Together with our partners, we are working to advance young people’s priorities: access to quality education, paid traineeships, quality jobs, affordable housing, healthcare for all, and the fight against climate change.
We are fighting for a social Europe where affordable access to education, jobs, culture, and childcare becomes a reality for everyone, regardless of their financial means, social situation, or ethnic background.
We have successfully fought for key socialist policies – such as the European Youth Guarantee and European Child Guarantee – to improve life for Europe’s next generation.
We also welcomed Commissioner Glenn Micallef’s Intergenerational Fairness Strategy, a roadmap to secure sustainable, future-focused policymaking across the European Union. Focusing on today’s youth and the elderly they will become, the strategy looks beyond short-term fixes to ensure that fairness becomes the cornerstone of Europe’s long-term vision.
Our priorities for young people
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Quality jobs
As we face the economic consequences of war and energy costs, we must ensure that young people are not once again left behind.
They deserve quality jobs and decent working conditions, with fair wages.
The International Labour Organisation estimates that if the right policies are put in place to reach the 2°C target, these could create 24 million new jobs by 2030.
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Decent housing
Housing is a human right, recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and enshrined as Principle 19 of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
The housing market shows clear failures, distortions, and deep fragmentation due to gentrification, financialisation, and touristification.
80 million people in the EU are overburdened by housing costs, including many young people in all regions of Europe.
We are working to make access to affordable housing a reality for everyone.
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Access to education
Quality education is a right for young people, a duty to society and an investment in our future.
Education and training are indispensable to building cohesive and inclusive societies in which citizens can flourish, develop common understandings of our common challenges and acquire the tools to tackle them.We must keep working to ensure equal access to quality education and opportunities for all.
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Health for all
The right to healthcare is a priority for us.
Everyone should feel safe and receive the best care available when they fall ill, including access to mental healthcare. Access to therapy and counselling should not depend on income, background or geographic location.
Sexual and reproductive health rights are crucial for people’s wellbeing and are a cornerstone of gender equality.
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Climate action
The cost of climate inaction far exceeds the cost of action, leaving future generations to bear the consequences.
In Europe and elsewhere, we are already feeling the impact of climate change.
This is why we must invest in the green transition, create green jobs for young people, and develop a sustainable economic model that puts people and the planet first.
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Child Guarantee
The European Child Guarantee was agreed at EU level following years of campaigning by progressive forces. Under the Child Guarantee, children in need in EU Member States have effective, free access to high-quality early childhood education and care, education and school-based activities, at least one healthy meal each school day, and healthcare, as well as effective access to adequate housing and healthy nutrition.
Documents
More documents-
PES Congress Resolution 08 – “For Real Youth Empowerment”
Resolution 08, PES Congress, Amsterdam, 16-18 October 2025View document October 16, 2025 -
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European Year of Youth: High Time for Action!
Declaration adopted by the PES Presidency of 24 February 2022View document February 24, 2022
