Structured Structured Dialogue
Dialogue
Guide to the EU Structured Dialogue Process Guide to the EU Structured Dialogue Process A Toolkit for Members and LGBTQ Youth Advocates A Toolkit for Members and LGBTQ Youth Advocates December 2013 December 2013
Informing EU Youth Policy and Strategy Structured Dialogue is: • a process for young people and national & international policy makers on youth to engage in a dialogue on EU youth policy and strategy • a tool to ensure that youth policy meets the needs and expectations of young people across Europe.
Structured dialogue focuses on one theme over an eighteen-month cycle, which follows the rotating trio Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Since its launch in 2010, youth representatives and policymakers have engaged in serious and detailed debates on the themes of “youth employment” and “youth participation”, leading to a series of important political Resolutions and Conclusions adopted by the Youth Ministers of the EU.
The Process In the Structured Dialogue Process, the three trio Presidency countries decide on the overall theme and priorities for each eighteen-month cycle, endorsed subsequently by the Council of Youth Ministers. Then the current Presidency, the European Commission, and the European Youth Forum then decide on guiding questions for which National Youth Councils and International Nongovernmental Youth Organisations (INGYOs) provide feedback through consultations.
Each Presidency organises an EU Youth Conference where youth representatives and policy makers come together to form recommendations based on briefing documents prepared by the European Steering Committee. The Presidency then submits the recommendations to the Youth Ministers of the Council of EU, which includes the recommendations in its Resolutions or Conclusions.
Stakeholders in Structured Dialogue: • European Steering Committee
• National Youth Councils
• The rotating trio Presidency of the Council of the European Union
• International Nongovernmental Youth Organisations (INGYOs)
• National governments, through the Youth Ministries
IGLYO’s Role in Structured Dialogue Since 2012, IGLYO has become increasingly involved in the Structured Dialogue Process to ensure that the LGBTQ perspective is heard and included. We were part of the group of INGYOs that lobbied to work towards the formal recognition of INGYO’s in the Structured Dialogue process. Using data collected in our 2011 and 2012 Stakeholders’ Surveys, as well as information obtained in the 2013 Strategic Consultation, IGLYO has undertaken the following actions:
• May 2013: Participation in the Review of the Structured Dialogue process Conference, Brussels, Belgium
• September 2012: Submission on youth participation under the Cypriot Presidency
• September 2013: Participation in the EU Youth Conference, Vilnius, Lithuania
• February 2013: Co-signed an appeal to include the contributions of INGYOs in the official Structured Dialogue Process
• October 2013: Workshop on Structured Dialogue at IGLYO’s 2013 General Assembly
• February 2013: Submission on social inclusion and quality youth work under the Irish Presidency • March 2013: Comment on the Joint Conclusions of the Irish EU Youth Conference
• July 2013: Structured Dialogue Conference for INGYOs in Zaragoza, Spain • August 2013: Submission on social inclusion of young people who are not in employment, education, or training under Lithuanian Presidency
• November 2013: Awarded a micro-grant by the European Youth Forum to work on Structured Dialogue • November 2013: Participation in the Review of the Structured Dialogue process Conference, Brussels, Belgium
How to get involved as a Member Organisation Participate in IGLYO’s consultations In order to respond to the requests for information in the Structured Dialogue process, IGLYO uses its membership surveys, research reports and conference data. However, the most valuable information comes directly from you, our members, in response to the guiding questions issued by the Presidency, the Commission, and the European Youth Forum. To help us give the most in-depth and meaningful consultations as an International Nongovernmental Youth Organisation, we need your input throughout the process. Some steps to facilitate your participation in IGLYO’s consultation: Appoint a Structured Dialogue Officer This person will become your local expert in Structured Dialogue. They will also liaise with
IGLYO, building your organisation’s capacity to engage in the process. Respond to requests for information within the timeframe The Structured Dialogue Process runs on tight deadlines. IGLYO will request information from you as soon as possible. However, in order to meet our deadlines, we’ll need responses from you on time. Provide as much feedback as possible Though not all phases of Structured Dialogue apply to IGLYO, we will adapt the guiding questions to fit our membership to ensure the inclusion of LGBTQ perspective in the process. Provide as much feedback as possible, but any response is useful.
Participate in your National Working Group Under the European Youth Forum, National Working Groups coordinate the input on the national level in each of the EU Member States. In most cases, these Working Groups are run by the National Youth Council and Youth Ministries in your country. Contact your National Working Group to ensure your participation Your Structured Dialogue Officer can become a key player in the national process, contributing to the positions that the Working Groups bring to the EU Youth Conference. This process gives you the chance not only to engage in dialogue with stakeholders in your country, but also it gives you the chance to be one of the national delegates in the EU Youth Conference.
Get in touch with IGLYO to locate your Working Group Having trouble getting in touch with your National Working Group? In conjunction with the European Youth Forum, IGLYO can help you find the appropriate contact person. Provide input from the LGBTQ perspective Once you have made contact, and are participating in the process, it is important that you represent the needs and interests of LGBTQ young people. By including these perspectives in the National Working Groups, we will ensure that youth policy – through Structured Dialogue – includes LGBTQ youth.
Integrate the INGYO and the Nation Working Group process As national or regional LGBTQ youth and student organization, you can take part in both Structured Dialogue processes. You can help shape IGLYO’s contribution, and at the same time, you can use IGLYO’s position in your National Working Groups. Provide input into IGLYO’s consultation Providing timely information to IGLYO will help us formulate a position that considers the position that represents LGBTQ young people across Europe on the particular topic. Ask IGLO for feedback IGLYO can help you prepare for the national
consultations. As we formulate our own response to the guiding questions, we can give you tailored information on the topic as it relates to LGBTQ young people. You can also inform us about what types of methods your National Working Groups will be undertaking. Continue to work on Structured Dialogue The Structured Dialogue process is fairly new for IGLYO. We want our Members to continue working on this youth policy initiative as we develop our approach. Your continued involvement, and feedback, helps make youth policy stronger at the EU level.
Let’s work together to ensure the issues important to LGBTQ young people are included in every step of Structured Dialogue.
For more info on Structured Dialogue
Conclusions from EU Youth Conferences
You can watch this step-by-step video on Structured Dialogue as prepared by European Youth Forum www.vimeo.com/40453382
Lithuania www.ec.europa.eu/youth/documents/joint_ conclusions_of_the_eu_youth_conference_in_ lithuania_final.pdf Ireland www.ec.europa.eu/youth/documents/joint_ conclusions.pdf
This guide was made possible through a micro-grant from the European Youth Forum. IGLYO is the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Queer Youth & Student Organisation. For more information about IGLYO or Structured Dialogue, please contact office@iglyo.com.
IGLYO, Belgium www.iglyo.com Š 2013 IGLYO. Reproduction permitted, provided that appropriate reference is made to the source.
This resource has been produced with the support of the Progress Programme of the European Union, the Council of Europe European Youth Foundation and the Government of the Netherlands. The information contained in this publication does not necessarily reflect the position of the funders.