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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  Youth Board of Cyprus Law includes legal provisions and guidelines on youth consultation, as described in section 5.4 “Young people's participation in policy-making”.

Regarding the exchanges on global issues between young people and policymakers at domestic level, youth consultations were held on a regular basis towards the end of 2018 for monitoring the National Youth Strategy 2017-2022 which dedicates a field of action on Youth and the World. Based on the YBC’s 2019 Annual Report, the outcomes were compiled in a Conclusions Report which presents 64 proposals by young people on new measures and 35 suggestions for improving current measures. The Report was the outcome of structured dialogue procedures, which were attended by 150 young people and representatives of Youth Clubs, Municipal and Community Youth Councils, the Cyprus Youth Council and the Cyprus Children’s Parliament. The consultations took place all over Cyprus.

In addition, according to the YBC’s 2020 Annual Report, following the adoption of the “Next Generation EU” Recovery Fund by the EU member state leaders on 21 July 2020, the YBC organised an online consultation with young people on 18 September 2020 to collect suggestions on reforms and actions that need to be taken, which the YBC  submitted to decision-making bodies. The online consultation was attended by 30 young people from across Cyprus, who had the opportunity to discuss and submit their proposals and suggestions for the creation of a national plan on the following four topic areas:

1. Job market, social policy, education, and human capital

2. A digital era of efficiency and productivity

3. Acceleration in forming a green economy

4. New development model and economic diversification.

The outcomes of the above consultations are available on the Policy Department website (Απορρέοντα ηλεκτρονικής διαβούλευσης του ΟΝΕΚ με τη νεολαία για το εθνικό πλάνο ανάκαμψης στο πλαίσιο του “Next Generation EU”).

The National Youth Conference, that is organized by the Youth Board of Cyprus on a biannual basis, is a forum for exchange of views between youth and policy makers at national level. As described in 5.4 - Young people's participation in policy-making, each conference has a different topic that is of interest to young people. During the 5^th National Youth Conference that took place in November 2024, young people had the opportunity to co-participate with policy-makers in workshops around the topics of green development and the connection of youth with the EU. 

Moreover, there are various opportunities for young people, youth workers and policy makers under the Erasmus+ Programme (especially through the action “youth participation activities”) for exchanging views and recommendations on key topics that concern young people on global level.

Moreover, the EU Youth Dialogue facilitates the discussion and the exchange of views on global issues. More specifically, up until now, the 15 partners had 35 meetings with 65 participants and 365 subscribers. In addition, various events were organised, aiming to promote Dialogue, as well as meetings among the National Working Group members to plan actions and analyse the consultations’ outcomes. All EU member states which have a National Working Group for EU Youth Dialogue are involved in this process. In Cyprus, the National Working Group consists of representatives of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, the Youth Board of Cyprus and the Cyprus Youth Council, which holds the coordinating role.

Global issues exchanges with policy-makers at the international level

The Youth Board of Cyprus is run by a seven-member Administrative Board which consists of youth representatives. As the competent national authority on youth issues: (a) it participates in international youth organizations’ meetings and develops bilateral contacts with respective youth bodies of other countries in order to be informed regarding the international development youth matters; (b) It stipulates protocols/programmes of cooperation with corresponding youth bodies of other countries for the achievement of the Board’s aims and (c) it funds the participation of young people and youth representatives for their participation in international forums through the funding scheme ‘’Youth and the World’’ (Νέοι και Κόσμος). Moreover, the National Youth Strategy 2017-2022, under the priority “International cooperation in the field of youth”, sets the following objectives: (a) Active involvement in shaping advances and processes which take place at international youth policy-making centres; (b) Developing and maintaining Youth Board of Cyprus’ relations with the international community and promoting the Organization abroad; with a view to enhancing cooperation in the youth field. In this way, participation in international seminars and workshops, representation in international forums and conferences as well as memberships in international organisations is considered important.

Based on the recent Annual Reports of the Youth Board of Cyprus (YBC), the Board members and staff of the YBC participate in the working groups on youth related issues Youth Related Issues that are held during each Presidency of the European Council, as well as  the European Youth  Conferences and the General Directors’ meetings that are hosted by each Presidency.

The European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ): The YBC participates at the meetings of the Steering Committee for Youth of the Council of Europe twice a year, where policies and other youth related issues are discussed and strategies are put forward in the member states. 

The European Knowledge Centre on Youth Policy (EKCYP) of the Council of Europe: The YBC contributes to the work of the European Knowledge Centre through collecting and disseminating data and exchanging good practices on youth-related policies. 

International conventions and forums organised by the United Nations: Ιn 2024, a youth representative, with the support of the  YBC participated in the Youth Forum 2024 which was hosted by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime on the sidelines of the 67th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND). 

Commonwealth: In 2023, the YBC participated on the 10th Commonwealth Youth Minister’s Meeting (CWYMM) in London. Cyprus was represented by the President and a member of the YBC Board. Under the theme: ‘Aiming Higher: Delivering More for Young People in the Commonwealth’, the meeting examined the themes of education, employment, environment and engagement.

 The European Parliament Office in Cyprus and the Ministry of Education organize competitions to select students aged 16-18 to participate in Euroscola, a program that allows young people from EU and candidate countries to meet in Strasbourg. The program aims to familiarize participants with the European Parliament, promote democracy, and enhance communication skills through multilingual group discussions. Winners of the competitions receive grants covering travel and accommodation expenses for a 2-3 day trip to Strasbourg, where they engage in debates and exchanges with their peers.

Moreover, the 9th  Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference was held in Nicosia, Cyprus from 5 to 7 October 2022. The Conference was organized by the Republic of Cyprus with the support of UNECE. The conference’s main themes were Sustainable Infrastructure, Sustainable Tourism and Education for Sustainable Development.