Sweden

The Youth Policy Bill "With a Focus on Young People - a policy for good living conditions, power and influence" (2014) provides the overarching goal of youth policy that all young people should have good living conditions, power to shape their lives, and influence over societal development.

In the Youth Policy Letter (2020/21), the government reports on youth issues related to health, education, work, crime and exposure to crime, housing, leisure, sports and cultural activities. The letter also contains an Action Programme (2021-2024), which presents four new priorities for youth policy: mental health; social inclusion and establishment in the labour market; meaningful leisure time; and involvement in the building of society. The Action Programme includes over 100 initiatives that aim to create the conditions to achieve the goal set out in the 2014 Youth Policy Bill.

"TheMinistry of Health and Social Affairs took over responsibility for youth policy from the Ministry of Culture in 2022. According to the EU Youth Wiki, the Division for Health and Civil Society within the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs is tasked with the coordination and development of youth policy issues, including cross-sectoral youth policy objectives and follow-up of youth policy. The ministry also oversees the development and conditions of youth organisations, as well as international cooperation on youth policy issues.

The Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society (MUCF), also overseen by the Division for Health and Civil Society, ensures that the objectives of youth policy and of civil society policy are achieved. Further, the agency produces research on the situation of youth in Sweden and aids in the development of youth policy at the municipal, national and international level."

The National Council of Swedish Youth Organisations (LSU) is an interest and cooperation organisation that brings together 85 national children's and youth organisations in Sweden. According to their website, their task is "to strengthen the democratic organisation of young people with human rights as a starting point." According to the Country Sheet on Youth Policy in Sweden (2020), LSU is customarily appointed as a referral body for proposals affecting young people. It also appoints youth representatives to international, high-level meetings and committees, largely within the UN and EU. LSU is a full member of the European Youth Forum.

According to the Country Sheet on Youth Work in Sweden (2018), "In Swedish national youth policy, the concept of youth work is almost non-existent. Instead, a related concept is used, namely meaningful leisure activities (meningsfull fritid)." Meaningful leisure activities generally refer to membership-based activities in youth organisations and open meeting places for young people, such as youth clubs or recreational centres.

There is no specific legislation that addresses youth work or requirements and standards for youth workers at the national level. Instead, it is up to the local municipalities to decide whether they will consider youth work in their municipal youth policies and how it should be evaluated accordingly. However, there is still a strong tradition in Swedish government for providing grants to youth organisations, which is currently carried out by the Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society (MUCF).

According to the Budget Bill for 2021, a total of SEK 344.3 million (USD 32.7 million) will be allocated to youth policy. This includes SEK 51.6 million for the Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society (MUCF), SEK 290.6 million for grants for national and international youth activities, and SEK 2 million for special initiatives in youth policy. The Spring Change Budget for 2021 increased the amount allocated to the Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society (MUCF) by SEK 30 million (USD 2.8 million). It also allocated SEK 180 million (USD 17 million) to provide aid for youth struggling to find work due to the Covid-19 pandemic.