Existence of a National Youth Law

In accordance with Article 31 of the Italian Constitution, “the Republic protects … the young by adopting necessary provisions”.

According to Article 117 of the Constitution, youth matters are covered by concurring legislation. Therefore, the legislative powers on youth matters are distributed among the central Government, the Regions and Autonomous Provinces. The determination of the fundamental principles is laid down in State legislation.

At national level, on 22 December 2025, the Council of Ministers approved, on the proposal of Prime Minister Meloni and the Minister for Sport and Youth, Abodi, a draft bill delegating legislative powers to the Government in the field of youth policies and the universal civic service, which now needs to be discussed and approved by the Parliament.

At regional level, out of the 20 Italian Regions, 18 adopted a legislation on youth policies in compliance with the constraints set by the Constitution, the current European and international legislations and the national strategy for youth (Cf. 1.3). As of 2026, there is no evidence of the existence of a framework law on youth in the Calabria and Molise Regions.

Scope and Contents

The draft bill delegating legislative powers to the Government in the field of youth policies and the universal civic service approved by the Council of Ministers provides for the granting of legislative delegations for the simplification, reorganization, and coordination of national youth policies and for the revision of the legislation on universal civic service. 

It also introduces measures to redefine the framework and objectives of the National Youth Card and to establish a Permanent Observatory for Youth Policies, intended as a forum for dialogue and coordination among public administrations, different levels of government, and the National Youth Council. 

Finally, it provides for the creation of a proper National Youth Strategy, which will define strategic priorities, objectives, and lines of action, will have a duration of at least five years, and will be defined by agreement between the State and territorial authorities. 

The process of simplification and reorganization of the existing regulatory framework concerning young people aims to fully implement the EU Youth Strategy, promoting the active participation of young people in political, economic, and social life, as well as in decision-making processes and policy choices that affect them, while ensuring respect for the principle of intergenerational equity. 

The draft bill identifies young people as individuals aged between 14 and 30. 

With regard to universal civic service, the measure aims to rationalize and simplify procedures and provides, among other things, for the recognition and enhancement of the skills acquired by volunteer operators.

The 18 regional laws on youth policies currently in force are the following:

Abruzzo: Regional Law 11/2025, “Establishment of the Abruzzo Youth Council”.

The Law supports and promotes forms and tools of participation useful for the development of a culture of active citizenship in which young people play a central role. It promotes, encourages, and supports youth communities as tools for the cultural and social growth of the young population, recognizing their role in promoting and fostering social integration. It also promotes the active participation of younger generations in local and regional decision-making processes. For these purposes, the Law establishes the Abruzzo Youth Council as a tool for understanding and monitoring youth issues and to foster connections and promote coordination between young people and the Region.

Basilicata: Regional Law 11/2000, “Recognition and promotion of the role of the young generations in the regional society.”

The Law promotes youth citizenship rights, their autonomous participation in civil society, and regional institutions, as well as the full development of their personality on the cultural, social and economic levels. It provides for the adoption of biennial plans for youth policies, identifying the main areas of intervention. It establishes a Regional Youth Forum and a Committee for Youth Policies.

Campania: Regional Law 26/2016, “Building the future. New policies for young people”. 

The Law promotes the following measures in favour of young people: well-being and personal development; active citizenship and leadership; promotion of competencies and talents; formal and non-formal education and training; access to the labour market; mobility; dedicated youth spaces. Moreover, the Law recognizes and promotes youth work, provides for a regional planning mechanism for interventions, also in coordination with the Municipalities, and establishes a regional Observatory on youth policies and the Regional Youth Forum.

Emilia-Romagna: Regional Law 14/2008, “Norms on policies for young generations”. 

The Law establishes a comprehensive framework of policies for children, adolescents, and young people, recognizing them as a key resource for social, cultural, and economic development and promoting their well-being, autonomy, participation, inclusion, and equal opportunities. It supports education, training, lifelong learning, housing autonomy, employment and entrepreneurship, and promotes cultural, artistic, sports, and leisure activities. It fosters social inclusion, preventing educational poverty, school dropout, marginalization, and youth distress, and promotes health and well-being through education on healthy lifestyles, addiction prevention, mental health support, and responsible sexuality. It also encourages youth participation and citizenship, supports youth associations and civic engagement, and facilitates access to information. The Law also defines governance mechanisms, assigning responsibilities to Municipalities, Provinces, and the Region, establishing coordination bodies and an Observatory to monitor youth conditions and policies. A dedicated regional fund finances interventions and projects across the territory.

Friuli Venezia Giulia: Regional Law 22/2021, “Provisions on family policies, the promotion of youth autonomy, and equal opportunities.”

The Law is addressed at young people aged between 14 and 36 and recognizes young generations as a fundamental resource for the community and promotes the autonomy and development of their life projects. It promotes the development of young people’s personal, family, and community identity and supports education, training, and learning pathways to strengthen skills and employability. It aims to prevent educational poverty and youth distress, while enhancing creativity, culture, sport, social participation, and access to information. It also supports cultural, educational, and health promotion initiatives, internships, measures to improve employability and social inclusion, housing autonomy for students and young workers, the creation of youth aggregation and meeting spaces, and the enhancement of Youth Information Centres.

Lazio:  Regional Law 20/2007 - “Promotion of tools for the institutional participation of young generations in political and administrative life.”

The Law aims to implement the Council of Europe’s Revised European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life. It recognizes the role and favours the establishment, development and interaction of the Municipal councils of young people (15-25 years) and the Municipal councils of children (8-14 years). It also establishes a network of all youth councils, aimed at promoting the exchange of good practices.

Liguria: Regional Law 6/2009, “Promotion of children and youth policies.”

The Law aims to implement the Council of Europe’s Revised European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life. It establishes a system of coordination among sectoral policies addressed at youth, as well as the duties, tasks and responsibilities of the Region, the Provinces and the Municipalities. It promotes youth participation, the creation of a Youth Forum at Regional level and of youth forums at provincial level, and supports youth organizations and youth work.

Lombardy: Regional Law 4/2022, “Lombardy belongs to young people.”

The Law targets young people aged 15 to 34 who live, study, or work in the Region, and recognizes them as an essential resource for social and economic development. It promotes youth autonomy, leadership, critical thinking, civic education, and a culture of legality. It supports social inclusion, combats educational and relational poverty, school dropout, and NEETs, and encourages STEM education – especially for young women – along with youth entrepreneurship and generational turnover. The Law also promotes access to housing and supports young people’s physical and psychological well-being through health and nutrition education, addiction prevention, mental health care, and responsible and informed sexuality.

Marche: Regional Law 24/2011, “Norms on youth policies”.

The Law is addressed at the age group16-35. It is a comprehensive text that foresees the development of a regional plan in consultation with youth organizations, and the annual programming of activities. It promotes the development of Eurodesk info points and the creation of a dedicated website for youth information. It promotes youth access to housing and to the labour market, including entrepreneurship, and the development of talents. It promotes youth participation at political, cultural, and social levels.

Piemonte: Regional Law 6/2019, “New legislation on youth policies”.

The Law aims to develop youth policies in coordination with Municipalities and youth organizations. It is addressed to the age group 15-29 and introduces and supports the professional role of youth workers. It envisages the creation of a Youth Forum composed of young local administrators and representatives of youth organizations. The Law also set up a Roster for youth organizations that will enable them to receive public funding. The dedicated portal provides information on youth policies.

Puglia: Regional Law 10/2025, “Regional law on youth policies and amendments to Regional Law 7 July 2020, No. 14.”

The Law recognizes young generations as a fundamental driver of democratic growth and of the cultural, social and economic development of the Region, and supports the full participation and active engagement of young people in all areas of civic life. It defines youth policies as an essential component of development and social cohesion, aimed at supporting and accompanying young people in their pathways towards personal and professional growth and autonomy. Regional youth policies aim to facilitate young people’s transition towards autonomy and full citizenship through an integrated system of public actions and interventions. Moreover, the Region shall adopt, every three years, the Puglia Youth Agenda, which sets out the objectives and priorities of regional action in the field of youth policies. 

Sardegna: Regional Law 11/1999, “Initiatives and coordination of activities for youth”.

The Law promotes policies to ensure the active participation of young people in social, economic, and cultural life; supports youth information services, associations, employment and entrepreneurship, social inclusion, and well-being. It also encourages cultural exchanges, leisure and sports activities, and initiatives to prevent youth marginalization and emigration, while fostering local development and job creation.

Sicilia: Regional Law 6/2019, “Norms on youth policies”.

The Law establishes a Regional Youth Forum and a Regional Observatory on Youth Policies. It aims to implement the Council of Europe’s Revised European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life and European youth policies. It promotes, inter alia, the following measures in favour of youth in the age group 14-35: participation and active citizenship; social inclusion; information; formal and non-formal education; access to the labour market. Moreover, the Law establishes: the Regional Committee for the coordination of youth policies; the Commission for the inter-sectoral integration of youth policies; the Permanent Observatory on the youth condition; the Regional Youth Forum and Provincial and Municipal Forums.

Toscana: Regional Law 81/2020, “Promotion of regional youth policies”.

The law takes inspiration and consolidates the experience gained since 2011 by Giovanisì the region’s project for the autonomy of young people. Giovanisì is a system of opportunities structured in seven macro-areas: internships, housing, civic service, business development, education and training, job market. It also promotes participation, culture, legality, social actions and sports. The beneficiaries of the project are young people aged 16 to 40 and the opportunities are funded through regional, national and European resources.

Trentino-Alto Adige: youth policies are managed primarily at the provincial level:

• Bolzano Autonomous Province: Provincial Law 13/1983, “Promotion of youth services in the Province of Bolzano”. The Law establishes a youth service for young residents up to 25 years old to provide broad cultural and social education. The youth service promotes the personal, psychological, intellectual, religious, cultural, social, and physical development of young people and is characterized by voluntary participation, pluralism of organizations and institutions, flexible methods and structures, adaptation to the needs of young people, and the participation of young people in decision-making and organizational processes. The Province provides support for youth centres and meeting points, offering funding for organizations, infrastructure, staff, programs, and activities. Provincial youth councils advise the government on policies, programs, legislation, and research, while annual reports on initiatives and funding are submitted to the Provincial Council, and surveys on youth conditions are carried out every three years.
• Trento Autonomous Province: Provincial Law 5/2007, “Development, coordination, and promotion of youth policies, regulation of the provincial universal civic service, and amendments to Provincial Law 5/2006”. 

The Law recognizes the specific role of young people in social and economic development processes and promotes educational, social, cultural, and recreational initiatives aimed at fostering their personal development and their active integration into society and institutions. It promotes the responsible participation of young people in the life of institutions and society; the development of intergenerational relationships; and the training and qualification of those responsible for educational processes.
Provincial Law 7/2009, “Establishment of the Provincial Youth Council”. The Law establishes the Provincial Youth Council of Trentino to promote and strengthen active citizenship among young people, helping them understand local institutions and participate in public and social life. The Council serves as a consultative and representative body, fostering discussion and debate on issues of interest to youth, and may form commissions to examine specific topics. It advises the Province on policies, programs, and planning, proposes initiatives and events, provides opinions on relevant legislation, and participates in management and steering committees.

Umbria: Regional Law 1/2016, "Norms on youth policies".

The Law aims at the implementation of European youth policies. It promotes - in close collaboration with the Municipalities - the following measures in favour of young people in the 14-35 age group: participation and active citizenship; access to housing; formal and non-formal education, certification of acquired skills; access to the labour market, including entrepreneurship and the creation of new jobs; mobility; development of youth centres; volunteering; prevention and fight against bullying and cyber-bullying.

Valle d’Aosta: Regional Law 12/2013, “Promotion and coordination of policies in favour of young people”.

The Law promotes, inter alia, the following measures in favour of young people in the 14-29 age group: inclusion; participation; volunteering; access to housing; access to the labour market; training; mobility; information. It also establishes a regional coordination group for youth policies, as well as a local forum and a regional youth forum. Every three years, a regional youth plan sets specific objectives in collaboration with local authorities and youth representatives. 

Veneto: Regional Law 17/2008, “Promotion of youth empowerment and participation in social life”.

In line with European youth policies, the Law promotes, inter alia, the following measures in favour of youth in the 15-30 age group: inclusion; participation; volunteering; access to housing; access to the labour market; training; mobility; information. The Law also establishes a regional youth forum.

Revisions/updates

The draft bill delegating legislative powers to the Government in the field of youth policies and the universal civic service was approved by the Council of Ministers on 22 December 2025. It now needs to be discussed and approved by the Parliament.