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1. Governance

2. Cross-sectoral cooperation

Governance

Youth policy in Luxembourg is governed by the 2008 Youth Law, as amended, which explicitly identifies inclusion and social cohesion among the core objectives of youth policy. The law defines youth policy as a transversal policy area and provides for interministerial coordination. For young people, this means that social inclusion is addressed through coordinated governance arrangements linking youth policy with broader social, health, education and equality policies.

In addition to the youth policy framework, governance in the field of social inclusion is structured around several national action plans that address specific risks of exclusion affecting young people. These include, in particular, the national action plan for the prevention and fight against poverty, as well as national action plans on integration and living together, anti-racism, the rights of persons with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ equality, mental health and digital inclusion. While these plans target the population as a whole, they provide coordination frameworks that are directly relevant for young people who face increased risks of social exclusion or discrimination.
Overall, governance relies on cross-sectoral coordination rather than youth-specific governance structures.

Main actors at national level

At national level, responsibility for youth policy relevant to social inclusion lies primarily with the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth, which is responsible for defining and coordinating youth policy. However, the governance of social inclusion affecting young people relies on close cooperation with several other ministries, reflecting the transversal nature of both youth policy and inclusion policies.

Overall coordination in the field of social inclusion is ensured by the Ministry of Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees, notably through its responsibility for the National Action Plan on poverty and for frameworks related to integration and living together. Depending on their thematic scope, other national action plans involve different lead ministries and coordination mechanisms, including:

• the Ministry of Health and Social Security, notably for the National Mental Health Plan and policies related to health inequalities affecting young people;
• the Ministry of Equality and Diversity, responsible for the coordination of the National Action Plan on LGBTIQ+ equality and gender equality policies;
• the Ministry of Labour, involved in policies addressing labour market integration and socio-economic inclusion;
• the Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning, involved in policies addressing access to housing and prevention of housing exclusion;
• other ministries contributing according to their respective competences, particularly in the areas of disability rights, anti-discrimination and digital inclusion.

Together, these governance arrangements aim to ensure policy coherence across sectors whose actions directly affect young people’s opportunities for social inclusion.

Distribution of responsibilities between national and local levels

While the design of social inclusion policies remains largely centralised, municipalities play an increasingly important role in promoting social inclusion and social cohesion at local level. For young people, this local dimension is particularly relevant, as municipalities are key spaces for participation, access to services and everyday social interactions.

Municipal involvement is structured through the national framework for intercultural living together (Zesummeliewen), introduced by the law of 23 August 2023 on intercultural living together. Within this framework, municipalities may commit voluntarily to a municipal pact for intercultural living together (Gemengepakt vum Zesummeliewen), concluded with the State. Through this pact, municipalities develop local strategies and actions aimed at fostering inclusion, participation and social cohesion, including initiatives that directly or indirectly concern young people.

As part of this framework, municipalities establish local advisory commissions on intercultural living together, which bring together elected representatives, civil society organisations and other local stakeholders. Although these commissions are not youth-specific, their work contributes to creating inclusive local environments for young people, particularly those facing social, cultural or economic barriers to participation.

Cross-sectoral cooperation

Governance in the field of social inclusion is characterised by strong cross-sectoral cooperation at both national and local levels. Interministerial coordination mechanisms linked to the various national action plans support the alignment of policies in areas such as youth, social protection, health, education, employment, housing and equality.

Non-public actors play an essential role in this governance ecosystem. Civil society organisations active in the fields of poverty reduction, anti-discrimination, disability rights, LGBTIQ+ equality and mental health contribute both to policy development and to implementation. Their involvement is particularly important in reaching young people in vulnerable situations and in ensuring that governance arrangements reflect lived experiences of exclusion.

As part of the EU youth dialogue of 2024, the National youth council conducted consultations of young people on the topic of inclusion to bring their voice to policy makers.