After extensive consultations with youth and policymakers in the region, youth unemployment was chosen to be the focus of the First Regional Thematic Youth Policy Lab.
Youth and policymakers have undergone training in each economy on the Methodology and Model following which the Regional Pool of Experts was established and had the chance to share their views during online training sessions organised in each economy in November and December 2020, followed by a two-day online event Kick-Off of the First Regional Thematic Youth Policy Lab on Youth Unemployment organised on 14 and 15 December 2020.
Each Working Group comprised of representatives of youth and policymakers coming from different economies and worked together on three sub-topics:
- Quality Internships and Apprenticeships: Smooth Transition from School/Education System to Labour Market and Fair Working Conditions, with focus on NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) and Vulnerable Groups;
- Education and Training for Quality Employment: Skills for Youth to Match Labour Market Needs;
- Entrepreneurship: Incentives and Programmes.
In addition, after the sessions in Working Groups, participants gathered in a plenary session where they presented and discussed jointly 11 regional policy recommendations which were adapted by each economy.
Following regional recommendations, each of the Working Groups worked on their Action Plans and concrete activities (campaigns, research, law amendments, etc.) at economy level. All of these were presented at the Mid-Term Conference in October 2021.
Tangible results were presented at the Final Conference on June 14th 2022 in Budva.
