The title of “National Youth Capital” will be awarded annually to a Greek municipality

Every year one municipality of Greece will be proclaimed as National Youth Capital. Specifically, in the context of the complex implementation project of the European Year of Youth 2022 in Greece, the General Secretariat of Vocational Education, Training, Lifelong Learning and Youth of the Ministry of Education and Religion, the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece and the Hellenic Society for Local Development and Self-Government, took the initiative to institutionalize the Honorary Title of the National Youth Capital for the Municipalities of Greece, which will be awarded every year to one of the country’s Municipalities.

It should be noted that the General Secretariat of Vocational Education, Training, Lifelong Learning and Youth as the Government Body responsible for planning, coordinating, monitoring, promoting and formulating the policy proposals applied to vocational education, vocational training, lifelong learning and youth, has undertaken the complex task of implementing the European Youth Year 2022 in Greece.

The institution of the National Youth Capital has a dual goal:

1. To promote the participation of young people aged 15-29 in the political and social life of the country, giving the appropriate incentives through a program of actions and interventions, so that they become active citizens and contribute with their own youthful, meaningful participation in all aspects of city life,
   To promote the Municipality at national and European level.
2. The establishment of the National Youth Capital concerns all the municipalities of the country and requires the adoption of good cooperation practices of the municipal authorities in close cooperation with the young men and women who live in them, in order to co-shape the social, economic, cultural and cultural life of the where they live.

All Municipalities of the country can submit an Expression of Interest Application for the National Youth Capital 2024. Priority in grading will be given to medium and small municipalities of the Greek Region.

A Municipality, in order to receive the Honorary Title of National Youth Capital, must create together with the young people of the city, a proposal and a program that will be identified with the goals of the institution and, at the same time, will bring benefits to the same the city and its civil society.

The selection will be made by the competent Proclamation Committee and the Group of Experts, established by the General Secretariat of Vocational Education, Training, Lifelong Learning and Youth of the Ministry of Education and Religion.

The role of the Hellenic Society for Local Development and Self-Government-EETAA

▪ To provide the services of a scientific and technical advisor to the National Youth Capital 2024 Proclamation Committee in order to reach the most objective decision regarding which Municipality will receive the title of National Youth Capital 2024.

▪ To be a key partner of the awarded city during the preparation, organization and implementation phases of the reference year. The Team primarily supports the Capital in the implementation of the program, leveraging the expertise found within the agency. It also ensures a strong European dimension and links with key international institutions and stakeholders, as well as a network of youth organizations at local, regional, national and European level.

▪ Develop follow-up actions throughout the National Youth Capital process to further identify the needs of the Capital and suggest process improvements.