10.8 Current debates and reforms
On this page
On this page
Forthcoming policy developments
Youth Strategy 2030: Second Action Plan (2025–2027)
The Spanish government is preparing the second triennial action plan under the Youth Strategy 2030, which will guide national youth policy from 2025 to 2027. This plan aims to address emerging youth challenges and is expected to build upon the objectives outlined in the first plan (2022–2024). Specific details and timelines for the adoption and implementation of this plan are anticipated to be announced in 2025.
Reform of the Youth Guarantee Plus Plan (2021–2027)
The Youth Guarantee Plus Plan, a key initiative for promoting youth employment and social inclusion, is undergoing a reform process. The revised plan aims to enhance its effectiveness in addressing the needs of young people, particularly those at risk of exclusion. The reform is expected to be finalized and implemented in 2025.
Development of a National Youth Law
Spain is currently drafting its first comprehensive Youth Law, aimed at providing a unified legal framework that strengthens young people’s rights and promotes their active participation in society. Announced in January 2024, this law is being developed through a participatory process involving youth organizations, stakeholders, and INJUVE.
The law focuses on key areas relevant to youth work, including employment, housing, education, and civic engagement, and seeks to improve coordination across national, regional, and local levels. Several legislative steps, including public consultations and territorial meetings, have already been completed.
Once enacted, this law is expected to significantly impact youth work by standardizing policies and reinforcing institutional support, leading to a more coherent approach to youth development across Spain. The law also aims to define the roles and responsibilities of youth workers more clearly and ensure that youth work is more professionally recognized across the country.
For a more detailed overview of the Youth Law and its governance implications, see sub-chapters 4.2 and 4.8.
Ongoing debates
Recognition of Youth Work as a Profession
There is a significant debate about officially recognizing youth work as a distinct profession in Spain. Currently, youth work lacks formal recognition, leading to varied qualifications and standards across regions.
As the youth workers profiles tend to include formal and non-formal education, this recognition is a major priority, as, in the current situation, youth workers with non-formal education are disadvantaged when applying to official calls.
Stakeholders, including youth organizations and educational institutions, are advocating for the establishment of clear professional standards and recognition to enhance the quality and impact of youth work.
One important milestone in this process was the work of the Recognize Network (Red Reconoce) which brought together representatives from youth workers, the Youth Council of Spain, and the Youth Institute (INJUVE). This network advanced the development of a system to recognize competencies gained through non-formal education and volunteering in the youth sector.
Integral to this effort is the Network of Volunteer Entities Recognize (La Red de Entidades de Voluntariado Reconoce) promoted by organisations such as the Don Bosco Confederacy of Youth Centres (Confederación de Centros Júveniles Don Bosco), the Didiana Federation (Federación Didiana) and ASDE Scouts of Spain (ASDE Scouts de España). This network offers an online system for youth organizations and volunteer entities to certify the skills and experience acquired by young volunteers, improving their employability and formal recognition.
In 2022, the Royal Decree 272/2022 established the Spanish Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (Marco Español de Cualificaciones para el Aprendizaje Permanente), which represents a significant step toward integrating non-formal learning—including that acquired through youth work—into official national qualifications. This framework aligns with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and aims to improve the transparency and comparability of qualifications, facilitating mobility and professional recognition across Europe.
Despite these advances, a national legal framework defining youth work and recognizing youth workers remains urgently needed. Such recognition would standardize qualifications across regions, strengthen professional pathways, and improve the quality of youth services, helping address ongoing social and economic challenges faced by young people in Spain.
The participatory process for the Youth Law, expected to provide a more structured framework for youth work, is seen as a critical opportunity to address these issues.
Integration of Digital Tools in Youth Work
The integration of digital tools in youth work is a topic of active discussion. While digital platforms offer new opportunities for engagement, there are concerns about digital literacy, online safety, and equitable access. Youth workers and policymakers are exploring strategies to effectively incorporate digital tools while addressing these challenges.