Author

LE
Lilya Elenkova

Lilya Elenkova is a lecturer at the University of National and World Economy. She graduated with Bulgarian Philology at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". In 2010, she also graduated from a Master's Program in International Project Management at the UNWE. In 2021, she defended her PhD dissertation at the Public Administration Department, Faculty of Philosophy of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski". Her scientific interests are in the field of development, implementing, and conducting evaluation and monitoring of youth human capital policies at the local, national, and European levels.

YOUTH POLICY AS A FACTOR FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF COHESIVE AND SHARED SOCIETIES

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58894/EJPP.2025.2.557
youth policy empowerment shared and cohesive societies participation mechanisms youth perspective
June 2025
27

Abstract

The report aims to explain the importance of youth policy and youth participation in the development of a “shared society”, which is defined as “a socially cohesive society. It is stable, safe, tolerant, respects diversity and it is a place where all residents “feel at home”. This report explains how empowering young people to participate in decision-making processes can be a prerequisite for improving cohesion in a society. It confirms that co-constructing reality helps develop a sense of ownership of the process and increases commitment and the desire to protect against disintegration. It also examines the challenges of including a “youth perspective” in order to improve the effectiveness of public policies and strengthen democratic institutions through open dialogue. The focus is also on different instruments for policy management and implementation, such as strategies at European and national level, as well as the relevant accompanying programmes and their implementation. It also examines different mechanisms for the participation of young people and the relevant results achieved with this participation.