Did you know that Serbia is among few countries of Europe without national youth policy and even without Ministry for Youth?

Unfortunately, due to constant political disturbances, we are still far away from clear state strategy for youth.

Youth department, within Ministry of Education and Sports, initiated the process of development of National youth strategy during November 2002.
Although this process had been well positioned and in accordance with recommendations of Council of Europe it was politically blocked soon after elections in December 2003, when new Government was elected.

It is obvious that issues of youth and youth policy are not on the priority list of Serbian Government, at this moment. Stated above is clearly certified by the fact that there was no financial resources for youth initiatives, projects and development of youth policy within republic budget for 2004 .

The only positive aspect in this field is process of development of Action youth plan, taking place in Vojvodina, thanks to the efforts of Provincial secretariat for sports and youth. This process has come to its final phase.

During preceding period 2002-2003 several relevant researches into the issues of youth life in Serbia have been realized . These researches are good base for further development of youth policy in our country.

It should be also emphasized that membership in Council of Europe oblige Serbia and Montenegro to apply several conventions and charters on national level. One of the most important documents of this field is European Charter on the participation of young people in local and regional life, issued by Council of Europe.

There are no real Youth Councils in Serbia – speaking of councils organized by European standards. There are certain organizations, claiming to be “Youth Councils”, whose legitimacy might be questioned. They are merely “not fully transformed structures from period of socialism”. This field should be thoroughly re-structured and organized on new basis and according to current European standards.

According to contemporary understanding of youth policy developed within scope of Council of Europe and European Union, national youth policy has to be complete, comprehensive and cross-sectoral state strategy for improvement quality of young people’s life. Youth policy is a sort of “contract” between the state and the youth, created through consultative and cooperative relations of government, youth NGOs and young people themselves. Active participation of youth is a cornerstone of every youth policy. Young people themselves and youth organizations should take active part in both creation and implementation of youth policy on national, regional and local level. On Ministry Conference of Council of Europe in Thessalonica (7th – 9th November 2002) Ministries for youth from member states obliged to provide conditions for establishment of full partnership with young people and youth organizations in the process of development and implementation of national youth strategies.

According to recommendation of European Youth Forum youth policy mustn’t treat young people as “a problem which should be solved, but as resource; and it should define ways of making young people recognize their potentials as citizens and enable society benefit from their intellectual capital” .
Significant stimulation for development of youth policy in Europe was achieved by European Commission's White Paper – A new impetus for European youth (2001), as well as by several documents of Council of Europe, such as European Charter on the participation of young people in local and regional life (2003).
Youth policy contents is different in each country of Europe. Still, majority of topics can be grouped in 4 key fields:
- Learning
- Inclusion/ Social Cohesion
- Citizenship/ Participation
- Safety/Health/Well-being

In order to define directions for development of youth policy, as well as for evaluation of existing youth strategies, expert group of Council of Europe has defined indicators and standards for European national policies. Results of this process are presented within final report submitted by this group .
This expert group sees the youth policy process as going towards ‘packages’ of opportunity and experience. These are:

1. Learning: (Life Long, formal and non-formal) education and training, recognition of non-formally acquired skills and competencies) – The number of young people active in Life Long Learning, both in formal and non-formal education and equality regarding gender, origin and social and cultural background shall increase. Qualifications acquired in structured and curriculum based non-formal education offers shall be recognized as part of Life Long Learning.

2. Access to New Technologies - The number of young people having access to New Technologies and being trained in using them to the best of their advantage shall increase.

3. Specialist personal advice and support, career guidance - The proportion of young people in member countries who receive specialist personal advice and support and vocational guidance shall increase.

4. Information - The number of youth information centers, youth information services in the media and youth information contact points in member countries and the proportion of young people making good use of this offer shall increase

5. Access to health services and social protection - The number of young people decided to live a healthy lifestyle shall increase and so shall the health and social protection services providing guidance and assistance.

6. Access to housing - The proportion of local authorities, which in co-operation with central government care for creating access to suitable housing schemes for young people shall increase.

7. Access to paid work - The number of young people finding access to paid work must increase.

8. Mobility - The number of opportunities of mobility of young people in order to enlarge their intercultural and personal experiences and their professional qualifications shall increase.

9. Justice and youth rights (e.g. to assistance) - The number of countries introducing a specific youth legislation and practicing a youth justice system shall increase.

10. Opportunities to participation and active citizenship - The number of central and local government measures aimed at giving young people real opportunities to practice active citizenship, to participate in public life and to use freedom of speech and association shall increase.

11. Recreational, cultural and social - The opportunities for young people to take part in recreational and cultural opportunities and/or to become active in social and voluntary services shall increase.

12. Sports and outdoor activities - Occasions to practice sport and outdoor activities shall increase, and where they do not exist yet, be created.

13. Away from home, youth exchange and international experiences - Young people shall be given opportunities for stays way from home from a very young age and their proportion to take part in international exchanges in the forms of both studies and practical experiences shall increase.

14. Safe and secure environment - The proportion of young people who are victims of crime and violent acts and the proportion of young people who are perpetrators of violence shall decrease.

Indicators are meant to show what countries are doing for young people and how they are doing this. If we want to develop national policy according European standards – as it should be done in Serbia – these indicators can be very significant directions in that process. Of course, it should be emphasized that final version of National strategy for youth has to consider both needs of young people and cultural/social specificities of young people’s every day life within community.