ZIF at 2nd EU YPS Conference: Strengthening implementation

From 10 to 14 November, the Second Conference on Youth, Peace and Security and YPS Week brought together 120 young peacebuilders, non-governmental organizations, EU institutions, and member states to take stock of YPS at 10 years and co-shape the future of Team Europe action on YPS.

During the conference, the Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF), together with its partners CMC Finland, the Folke Bernadotte Academy, and CivOpsHQ, organized a spcial focus session on the implementation of the EU’s 2024 mini-concept on YPS in civilian missions under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). In this session, mission representatives and planners from the European External Action Service (EEAS) and CivOpsHQ discussed successes and challenges faced by missions in integrating youth into EU-led peace operations.

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of youth engagement: Young people are actively contributing to peace and security worldwide, both in formal and grassroots processes. Their meaningful participation in intergenerational dialogue is crucial to harnessing their contributions to sustainable peace.
• Progress in CSDP missions: CSDP missions increasingly recognize the relevance of engaging youth and have already made significant progress. The 2024 mini-concept has served as a catalyst for more structured approaches and increased youth engagement.
• Support needed for systematic implementation: To ensure broader implementation of the EU’s YPS commitments, more guidance is needed in mission planning documents. Specifically, youth should be more strongly integrated through specific directives in planning documents.
• Expertise for working with youth: Working with young people in crisis regions requires specialized expertise. YPS-focused training and the exchange of best practices between missions can help intensify mission staff's engagement with youth.
• A vibrant YPS community: The conference highlighted that the YPS coalition in Europe is a dynamic community of actors. Ongoing dialogue and the implementation of YPS commitments in the coming years will be crucial to building on the momentum of the 10-year anniversary of the YPS agenda.

Background: The YPS Agenda and ZIF's Engagement

Ten years ago, in 2015, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2250, which underscores the role of youth in peace processes and in building sustainable security. The YPS agenda highlights young people as active peacebuilders and calls for their stronger inclusion in political decision-making, especially in regions affected by violence and instability.

As a member of the EU YPS Coalition, we are actively involved in shaping the YPS agenda. The conference week in Brussels marked the 10th anniversary of this important agenda and provided a framework for discussing the role of young people in the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).