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PRESS RELEASE - EU and ETF support to young people in Ukraine: Towards a Youth Guarantee

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Turin, 3 March 2025 – A high-level delegation from Ukraine will visit Turin and Rome on 3-7 March 2025 as part of a programme led by the European Training Foundation (ETF) to exchange knowledge in support of employment policies for young people in the country. The visit aims to explore effective solutions to the growing challenges faced by Ukrainian youth as a result of the war. It will prepare the ground for Ukraine's implementation of the Youth Guarantee, an EU initiative that empowers young people to contribute to society and drive economic progress. The initiative also represents a key step towards strengthening cooperation in support of youth in Ukraine ahead of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, scheduled for July 2025.

ETF Director Pilvi Torsti welcomed the initiative, stating: “We deeply respect and admire Ukraine’s high-level commitment to the Youth Guarantee, even in the most challenging circumstances. The Youth Guarantee is a crucial step in ensuring that young people have access to education, training, and employment opportunities as a response to the devastating consequences of the Russian invasion. With our extensive expertise and long-standing cooperation with Ukraine, the ETF welcomes this timely visit as an opportunity to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices in skills development and human capital investment. It is essential that the Youth Guarantee initiative aligns with Ukraine’s EU accession efforts, ensuring that its youth employment policies reflect the best practices of the EU.”

The delegation, representing a broad range of Ukrainian stakeholders—including government officials, ministries, civil society, social dialogue partners, and youth—is led by Ukraine’s Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, Andriy Chesnokov. It will engage with Italian and European stakeholders, focusing on integrated measures to support and engage young people, particularly those not in education, employment, or training (NEET).

Deputy Minister Andriy Chesnokov underlined the significance of the initiative, stating: “Ukraine’s future depends on its youth, and ensuring their access to education, employment, and skills development is a strategic priority for our country. The Youth Guarantee is a powerful instrument that will help us prevent the loss of human capital, support young people in realizing their potential, and drive national recovery. Its successful implementation is also a key step towards Ukraine’s European integration, aligning our policies with EU best practices. We deeply value the steadfast support of our European partners, whose expertise and solidarity are instrumental in building a system that guarantees every young Ukrainian a place in the country’s economic and social renewal.”

The visit, coordinated by the ETF’s Task Force on Ukraine, is part of a preparatory journey undertaken by the Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Youth Guarantee in Ukraine in collaboration with the European Commission, the International Labour Organisation, the EU4Youth programme and EU Member States.

Key highlights of the visit in Turin (3-5 March)

As part of the programme, the Ukrainian delegation will engage with regional and local authorities, including Agenzia Piemonte Lavoro and the Turin City Council. The delegation will visit several educational institutions in Turin, to gain first-hand insights into innovative approaches to skills development and youth employment:

  • Fondazione ITS Mobilità Sostenibile - Aerospazio/Meccatronica Piemonte (4 March): A vocational training institution that bridges the gap between education and industry by equipping students with skills tailored to the aerospace and mechatronics sectors.
  • ENGIM Piemonte ETS - Artigianelli Torino (5 March): A technical and vocational education and training (TVET) centre known for its work-based learning programmes, particularly in the artisanal and digital manufacturing sectors.

Key highlights of the visit in Rome (6-7 March)

Following the discussions in Turin, the Ukrainian delegation will travel to Rome for meetings with Italy’s Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, youth policy stakeholders and the European Commission Representation in Italy. These engagements will provide strategic insights into policy design, and the role of diverse stakeholders in implementing labour market and youth policies.

ETF’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine

As a longstanding partner of Ukraine, the ETF has been actively engaged in supporting human capital development through policy advice to labour market and education system reforms. The ETF’s Knowledge Sharing Programme on the EU Youth Guarantee reflects its commitment to ensuring Ukraine benefits from EU expertise and best practices in developing inclusive labour market policies. Previously, the ETF has supported its implementation in EU candidate countries, such as in the Western Balkans, and more globally, such as in Thailand, by providing policy advice and facilitating peer learning with EU Member States. The visit marks a significant step in Ukraine’s efforts to align its policies with EU standards and foster long-term economic and social resilience.

Background

The European Training Foundation (ETF), headquartered in Turin, Italy, is the EU agency supporting reforms in education, training, and labour markets across 28 partner countries, particularly in the context of EU enlargement and neighbourhood policies.

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