The EU Youth Strategy encourages national authorities to follow a common approach to policy-making for young people. For example, youth policies should be cross-sectorial, which is to say they should be formulated and implemented with the participation of the authorities in charge of all important domains for the life of young people. Also, cooperation between national, European and global authorities in addressing youth issues and devising solutions is supported. Another important aspect highlighted by the EU Youth Strategy is that policies should be based on analyses of the real conditions in which young people live, in other words policies should be based on evidence.

This Youth Wiki chapter describes how youth policy is developed and implemented by addressing:

1.1 Target population of Youth Policy

How youth is defined in each country

1.2 National Youth Law

Whether there is a specific law that defines the main approaches to youth policy

1.3 National Youth Strategy

Whether a specific strategy exists that sets the main priorities and instruments for addressing young people's concerns

1.4 Youth Policy Decision-Making

How policies for young people are formulated and by whom

1.5 Cross-sectorial approach with other ministries

Whether youth policies see the contribution of different ministries, so that the approach is comprehensive

1.6 Evidence-based youth policy

Whether and how factual information is used to develop analyses on the situation of young people, and support new policies

1.7 Funding youth policy

How youth policies are funded, also through the use of EU funds

1.8 Cross-border cooperation in the youth field

Whether countries cooperate, in Europe and outside, to address common issues affecting young people

1.9 Current debates and reforms

Brief information on emerging policy developments