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1. Existence of a national strategy to increase young people's political and civil society participation

2. Scope and contents

3. Responsible authority for the implementation of the strategy

4. Monitoring and evaluation

5. Revisions/ Updates

Existence of a national strategy to increase young people's political and civil society participation

The new national youth strategy - "Youth Concept Note 2025-2030" devotes one of its three goals to the youth participation - i.e. support for young people to promote inclusive and meaningful participation in education, the labour market and public life, while also supporting the acquisition of life competences. 

Participation was also one of the priorities of the previous youth strategy for years 2014-2020 (Koncepce podpory mládeže na období 2014-2020, Governmental Decree no. 342 of 12 May 2014) approved by the Government. Its fourth priority was called: Involving young people in the decision-making process and participation. For more on the Youth Strategy 2014-2020 see details in Chapter 1.3.

Scope and contents

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE 2 - TO STRENGTHEN YOUNG PEOPLE’S ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP 

This strategic objective aims to strengthen young people’s motivation and active citizenship by promoting and developing participation opportunities that are closest to them, thereby enabling them to gain a first positive experience of participation in public life. It is mainly about participation in the school environment, particularly children’s and young people’s parliaments, and participation at local level, i.e. at the level of municipalities and regions, where a wide range of instruments exists. Experience can also be drawn from foreign practice. 

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE 2.1. To promote active participation at the local level of public administration and in schools 

Measure 2.1.1. To make the work of children’s and youth parliaments more efficient 

There are different types of children’s and youth parliaments in the Czech Republic. Based on the opinions of some the representatives of young people, not all of these bodies operate ideally. A certain overview of the number and types of parliaments is gradually being processed by the Republic Forum of Children’s and Youth Parliaments. However, the MŠMT does not keep any records of the school parliaments. It would be desirable to map out any specifics of the functioning of existing children’s and youth parliaments. 

Since it is an ideal instrument to promote youth entrepreneurship and civic engagement, the biggest barriers to the effective functioning of children’s and youth parliaments will be defined and actions will be proposed to eliminate them. The proposed actions will be implemented gradually. 

Examples of good practice will also be identified and collected to identify the main factors that positively influence the functioning of children’s and youth parliaments and contribute to the engagement of diverse groups of children and youth. These models of effective functioning of parliaments will be disseminated to all actors concerning children’s and youth parliaments. 

Responsibility: MEYS (Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports)

Co-responsibility: ČŠI, ČRDM, Republic Forum of Children’s and Youth Parliaments, ČSU, SVČ, other NGOs 

Measure 2.1.2. To encourage young people’s participation at local level of government 

Examples of good practice in youth participation at local level will be identified and collected in cooperation with the umbrella organisations of municipalities. At the same time, good practice will also be mapped at foreign level. Subsequently, these examples of good practice will be disseminated on relevant platforms to representatives of local public administration, such as the annual Modern Public Administration Conference. 

In addition, a methodology will be developed focusing on the different forms of youth participation and on how these forms can be supported at local or regional level, providing an overview of existing tools, including guidance on how to use them in practice. Similar methodologies issued abroad can also serve as a model (e.g. Slovenia). 

Responsibility: MEYS 

Co-responsibility: MV, National Network of Healthy Cities, SMO ČR, SMS ČR, Association of Regions of the Czech Republic, ČRDM, SVČ, academic sector, centres for environmental education, non-profit sector 

Measure 2.1.3. To make young people more aware of opportunities for participation 

Youth participation opportunities are often fragmented and lack a comprehensive overview of youth participation opportunities. Given that on the part of young people initiatives are being developed to improve this situation, the MŠMT will support innovative projects particularly through the granting of patronage, and will promote awareness of their existence. 

At the same time, the MŠMT will use contacts with both organised and non-organised young people and offer them information on emerging opportunities to participate, particularly central government level, using appropriate communication tools such as online newsletter. 

In cooperation with youth representatives a handout informing about key opportunities for youth participation will also be created. 

Responsibility: MEYS

Measure 2.1.4. To promote entrepreneurship and encourage young people to participate 

Entrepreneurship is one of the basic key competences for young people. Entrepreneurial thinking encompasses a wide range of skills, from having a good idea, to having the courage to implement it and and being able to inspire others to do the same. EntreComp20 European Competence Framework for Entrepreneurship defines entrepreneurship as the ability to exploit opportunities and ideas and create values from them for others, whether financial, cultural or social. Similarly, GreenComp21 highlights the European sustainability competence framework as an important component of competences ‘acting for change in cooperation with others’. Based on labour market projection and civil society developments, entrepreneurship skills are and will be increasingly needed. Entrepreneurship is thus strongly linked to participation in public affairs. 

At the time of the development of the Strategy, entrepreneurship and civic engagement were actively promoted as key competences, particularly through formal education. However, it is desirable to make full use of the potential of non-formal and leisure-time education in promoting young people’s entrepreneurship and particularly, their participation in public affairs. Support for these activities will be integrated into existing subsidy calls. 

Responsibility: MEYS

Co-responsibility: Association Enterprising Czechia, SP DDM, other NGOs 

Responsible authority for the implementation of the strategy

The government authority responsible for the implementation, coordination and monitoring of the Youth strategy is the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports in cooperation with other ministries in charge of different elements (social affairs, health, culture etc.).

For details on the situation with the National Youth Strategy see Chapter 1, especially 1.3.

Monitoring and evaluation

Effective involvement of young people in the decision-making process in the areas of implementation and evaluation of the National Youth Strategy is to be ensured by a National Working Group for Structured Dialogue with Youth established in January 2014, whose leadership was entrusted to the Czech Council of Children and Youth. Structured dialogue with Youth thus became a vital part of the Czech National Youth Policy, and covers not only the processes within the EU but also national processes and agendas.

Revisions/Updates

The current strategy, adopted in 2025 after a couple of years on non-existence of any strategic document, was preceded by previous strategies with the similar scope and goals, see Chapter 1 on Youth Policy Strategies.