PRESS RELEASE - Youth at the heart of post-war recovery: ETF at URC2025

Rome, 10 July 2025 – The European Training Foundation (ETF), the European Union’s agency based in Turin, Italy, which supports skills development and education in EU's neighbouring countries, is contributing to the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 (URC2025) in Rome by highlighting the importance of investing in young people and their future.

Now in its fourth edition, the Ukraine Recovery Conference brings together governments, international organisations, financial institutions, civil society, business leaders, and local authorities – all committed to helping Ukraine recover from the impact of Russia’s full-scale war.

In this context, the ETF is sharing its long-standing experience in supporting Ukraine’s education and training systems and will now announce the introduction of the EU supported “Youth Guarantee” in Ukraine. ETF Director Pilvi Torsti will speak at a panel on youth and sports (11 July, 15:00-16:15) together with Glenn Micallef, EU Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture & Sport, Andrea Abodi, Minister for Sport and Youth of Italy, Matvii Bidnyi, Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine (online).

“The Youth Guarantee is more than a policy – it’s a way to rebuild trust and deliver real support for young people,” said Pilvi Torsti, Director of the ETF. “In countries like Finland, it helped bring down youth unemployment and strengthen public services. For Ukraine, it can offer a practical and proven way to help young people build skills, find their path, and reconnect with their communities and their future.”

This panel follows a visit to Italy in March 2025 by a Ukrainian delegation led by Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, Andriy Chesnokov, representing a wide range of organisations working on youth issues. The visit, organised and coordinated by the ETF, helped create new connections and share knowledge on how to shape effective youth employment policies – a priority area for Ukraine’s recovery.

Youth Guarantee: A tested model for Ukraine’s future

Since the start of the war, the ETF has increased its support to Ukraine through a dedicated Ukraine Task Force. This team works to strengthen education and employment systems, encourage cooperation across institutions, and help Ukraine prepare for long-term recovery and EU membership. 

Together with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Economy, and a broad Inter-Agency Working Group that includes civil society and international partners, the ETF is helping Ukraine to develop and roll out its own Youth Guarantee.

This initiative aims to ensure that every young person under 30 in Ukraine receives a good-quality offer of a job, training, apprenticeship, or further education within four months of leaving school or becoming unemployed. The programme also promotes better career guidance and support for young people with disabilities to access the labour market. 

The Youth Guarantee is currently being implemented in Western Balkan countries, in the context of their pre-accession actions. 

About the ETF

The European Training Foundation (ETF), based in Turin, Italy, is the EU agency supporting reforms in education, training, and employment in countries neighbouring the European Union. The ETF's board includes representatives from the 27 EU Member States and is chaired by the European Commission.

The ETF has worked with Ukraine since its independence, and today it remains a key partner, helping to develop modern vocational education, promote lifelong learning, and support innovation in skills development. Its work at URC2025 reflects the European Union’s strong commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine in building a resilient and forward-looking future.

Press contact

Daria Santucci, +39 366 9639638, mediarelations@etf.europa.eu