Forthcoming policy developments

Several important policy initiatives are currently under preparation to strengthen youth participation and engagement in North Macedonia. Following the 2024 merger of the former Agency for Youth and Sports into the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, the government is planning reforms to finalize organizational structures, staffing, and dedicated youth policy units. These measures aim to enhance the ministry’s capacity to implement youth policies effectively and to ensure that young people have meaningful opportunities to contribute to decision-making processes 

At the national level, the government has developed the Action Plan for the National Youth Strategy 2023–2027, covering the period 2026–2027. The plan aims to define concrete activities, assign responsibilities, and establish measurable indicators to guide youth engagement, participation, and policy influence. Youth organizations and experts played an active role in shaping the plan to ensure it addresses the priorities and needs of young people. However, as of February 2026, the Action Plan has not yet been made publicly available, and there is no information on when it will be formally adopted.

A key forthcoming development concerns the operationalisation of the National Assembly of Youth, as foreseen in the Law on Youth Participation and Youth Policies (2020). An attempt to constitute the National Assembly of Youth was made at the beginning of February 2026; however, the session was unsuccessful due to a lack of quorum. The National Assembly of Youth is intended to serve as the highest representative body of youth organisations at national level, with responsibilities including electing youth representatives to the National Advisory Body for Youth Policies and contributing to the formulation of youth priorities. The establishment of this body is considered essential for the full functioning of the legal framework on youth participation. As of February 2026, the National Assembly of Youth has not yet been formally constituted. Finalising its establishment remains a priority in order to enable the effective functioning of other participatory mechanisms provided by law.

Efforts are also being made to strengthen local-level participation mechanisms. Discussions are ongoing on how to operationalize Youth Centers and Local Youth Councils in all municipalities, in line with legal requirements. These initiatives include designing clear operational guidelines, allocating sufficient funding, and developing inclusive mechanisms to ensure that diverse groups of young people can participate in local decision-making processes 

Finally, regional and international programs, such as the Regional Youth Leadership Mobility Programme (RYLMP 2025–2026) and national youth civic participation awards, are being used to reinforce youth leadership, advocacy, and cross-border collaboration. These initiatives aim to connect local youth participation with wider regional and international policy debates, allowing young people to engage in decision-making beyond the national level.

Ongoing debates

Debates among policymakers, youth organizations, and experts are currently focused on several challenges that affect the effectiveness of youth participation. One central issue is the functioning of advisory bodies and youth councils, which civil society actors have criticized for being largely symbolic. Experts stress the importance of institutional reforms that ensure youth consultations result in tangible policy outcomes 

At the local level, concerns remain regarding the establishment of fully functional Youth Centers and Local Youth Councils. While some municipalities have started implementing these structures, questions persist about adequate funding, staffing, and the engagement of diverse groups of young people across both urban and rural areas.

Digital participation is also a focus of debate, as experts and policymakers consider how to standardize e-consultation tools and online engagement platforms at the municipal level. These discussions aim to address historically low youth participation rates in local governance and to improve accessibility for all young citizens.