On this page

1. Existence of a national strategy to increase young people's political and civil society participation

2. Scope and contents

3. Responsible authority for the implementation of the strategy

4. Revisions/ Updates

Existence of a national strategy to increase young people's political and civil society participation

​Spain's commitment to enhancing youth political and civil society participation is encapsulated in the Youth Strategy 2030 (Estrategia Juventud 2030), which serves as a comprehensive framework guiding youth-related policies from 2022 to 2030. 

Scope and contents

The strategy is organized into ten specific thematic axes and two transversal ones, aiming to address various facets of youth development. Notably, Strategic Axis 6 focuses on  Participation, Volunteering and Global Transformation, with objectives that include:

• Promoting youth associationism and participation, especially in digital environments.
• Encouraging volunteering and fostering associated values of solidarity.
• Considering the reduction of the voting age to 16 or 17 to enhance youth electrical influence and leadership.
• Bringing the European Union closer to young people and developing international volunteering, training and employment programmes.

These objectives are part of a broader effort to construct a more egalitarian, sustainable, and socially just society for youth.

Responsible authority for the implementation of the strategy

The implementation of the Youth Strategy 2030 involves multiple levels of government:

• National level: The Youth Institute (INJUVE) coordinates activities across different ministries impacted by the Strategy’s measures.
• Regional level: Autonomous community youth agencies and relevant ministries must with implement the actions outlines in the Strategy.
• Local level: Municipalities, being closest to citizens, play a crucial role in implementing  the Strategy. Larger municipalities may develop their own initiatives, while smaller ones often collaborate with higher entities, such as provincial councils, to deliver services. 

Revisions/Updates

The strategy is designed to be dynamic, with mechanisms for regular assessment and adaptation:

• Annual Reports: At the end of each year, the Youth Institute (INJUVE) conducts a follow-up report on implemented actions, which serves as a basis for partial evaluations and the development of new measures.
• The Inter-Ministerial Youth Commission (Comisión Interministerial para la Juventud): Based on INJUVE´s annual reports, this commission considers incorporating new actions proposed by the different ministries.
• Complementarity with Recovery Plans: The strategy aligns with the Plan for Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience (PRTR), adopting challenges and commitments that significantly impact youth, thereby serving as a reference framework for youth policies over the next decade.
• Other publications: In addition to these annual reports, the INJUVE releases numerous publications and reports with a large academic and scientific base that serve to improve the redesign of new public policy programmes in the youth field. Equally important are the reports and evaluations carried out by the various autonomous agencies for youth.

Youth Action Plan 2022-2024

To operationalize the Youth Strategy 2030, the Youth Action Plan 2022-2024 was approved, outlining 200 measures focused on areas such as emancipation, housing, education, and youth employment. This plan is supported by an allocation of over €33.33 billion until 2024, with €15 billion directly benefiting young people. 

Promotion and Services to Youth Programme

As part of the Strategic Grant Plan 2024–2026 (Plan Estratégico de Subvenciones 2024-2026 Ministerio de Juventud e Infancia), the Promotion and Services to Youth Programme (Programa Promoción y Servicios a la Juventud) was introduced to fund youth-related initiatives that encourage young people's participation in political, social, economic, and cultural life. This program specifically supports projects that enhance youth involvement in decision-making processes, civic engagement, and e-participation, aligning with Spain's broader efforts to foster democratic participation.