BackStrengthening Support for Young People NEET in the Baltic Sea Region
On 11–12 March 2026, experts and practitioners from across the Baltic Sea Region gathered in Kraków to strengthen cooperation in supporting young people who are neither in employment, education nor training (NEET).
The meeting was organised together with the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR) as part of the Policy Area Education flagship School to Work (S2W), led by Gunnar Anderzon at SALAR, within the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR).
A sincere thank you to our colleagues Katarzyna Nyklewicz and Paulina Sas (Simonides) in Kraków for hosting this important meeting and for the excellent collaboration, and to all partners who contributed to the discussions.
Supporting young people in NEET situations
Young people who are neither in employment, education nor training (NEET) represent a diverse group across the Baltic Sea Region. Typically aged between 18 and 30, around 10% of young adults fall into this category, although definitions vary between countries.
The challenges are complex and varied. Some young people experience social isolation, limited access to guidance, or difficulties in transitioning from education to working life. Without early and targeted support, these challenges may deepen, making it harder to re-engage with education or employment.
A decade of cooperation: School to Work (S2W)
Supporting young people in NEET situations has been a priority for Policy Area Education for more than a decade. This led to the launch of the flagship School to Work (S2W), a collaborative platform where stakeholders across the Baltic Sea Region work together to develop solutions to common challenges.
One key outcome of this cooperation is the BSR NEET Agenda (2020), which highlights Youth Guidance Centres as an effective model for supporting young people in vulnerable situations.
Within the framework of S2W, partners have developed a Baltic Sea Region model for Youth Guidance Centres, including a training curriculum for coordinators introduced in 2021 and piloted across the region the following year.
Based on this model:
- new centres have been established in Lithuania and Poland
- centres in Finland and Germany have further developed their work through exchange of good practices within the macro-region
Launch of a Baltic Sea Network
A new step was taken during the meeting in Kraków, where more than 50 participants from seven Baltic Sea Region countries gathered for a conference and workshop to launch the Baltic Sea Network for Youth Guidance Centres and NEET services.
Participants shared experiences and began co-creating solutions on topics such as:
- building trust with young people in vulnerable situations
- strengthening connections between guidance centres and employers
- developing supportive ecosystems around youth services
The network will now continue as a knowledge hub for the Baltic Sea Region, organising online workshops, study visits and an annual conference.
Contact
For more information, please contact:
Anders Bergström
anders.bergstrom@norden.se
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