On Wednesday, April 8, 2026, a working meeting was held at our premises, dedicated to discussing youth involvement in local decision-making processes. The event brought together representatives of young people, institutions, and the professional community with the aim of developing concrete guidelines to improve structured dialogue in the City Municipality of Maribor.
Key Highlights of the Event
The discussion confirmed that young people in Maribor are interested in participating, but they face limitations within the existing system. The following key challenges were highlighted:
- Young people are not directly involved in formal decision-making structures.
- It is unclear what happens to youth initiatives after submission.
- Responsibilities for further consideration of proposals are not defined.
- Existing mechanisms do not ensure continuity of participation.
Participants noted that youth participation exists but often does not lead to concrete results.
Youth Consultative Body as a Pilot Model
Special attention was given to the role of the Maribor Youth Consultative Body, which currently functions as a pilot space for participation. Although it does not have formally defined powers, it already contributes to shaping initiatives and influencing discussions, demonstrating its potential for further development.
Systemic Arrangements Are Needed
One key finding of the event was the need to establish a clear and transparent system that would enable:
- a clear path from idea to decision,
- defined roles for institutions,
- mandatory feedback to young people,
- monitoring and evaluation of proposals.
Participants agreed that for long-term effectiveness, legal regulation is also necessary to formally integrate structured youth dialogue into the municipality’s operations.
Broader Significance of Youth Participation
The discussion also highlighted the broader societal importance of involving young people, particularly in the context of:
- declining youth participation,
- the need to strengthen democratic competencies,
- increasing exposure to polarization and manipulative content.
In this context, youth participation is not just a tool for policy development but also a key element in the development of a democratic society.
Conclusions from the Event
The event confirmed that there is a strong foundation for developing a more effective model of cooperation between young people and institutions. The next steps will focus on creating concrete systemic solutions that ensure youth ideas do not remain at the discussion level but become part of actual decisions.