Amplifying School Students’ Voices in Europe and Beyond – January 2026

Even with the temptation to hibernate under scarves and oversized sweaters, the OBESSU team has not slipped into winter slow-motion. Instead, the office is already buzzing again, clearing the last bits of unfinished business and setting ambitious plans in motion for the year ahead!

International Volunteer Year (IVY 2026): Following the launch last December, the UN declared this year as the IVY 2026 – calling governments, organizations, and communities worldwide to champion volunteerism in all its forms (formal and informal, local and global) while fostering inclusive policies and ensuring volunteer contributions are recognized and measured. We, being committed to inclusive and accessible participation, stand in support of this initiative and shared efforts towards making volunteering visible, valued, and accessible. 

“By promoting volunteerism, we open doors for people to contribute their time, skills and passion to causes that matter, helping to build stronger communities, foster solidarity, and ensure that everyone has a role in creating positive change.”  Knowledge Portal on Volunteerism

EP dialogue with stakeholders on Erasmus+: On January 14th, OBESSU attended, as part of the YFJ delegation, a stakeholder meeting at the European Parliament in Brussels on the Erasmus+ programme for the period 2028-2034. As the Parliament is starting to work on the Commission’s proposal, OBESSU has been invited to share our views and opinions on it. On January 28th, we were at the EP once more, as the CULT Committee held the 2nd hearing on the Erasmus+ programme 2028-2034, focused on Education, Training, and Skills. As part of this session, OBESSU joined as Observer nevertheless we ensured that our positions and key issues were highlighted by our key partners. 

GCE Alliance Meeting January 2026: OBESSU attended the first meeting of the year of the Civil Society Alliance for Global Citizenship Education, covering coordination on key priorities, such as the EU Budget and funding for CSOs, along with opportunities for project cooperation. We would also like to share the survey presented at the meeting, which is part of a research initiative on the fairness of Global Education. Contribute to it here. 

Civil Society Week 2026  “People, Democracy, Resilience – Our Future!”: As part of the EESC CSW 2026, OBESSU is joining forces with ALDA, EPA, EVBB, Inclusion Europe (tbc), LLLP, UEF, and YES to organise a session scheduled to take place on the 2 March 2026 (10:45-12:45 CET). 

Consultative Meeting on INGYOs Resilience: On January 21-23, the Council of Europe’s Youth Department recently hosted a consultative meeting on the “Strength and Resilience of International Non-governmental Youth Organisations” at the European Youth Centre in Budapest. The meeting laid the groundwork for a new capacity-building curriculum and enhanced funding strategies designed to sustain the vital role of youth organizations in promoting democracy and human rights. OBESSU contributed significantly by leading a workshop focused on outreach, engagement, and impact, specifically regarding collaboration with Member Organizations. 

Dedicated Consultation on the Skills Portability Initiative (SPI): On January 29th, OBESSU represented school students, VET learners, and apprentices in the online consultation for Members of the Advisory Committee on Vocational Training (ACVT), focusing on the European Commission’s SPI. The initiative aims to address the limited recognition of qualifications and skills across the EU to open up more opportunities for workers and businesses and make the EU more attractive to talent from third countries.

Youth Forum – MO Consultation on the EU Youth Strategy: On January 29th, OBESSU joined other Member Organisation of the European Youth Forum in discussing key issues of the EU Youth Strategy that should be shared and put forward in the work involving EU institutions and Member States. The Strategy aims to foster youth participation in democratic life, to ensure that all young people have the necessary resEU Youth Strategy, while also supporting social and civic engagement.

EP event on VET Strategy: On January 30th, OBESSU participated in the Launch of the Student Advisory Board, hosted at the European Parliament by MEP Brigitte Van Den Berg. The Board, composed of 30 students from 13 vocational schools, will support the MEP in drafting the European Parliament Report on the next EU VET Strategy.

Mark your calendar:

  • 29/30 January 2026, Informal Meeting of EU Education Ministers
  • 2 February 2026, VET Strategy Online Consultation – Internationalisation
  • 12 February 2026, DG EMPL Strategic Consultation on Skills Portability Initiative & VET Strategy
  • 19 February 2026, Deadline for the EU VET Strategy Call for Evidence
  • 19 February 2026, LLLab Webinar on the Union of Skills
  • 23 February 2026, VET Strategy Online Consultation – Quality & Future-readiness
  • 27 February 2026, Deadline for the EU Skills Portability Initiative Public Consultation

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