A journey through the European Youth Work Conventions: from Ghent to Valleta
by Álvaro Salazar
When over 450 delegates gather this May in Valletta, Malta, they’ll not just be attending another conference – they’ll be joining a story that’s been unfolding for over 15 years. It’s a story shaped by thousands of youth workers, policy makers and young people across Europe.
This is the story of the European Youth Work Conventions (EYWCs). Held every five years since 2010, these milestone events have shaped the way youth work is defined, supported and recognised across Europe.
2010 – Setting the stage in Ghent
The 1st EYWC took place in Ghent, Belgium, and marked a turning point for youth work. For years, youth work had been a vital but often invisible practice. While it was rooted in values of participation, social inclusion and empowerment, it lacked visibility and policy recognition
The Declaration of Ghent changed that.
Bringing together over 400 participants from diverse backgrounds, the convention gave the field its first truly pan-European voice. Discussions focused on creating common ground: What is youth work? What does it offer young people? What kind of support does it need?
The declaration called for formal recognition, sustainable funding and better support structures. Its influence was immediate. By the end of 2010, the Council of the European Union adopted a resolution on youth work, officially acknowledging youth work’s role in society.
This 1st EYWC also inspired long-term projects like the History of Youth Work in Europe, a seven-volume series published by the EU–Council of Europe Youth Partnership. It began the work of connecting past experiences with present challenges – and gave a new sense of legitimacy to the profession.
2015 – Embracing complexity in Brussels
Five years later, the 2nd EYWC returned to Belgium – this time to Brussels – with a sharper focus. Youth work across Europe had become more visible, but also more varied. From street-based outreach to youth centres, international mobility to digital activism, the sector was becoming harder to define – and harder to support with one-size-fits-all policies.
The 2nd EYWC took on that challenge head on. Its declaration, entitled “Making a world of difference”, sought to celebrate youth work’s diversity while reinforcing shared values and guiding principles. It recognised that different methods and formats could still serve the same purpose: supporting young people in navigating life’s transitions.
Importantly, the convention helped secure two major policy outcomes.
- The Council Conclusions on Reinforcing Youth Work (2015), which emphasised the role of youth work in building cohesive societies.
- The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe’s Recommendation on youth work (2017), which called for the professionalisation of youth workers, the promotion of non-formal learning and the development of supportive policy frameworks.
This convention also laid the groundwork for deeper collaboration between the European Union and the Council of Europe, strengthening the shared vision that youth work must be a strategic priority for Europe – not just a local service.
2020 – Signposts in a time of crisis in virtual Bonn
By the time the 3rd EYWC came around, the world had changed dramatically with the Covid-19 pandemic changing the way we work. Hosted by Germany in December 2020, the convention responded to a sense of both disruption and opportunity.
Held digitally for the first time, the convention gathered hundreds of participants remotely – yet the discussions were no less ambitious. The central outcome was the launch of the European Youth Work Agenda (EYWA), a shared road map to strengthen youth work across Europe through co-ordinated policy and action.
The agenda was adopted as an EU Council Resolution and endorsed by the Council of Europe’s youth bodies, aligning the two institutions behind a long-term commitment. To put it into motion, the Bonn Process was created – a collective effort by national governments, youth organisations, researchers and practitioners to turn the agenda into action on the ground.
The convention’s final declaration, “Signposts for the future”, outlined eight strategic priorities:
- expanding youth work provision and access;
- improving quality and outreach;
- creating spaces for learning and exchange;
- cross-sector collaboration;
- strengthening recognition and visibility;
- investing in innovation and adaptability;
- embedding youth work in policy frameworks;
- building a strategic implementation system.
Each priority reflected the evolving role of youth work – not just as a service, but as a key player in civic life, democracy and social justice. The convention called on all parts of the youth work community to take responsibility for sustaining and advancing the field.
2025 – Malta takes the baton: the 4th EYWC in Valletta
This May, the 4th EYWC, entitled “Youthwork Xcelerate”, will take place in Valletta, Malta, under the Maltese Presidency of the Council of Europe. With over 450 participants expected from more than 40 countries, the convention promises to be a powerful meeting point for ideas, collaboration and strategic planning.
The title says it all: it’s time to accelerate progress.
The programme is built around three thematic pillars.
- Youth Work Core focuses on the foundations: values, ethics, definitions, recognition, quality standards and evaluation.
- Youth Work Environment looks at how youth work operates: youth participation, advocacy, professional development, digitalisation and inclusion.
- Youth Work Systems zooms out to the big picture: policy frameworks, co-operation across sectors, funding and sustainability.
Each pillar will be explored through 15 thematic workshops and 30 practice-based sessions, bringing together lived experience, expert insight and practical tools. The convention’s conclusions will be presented to the Council of Europe Youth Ministers’ Conference in October 2025, potentially shaping future policies and funding priorities.
From declarations to action: what the conventions have built
Over the past 15 years, the EYWCs have helped:
- define youth work in a European context;
- secure political recognition at the EU and Council of Europe levels;
- launch the EYWA and Bonn Process;
- build a transnational community of practice;
- create space for youth worker voices in high-level policy.
They’ve also fostered a more strategic, systemic view of youth work. The field is now seen not just as grassroots engagement, but as an essential contributor to democratic participation, social inclusion, and youth empowerment.
Each convention has built on the previous one, moving from recognition and diversity to structure and strategy.
