Youth participation in the Republic of North Macedonia is regulated through the Law on Youth Participation and Youth Policies (2020) and strategically framed within the National Youth Strategy 2023–2027. Youth Participation is identified as one of the eight thematic priorities of the Strategy, reflecting formal recognition of young people’s role in public decision-making processes.

The preparation of both the National Youth Strategy 2023–2027 and the Law on Youth Participation and Youth Policies included consultative processes involving youth organisations, civil society actors and institutional representatives. These consultations were conducted through working groups and public discussions.

The legal framework establishes structured mechanisms for youth participation at national and local levels, including representative and advisory bodies, as well as minimum budget allocations for youth-related measures. However, implementation of these mechanisms remains uneven. While consultation practices are present in policy development processes, continuous and institutionalised youth participation in decision-making, monitoring and evaluation is not yet fully operational. Several mechanisms foreseen by law have experienced delays in establishment or remain partially functional, particularly at the local level.

As a result, a gap persists between the normative framework and its practical implementation, especially regarding sustained youth influence on public policies beyond consultation phases.