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1. Cooperation with European countries

2. International cooperation

Cooperation with European countries

The main responsibility for monitoring and drafting youth policy issues at the European and international level as well as formulating Finland's own position rests with the Ministry of Education and Culture. Finland takes part in a multilateral intergovernmental task force co-operation, which include the Council of European Union, the Council of Europe, the Nordic Council of Ministers, as well as regional councils, such as the Barents Euro-Arctic Council.

The National Youth Work and Policy Programme 2020-2023 presents objectives, which from Finland’s point of view, are prioritised as much as possible in all its European and international cooperation:

1. The status of youth work will be reinforced.
2. Young people’s awareness of their rights will be increased.
3. Young people’s opportunities for participating in decision-making that concerns them in different areas will be promoted.
4. Inclusion will be supported in the implementation of youth programmes.
5. Young people’s climate change mitigation activities will be supported.

International cooperation

Multilateral youth sector cooperation beyond the EU member states is mainly based on the cooperation in the frameworks of the sub-regional structures. One of the most important of these is the intergovernmental Barents Euro-Arctic Council and its Joint Working Group on Youth. In addition, the Working Group on Health and Related Social Issues of the Barents Euro-Artic Council has objectives related to youth.