers on the international level. This process is administered by the European Structured Dialogue Workgroup, comprised of the European Youth Forum, European Commission, and the trio of countries presiding over the EU. 

Since 2014, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the national competent body for youth (formerly ministries until mid-2020 and now the Central State Office for Demography and Youth, CSODY) have been the carriers of the measures to develop a support system for youth, youth organisations, and youth participation in the United Nations (UN) bodies’ decision-making processes. 

In August 2020, Croatia appointed a Croatian Youth Delegate to the UN for the first time, namely Mr. Josip Perkušić, with Mr. Darko Suljičić appointed as the deputy delegate. In October 2022, a new Youth Delegate, Mr. Alen Šukurica, was appointed, and Mrs. Enea Dessardo was appointed as the deputy delegate. The role of the Youth Delegate to the UN is to participate in the General Assembly and functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council. In that context, the Youth Delegate provides input to their delegation on issues related to youth or priority issues raised in national consultations prior to their engagement with the intergovernmental meeting. Moreover, the Croatia Youth Delegate (or their deputy) is tasked with informing relevant national institutions and young people about the UN’s work in the field of youth. 

Since 2014, the Ministry of Culture and Media has been the carrier of the measures to develop a support system for youth, youth organisations, and youth participation in the UNESCO bodies’ decision-making processes.

The CSODY is the carrier of the measures to develop a support system for youth, youth organisations, and youth participation in the EU and Council of Europe bodies’ decision-making processes.

The World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) has a mission to inform, sustain, and energise a global network of the United Nations Associations (UNA). The goal of the WFUNA is to support the principles and programmes of the UN and contribute to shaping its agenda. The WFUNA Youth aims to gain more support for the spirit of the UN among young people and promote the world-wide activities of the United Nations Youth Associations (UNYA) and the UNA Youth Programmes. It seeks to promote the establishment of the UNYA or Youth Programmes where they do not exist. WFUNA-Youth is an autonomous, not-for-profit organisation, affiliated with the World Federation.

The Moot Court Croatia (MCC) is a competition that takes the form of a simulated trial procedure, where student teams, assisted by a mentor, solve a hypothetical legal case. The competition enables students to gain new knowledge, make new acquaintances, and acquire practical experience under the guidance of recognised legal experts. The MCC team is involved in the organisation and implementation of the entire competition, beginning with the promotion and application process for students from all faculties of law in Croatia, and continuing until the conclusion of the competition. 

The Erasmus+ programme enables young people in Croatia to apply for the ‘European Solidarity Corps’ project. The goal of this project is to promote solidarity as one of the European values, alongside the following ones:

• democratic participation
• environment
• protecting the nature
• health and wellbeing
• education
• employment
• culture
• social welfare and care
• reception and integration of refugees and migrants
• preventing disasters

The European Youth Parliament (EYP) is one of the largest platforms for political debate, intercultural encounters, international dialogue, and the exchange of ideas among young people in Europe. The EYP is an organisation led and coordinated by young people for young people, present in more than 40 European countries. The European Youth Parliament Croatia (EYPC) was founded in 1994. Since its founding, the EYPC has organised numerous EYP days, 29 national sessions, 26 regional selection conferences, two international sessions and an international forum. 

Within the Erasmus+ programme, young people can participate in the Transnational Youth Initiative, with the goal of solving community problems through cooperation with peers from other countries. 

Some of the associations active in the field of volunteering, EU citizenship, and democracy include:

• Impress Daruvar, Association for Promoting Positive Affirmation of Youth in Society
• Carpe Diem, Association for Stimulating and Development of Creative and Social Potential in Children, Youth and Adults
• Velebit Association Kuterevo
• Youth Association Alfa Albona
• Eco Centre Latinovac
• Independent Youth Association  
• Argonauta Association
• Youth for Marof
• Žmergo Association
• Interaktiva
• PRONI Centre for Social Education
• Volunteer Centre Osijek
• Local Action Group Vallis Colapis
• IKS Association
• Association Alliance Rojca
• ZUM Association
• Centre of Technical Culture Rijeka
• Sustainable Development Association Pozitiva Samobor
• Enas Association 
• Split Youth Club
• Youth Help Association HELP, Split
• Youth Association Youth in the European Union
• ISTRIAN de Dignan - ECOMUSEUM
• INFORMO, Organisation for Encouraging Employment, Training, and Education
• Centre for Community Development Suncokret
•  Association Network Zagor
• Forum for Freedom in Education
• Outward Bound Croatia
• O.A.ZA. – Sustainable Alternative to Community
• Ocean of Knowledge Croatia
• Syncro – Synergy Croatia
• Amazonas Association  
• Volim Volontirati – VoVo Association
• Urban Youth
• Therapeutic Horseback Riding Association Krila
• Croatian Red Cross – Red Cross City Society Županja

Some of the associations active in the field of environment and climate change include:

• Prism, Association for Stimulating the Development of Human Potential and Creativity  
• LUMEN – Ludbreg Association of Young Enthusiasts 

Some of the associations active in the field of health and healthy lifestyle include:

• Avadhuta, Association for Promoting Multiculturalism and Healthy Lifestyle 
• Sea Scouts Posejdon
• Poplar Trees
• Krugovi, Centre for Education, Counselling, and Humanitarian Aid
• Life Potential

Associations active in the field of fighting discrimination, intolerance, doping, and drug use include:

• Regional Youth Info-centre Rijeka – UMKI

Some of the associations active in the field of equality and inclusivity are:

• Platypus
• National Roma National Council