On this page

1. Formal Mechanisms of Consultation

2. Actors

3. Information on the extent of youth participation

4. Outcomes

5. Large-scale initiatives for dialogue or debate between public institutions and young people

Formal Mechanisms of Consultation

The Law on Youth Participation and Youth Policies (Закон за младинско учество и младински политики), adopted in January 2020, marks a significant milestone in the advancement of youth policy in North Macedonia. What distinguishes this law is the inclusive and participatory process that led to its creation. From the outset, it was shaped through broad consultations that actively involved young people, youth organizations, public institutions, and civil society stakeholders—ensuring that it reflected the genuine needs and aspirations of the youth.

The law establishes a comprehensive, multisectoral framework for the development and implementation of youth policies at all levels of governance. Its overarching goal is to foster greater youth engagement in decision-making processes, improve access to relevant information, safeguard the interests of young people, and formally recognize their role in society. It also promotes intergenerational cooperation, supports the work of youth organizations, and strengthens structured dialogue between young people and institutions—both nationally and locally. Furthermore, the law encourages volunteering, youth activism, youth work, and contributes to the personal, professional, and social development of young people.

As described in section 5.3, the legal framework defines the composition, responsibilities, and financing of several key participatory bodies, including the National Assembly of Youth, the National Advisory Body for Youth Policies, as well as Local Youth Assemblies and Local Youth Councils.

Actors

National Assembly of Youth

The National Assembly of Youth functions as a representative platform with a defined mandate, including:

• Electing youth representatives to the National Advisory Body for Youth Policies;
• Developing policy proposals and setting youth-related priorities;
• Monitoring the performance of youth representatives;
• Reviewing reports submitted by youth representatives;
• Engaging in other responsibilities in accordance with the Law and the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure.

However, as of April 2025, the National Assembly of Youth has not yet been established, which has consequently delayed the formation of the National Advisory Body for Youth Policies as well.

Local Youth Councils

The law provides for the establishment of Local Youth Councils (LYCs) in municipalities across the country, including within the City of Skopje and its constituent municipalities. These councils serve in an advisory and advocacy capacity on matters concerning youth issues and policies. Their legal competencies include:

• Proposing youth-relevant topics for inclusion on municipal council agendas;
• Initiating local-level discussions on issues within the municipality's jurisdiction affecting young people;
• Participating in the development and review of local youth strategies and public policies;
• Submitting information and proposals to municipal authorities on youth concerns;
• Undertaking other advisory and advocacy activities as defined by the Law.

Despite these legal provisions, implementation at the local level remains limited. According to the Monitoring Report conducted by the National Youth Council of Macedonia (NYCM), only 34 municipalities—or 42% of all municipalities—reported that they had established a Local Youth Council in accordance with the Law by the end of 2023.

National Advisory Body for Youth Policies

The National Advisory Body for Youth Policies operates as a high-level consultative structure that supports the implementation and oversight of national youth policies. Its legal responsibilities include:

• Providing opinions and recommendations on youth-related legislation and policies;
• Reviewing and offering input on the National Youth Strategy and its action plan;
• Assessing and advising on the allocation of budgetary resources for youth initiatives;
• Bringing youth issues to the attention of the Government and Parliament;
• Proposing mechanisms to evaluate youth participation and monitor the realization of youth rights;
• Publishing thematic and periodic reports on the status, rights, and needs of young people in the country;
• Monitoring and aligning with EU youth policy recommendations;
• Organizing consultations and events with youth organizations and young people;
• Carrying out additional activities aligned with its mandate.

However, as mentioned earlier, the National Advisory Body has not yet been constituted, given the absence of a functioning National Assembly of Youth to nominate its members.

Role of the National Youth Council of Macedonia (NYCM)

In the broader ecosystem of youth participation, the National Youth Council of Macedonia (NYCM) plays a central role. As the national umbrella organization, it represents 51 youth organizations and consistently advocates for youth voices to be heard in policy-making processes. Through its proactive engagement, the NYCM contributes significantly to the shaping, monitoring, and implementation of youth-related policies across the country.

Information on the extent of youth participation

At the national level, there is no official, publicly available data that comprehensively tracks or assesses the extent of youth participation in policy-making processes. While the Law on Youth Participation and Youth Policies and the National Youth Strategy 2023–2027 lay the foundation for youth engagement, the absence of national-level monitoring mechanisms leaves a gap in understanding the actual scope and effectiveness of youth inclusion.

At the local level, however, the Index of Social Inclusion of Young People at the Local Level 2023–2024, conducted by the National Youth Council of Macedonia, provides important insights. This social index evaluates the inclusion of young people in local self-governments in North Macedonia, assessing aspects such as access to services, availability of information, inclusion in local policy-making, and participation in decision-making and political processes.

One of the most concerning findings relates to the participation of youth in the creation and implementation of public policies at the local level. The third group of indicators within the Index, which focuses specifically on youth participation in decision-making, reveals that the average rating for youth involvement in policy-making is only 30%, which falls under the category of unsatisfactory on the ranking scale.

Moreover, the data show that 17.5% of municipalities do not involve youth at all in public policy development, while only 4% of municipalities are rated as excellent in consulting young people. The majority of municipalities fall into the average category, indicating a widespread lack of meaningful youth engagement.

The Index further highlights that even though Local Youth Councils (LYCs) have been formally established in many areas, they are often underutilized or poorly understood, serving more as symbolic structures rather than functional participatory bodies. Additionally, the limited allocation of municipal funds for youth-led initiatives, the lack of tailored communication, and underdeveloped digital access to services all contribute to the marginalization of young people in local governance.

With an overall average score of only 41% for youth social inclusion, the Index identifies that rural municipalities face particularly acute challenges, performing significantly worse than urban areas. These findings call for urgent improvements in youth-targeted policies and mechanisms at the local level, as well as the development of national systems for tracking, evaluating, and supporting youth participation in all spheres of public life.

Outcomes

Large-scale initiatives for dialogue or debate between public institutions and young people

Dialogue with Civil Society Organizations – EU Structural Participation Platform

Dialogue with Civil Society Organizations – EU Structural Participation Platform (Дијалог со граѓанските организации – Платформа за структурно учество во ЕУ интеграциите) is an EU-funded project aimed at ensuring essential and structural participation of civil society, reflecting citizens’ views on key sectoral reforms within the EU accession process. It was implemented by the Foundation Open Society – Macedonia, Reactor – Research in Action, Center for Civil Communications, and Eurothink – Center for European Strategies.

The project ran from April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2022, with a focus on three main objectives:

1. Establishing a structural platform for civil society participation
    The project created a platform that enabled civil society organizations to engage systematically in institutional consultations, thereby enhancing access to information and participation in policy-making processes related to EU integration.

2. Enhancing formal consultation mechanisms with civil society
    It contributed to improving the quality and consistency of institutional mechanisms for dialogue between the Government and civil society, fostering greater inclusion in sector reforms.

3. Increasing civil society impact on EU accession
    By supporting evidence-based policy-making, the project helped civil society develop shadow reports, policy briefs, and position papers in priority reform areas under the EU accession framework.
    

Western Balkans Youth Lab Project

The Western Balkans Youth Lab (WBYL) is an EU-funded and RCC-implemented initiative that aims to foster a long-term, structured regional dialogue between youth and policymakers across the Western Balkans Six (WB6) – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, Serbia, and North Macedonia. The primary goal is to jointly develop policies that increase youth participation in decision-making and improve the broader socio-economic environment for young people in the region.

During its first phase (2020–2024), WBYL successfully implemented two Youth Policy Labs, addressing youth unemployment and mental health. The project conducted a comprehensive mapping of youth policies, enhanced youth participation in high-level conferences, and significantly strengthened the capacities of National Youth Councils throughout the region.

Building on these achievements, the second phase of the project, WB Youth Lab 2, began in January 2024. It continues to focus on empowering young people and reinforcing their role in decision-making processes through a series of targeted activities. The initiative remains a vital platform for innovative policy-making that responds directly to the needs and aspirations of young people.

Expected outcomes of WB Youth Lab 2 include:

• Increased mobilisation of youth in policy-making;

• Increased co-creation of relevant policies with youth;

• Strengthened formal and informal mechanisms of youth participation;

Enhanced opportunities for regional networking of young artists.