Youth Guarantee in Ukraine: a new step towards recovery and EU accession

In a crucial moment for Ukraine's future, a high-level Ukrainian delegation has arrived in Italy for a week-long visit hosted by the European Training Foundation (ETF). This initiative, spanning from Turin to Rome (3-7 March), brings together key Ukrainian government representatives and international stakeholders to exchange knowledge and shape employment policies for Ukrainian youth. 

The visit lays the foundation for the implementation of the EU’s Youth Guarantee (YG), a flagship initiative ensuring young people under 30 receive quality job opportunities and education prospects as Ukraine advances on its EU accession path.

The delegation includes representatives from the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Social Policy, Public Employment Services, Federations of Employers and Trade Unions, and various NGOs.

International partners present include EU Member States (Finland, Italy, Poland), the European Commission (DG EMPL and DG ENEST), the International Labour Organization (ILO), UNICEF, and the EU4Youth programme. Their discussions will contribute to Ukraine’s preparations for the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome in July 2025.

A unified vision for youth employment in Europe

Pilvi Torsti, Director of the ETF, emphasised the importance of Ukraine’s commitment to reform despite ongoing challenges brought by the Russian war of aggression. 

“As Ukraine works towards EU integration, it must reform its economy, education, and labour systems. Our proposal of a Skills Guarantee, made in Berlin last year, can serve as a framework to bring various proposals together, supporting Ukraine’s government in managing change,” she said.

“The Youth Guarantee, a holistic policy engaging multiple stakeholders, is a key part and big umbrella of this vision. Today I see a diverse yet complete group of passionate advocates: never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world.”

Ukrainian officials echoed this sentiment, with Oleksandr Yarema, State Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, expressing gratitude towards European partners. “Italy plays a central role in the EU and in human capital development,” he said. 

We are advancing reforms to align with EU standards, and ETF’s support is invaluable in preparing the implementation of the Youth Guarantee, which is fundamental for our ultimate goal: EU accession.”

Similarly, Tetiana Berezhna, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine, underlined the long-term benefits of the initiative. “This programme will foster job creation and entrepreneurial activities, ensuring that all young people have access to quality job and training offers,” she added. “What is most important is that we take home, thanks to the ETF and partners, concrete policy ideas that will translate into the successful implementation of the Youth Guarantee in Ukraine.”

“Great initiatives begin with small yet determined steps,” stressed Andriy Chesnokov, Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, also remarking Torsti’s introduction. He also highlighted the need for a strong outreach campaign to engage young people.

“We want young people to build their future in Ukraine. Today marks one year since our first step in this endeavour, and now we are here to continue our progress,” he recalled. “Let’s make this week productive, so that we can take concrete political action back home.”

And it got off to a really intense start, with a first day full of discussions, followed by two days of field visits in Turin. Iwona Ganko, leader of the ETF’s Ukraine Task Force, highlighted the longstanding collaboration between Turin and Ukraine: “For two days, we are visiting best practices in the city. Turin is an excellent example of Youth Guarantee implementation, and Ukraine can learn valuable lessons from it - as Turin is also engaged in bilateral cooperation with Ukrainian cities like Lviv.”

Many personal experiences were also shared, adding an extra dimension to policies that can sometimes seem abstract. "I belong to the Erasmus generation, but there is also a Youth Guarantee generation, of which I was a member. Youth unemployment was an issue in Italy, just as it is in Ukraine today, with all the differences of course," said Simone Fissolo, Councillor of the City of Turin.

"I was unemployed after my Erasmus experience, but the Youth Guarantee gave me my first job opportunity. It is a crucial tool for young people, both in Italy and across Europe, and Ukraine can greatly benefit from its implementation.”

Laura Corrado, Head of Unit at the Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL), underlined the importance of ongoing dialogue: "A big thank you to Pilvi Torsti and the ETF team for organising this visit with a rich and enlightening programme. The involvement of Italy, Finland, Poland and other international partners is essential," Corrado added. "This event is an important step, but the conversation on skills does not end here. Dr Torsti will soon be in Brussels with us to continue discussions with agencies and stakeholders, including on the paramount issue of up-skilling and re-skilling the workforce.”

The Youth Guarantee: an essential policy for Ukraine’s long-term recovery

The ETF, in close partnership with the European Commission and international partners, will prepare the ground for the implementation of the Youth Guarantee in Ukraine, following successful pilots from the Western Balkans to Thailand.

Pilvi Torsti also announced the forthcoming launch of the Union of Skills policy at the EU level, reinforcing long-term commitments. “Union of Skills will set the stage for the next four years, with the Youth Guarantee forming part of this larger strategy,” she remarked. “1+1 always equals more than 2 – let’s use these opportunities to exchange ideas and build new initiatives together. The journey towards the future of Ukraine has already started.”

Inspiration from Europe: key takeaways for Ukraine

During discussions, international experts shared experiences and policy insights. Finland’s experience emphasised the need to really listen to young people's needs, balancing digital services with face-to-face support. The Polish presentation emphasised the importance of financial sustainability and monitoring the quality of job offers (which is always difficult to monitor from a State’s perspective, as both presentations noted).

ILO stressed the need for private sector engagement, particularly in supporting SMEs and ensuring decent work, while Unicef outlined key success factors for Youth Guarantee implementation: effective outreach, inclusive training, strong local coordination, and systemic evaluation.

The European Commission reaffirmed support through the €50 billion Ukraine Facility, which funds economic recovery and social protection. "It is subject to strict conditions, but so far the implementation of the Ukraine plan is going very well, so smoothly. So far the EU has delivered €16 billion," said Fernando Fonseca, Policy Officer, European Commission, Directorate General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST).

Moving forward: a shared commitment to Ukraine’s youth

Valentina Rybalko, Vice-Head of Ukraine’s State Employment Service, underscored the urgency of the initiative: “Youth is the foundation of every country’s economic potential. The current crisis is accelerating change, but also opening new opportunities. Ukraine faces an acute need for workforce development and rehabilitation services, particularly for people with disabilities.”

Altogether, participants also acknowledged the challenges ahead: “Public Employment Services need significant support. If we want to involve others, we must first ensure our own institutions provide quality job offers,” Chesnakov added. "And so far we have a lot of problems with that in Ukraine, even apart from the war.”

Cristina Mereuta, Acting Head of Unit for Skills and Jobs Knowledge Hub at the ETF, referenced the experience of the “new” EU Member States from Central and Eastern Europe. "The enlargement waves have taught us that Public Employment Services capacities are crucial in unlocking youth potential through tailored and effective active labor market policies," she said. "To achieve this, skills development must remain at the heart of these initiatives."

Dariia Andriunina, Head of Ukraine’s Employment Department of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, provided crucial workforce statistics, noting 12.5 million people are currently out of the labour force, including 973,000 job seekers, while 706,000 facing significant barriers due to war-related psychological and economic stress, yet a potential basin of potential workforce

Following up on Andriunina’s presentation and closing the discussions, Iwona Ganko reaffirmed the ETF's commitment to supporting Ukraine’s reforms.

“Unity creates prosperity – this must be our motto for the week, and for the coming years.”