Exchange Forum on the European Youth Work Agenda: Boosting national processes for youth work development

Key stakeholders responsible for implementing the European Youth Work Agenda in their countries are invited to the 5th "Exchange Forum on the European Youth Work Agenda: Boosting national processes for youth work development".

The European Youth Work Agenda (EYWA) intends to strengthen and develop youth work across Europe. Its implementation relies on vivid processes at national level. The Exchange Forum on the European Youth Work Agenda is the annual residential event for key stakeholders shaping the national processes within the context of the EYWA in their respective European countries.

Representatives of each country’s National Contact Point, who are responsible for supporting and managing the national processes, are invited to attend. This call is also addressed to key stakeholders who shape youth work development, as well as representatives of ministries responsible for youth and/or youth work, and of the National Agencies for the EU youth programmes.

The event is organised by the Strategic National Agencies Cooperation (SNAC) project “Growing Youth Work”. It is hosted in Ljubljana (Slovenia) by Movit, National Agency of the EU Programmes Erasmus+: Youth and European Solidarity Corps.

Aims of the conference

The Exchange Forum aims to provide a dynamic space for mutual inspiration, peer exchange, and joint learning about the progress, challenges, and opportunities in developing youth work at national level. It also aims to make visible the impact that  the national efforts for youth work development have achieved since 2020 and celebrate these successes. Together, participants will explore how recent and upcoming European developments (among others the upcoming EU Youth Strategy and Programme Generation) can inspire further action and foster cross-border cooperation for youth work development across Europe.

How will we work?

The programme will include a variety of interactive methods, including speeches, discussions on thematic priorities and inspiring practices, and a presentation of the research findings on national processes. There will be plenty of opportunities for exchange, networking, reflection, co-creation, and joint planning, as well as exploring funding opportunities and available resources to support further developments. Participants will be encouraged to collaborate on shaping parts of the agenda and contribute their ideas for future cooperation.

This is the right event for you if you want to:

• Learn more about other countries’ implementation processes and be inspired by good practices
• Engage in in-depth exchanges on the thematic priorities and new trends
• Reflect on European policy developments and connect them to your national reality
• Share successes and challenges in developing youth work at national, regional and local levels
• Develop ideas for future co-operation and collective follow-up
• Explore available resources for supporting national and transnational youth work initiatives
• Celebrate the impact of the European Youth Work Agenda

Profile of participants

This invitation is open to:

• Representatives of National Contact Points (or equivalent structures) for the European Youth Work Agenda
• Representatives of national implementation partners, e.g. national umbrella organisations, youth workers associations, youth work networks, youth councils
• Representatives of ministries responsible for youth and/or youth work
• Representatives of National Agencies for the EU youth programmes supporting youth work development

All countries of the geographical scope of the Council of Europe are welcome. Countries are encouraged to participate in pairs or small national teams to maximise the impact. Applications from delegations representing various youth work stakeholders at the national level are especially welcome.

Practicalities

There will be a digital onboarding session on 10 November 2026 from 11.00 to 12.30 CET.

Dates: 23–26 November 2026
Venue: Ljubljana, Slovenia

The programme will start on 23 November 2026 at 18:00 CET and end with departures on 26 November 2026 (travel day).

Preliminary programme flow:

23 Nov. 2026 
A space to connect and re-connect

• 16:00 Registration and optional informal offers
• 18:00 Start of the event | Welcome and networking evening incl. dinner

24 Nov. 2026 
Achievements and learnings at national level

• Deep dive into national processes
• Inspiring, sharing and exchanging on achievements and learnings

25 Nov. 2026 
Impact of our work and future-building - the European perspective

• European overview of impact of the European Youth Work Agenda
• Building up on our achievements - Future-planning, cooperation and support
• Visiting BAZA, Ljubljana Youth Centre, and Closing Ceremony

26 Nov. 2026

• Departures 

How to apply

Should you be interested in attending the event, please apply by 28 June 2026 via the “Apply now” button on the top right of this page. 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Further information

You can find more information on the SNAC Growing Youth Work, the European Youth Work Agenda and the national processes here.

Explore the latest research findings on the state of play of national processes within the EYWA implementation in the Survey Report 2025 and in this visualisation of the report.