Forthcoming policy developments

Two issues are on the agenda for youth involvement in global affairs, according to the Ministry information:

• Mental and physical health: Young people's well-being is significantly influenced by mental and physical health factors, housing conditions and access to education, employment and leisure activities. The crises of recent years have had a particularly negative impact on the mental health of young people in the EU, especially among those in financial difficulties. Hungary is prioritising mental health support to reduce young people's isolation and strengthen their community links.
• Lack of opportunities in rural areas: Young people in rural areas are at increased risk of isolation, unemployment and mental health problems. Hungary aims at preventing people to feel they have to leave their place of birth due to lack of opportunities. In 2024, they held a national consultation with representatives of young people to represent the interests of rural youth at EU and global level.

The Hungarian government also engages in an ongoing dialogue with Hungarian youth on EU and global issues. Two pillars of this are the National Youth Dialogue Working Group and the UN Youth Delegate Programme. With the help of the participating organisations and delegates, the relevant actors made a country tour covering the whole of Hungary in the first half of 2024.

Ongoing debates

Currently, there are no ongoing debates in the public and political sphere on issues related to involvement of youth in global issues.