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Civil and political freedoms

in Greece

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In 2022, 77,000 young people (15-24 years old) were unemployed with the unemployment rate reaching 31.4 per cent (more than twice the EU average of 14.5 per cent).
NEETs rate is 10.7 (EU 9.6 per cent) while the NEET rate for youth having attained tertiary education is the highest in EU (26.4 per cent) (EU 8.1 per cent) (2022).
In 2022, 41 per cent of young people reported that they have not participated in any of the eight activities linked with social and civic participation during the past 12 months.
8 per cent of Greek youth interviewed had participated in a political organization or political party (similar to EU average), and 11 per cent in a youth organization, club or NGO (EU average at 8 per cent).
11 per cent have participated in an organization promoting human rights or global development (EU average at 10 per cent), 24 per cent in a sports club (similar to EU average), and 11 per cent in a youth club, leisure-time club or any kind of youth organisation (EU average at 15 per cent).
14 per cent have participated in an organization active in the domain of climate change/environmental issues (EU average at 12 per cent) and 10 per cent in a cultural organization (EU average at 11 per cent).

Gender

Women and girls are disproportionately affected by unemployment. Females aged between 15 and 24 years old have a 43 per cent higher unemployment rate compared to males (38.8 per cent vs 25.1 per cent) (2022).
The rate of employed men was 19 per cent and employed women was 13.1 per cent (among those aged 15-24 years) (2022).

Sub-national

The highest percentages of youth unemployment (15-24) are observed in Thessaly (51.4 per cent), Central Greece (46.8 per cent), Epirus (43.5 per cent) and North Aegean Islands (43.5 per cent). However, the greatest absolute number of unemployed youth is located in Attica where the majority of the Greek population resides (2022).
In 2022, in rural areas NEET rates were higher (14.3 per cent) than in urban areas (7.9 per cent).

Other

The possibility of being NEET (for 15 to 24-year-olds) is 36 per cent higher among foreigners compared to Greek citizens (15.3 per cent vs 10.6 per cent) (2022).

Enabling Environment

Legislation, policy, resources, coordination, data

Limited mechanisms at the national and sub-national level to ensure the effective participation of children and youth in decision-making.
Greece has low rates in all three pillars of the European Skills’ Index (ESI) which points to a mismatch between formal education and skills required for youth to access the labour market, with almost half of Greece businesses (47 per cent) indicating that this gap hinders their growth (CEDEFOP).
Lack of life skills, career orientation and opportunities for job experience acquisition are some of the key factors limiting youth access to the labour market.
21^st Century Skills are not systematically included in the formal education curriculum.

23(a) Implement decision 28/2019 of the Data Protection Authority and decision 1759-1760/2019 of the Supreme Administrative Court to remove the reference to religion from school files and living certificates;
23(b) Ensure that all students, regardless of their or their parents’ religion or belief, can be exempt from religious classes, including by reviewing Ministerial Decision of 22 January 2018;
23(c) Review Law 344/1976 to repeal the requirement to register parents’ religion in birth registration certificates.

Establish mechanisms to capture and highlight the views of young people.
Improve coordination among different stakeholders, including inter-ministerial efforts to take actions and decrease the percentage of youth who are NEET.
The Strategic Plan for Vocational Education Training, Lifelong Learning and Youth 2022-2024, issued by the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports (ΜοΕRA) in January 2022, states the basic principles of the Policy Strategy for Youth. The Strategic Plan focuses on three main pillars, including (1) vocational education and training; (2) lifelong learning, including adult learning; and (3) youth.
The National Strategy for Youth Employment (2021-2027) was published in January 2023 and aims to update and expand the previous Youth Guarantee Action Plan (2018-2020). The Strategy is structured around six main axes, including (1): identification, outreach and guidance; (2) developing and expanding Skills; (3) support for accessing employment; (4) equal opportunities in access to employment; (5) promoting youth entrepreneurship; and (6) improving and enhancing the governance framework.

Adequately staffed services, facilities, information, commodities

Limited platforms at local/municipal level for genuine youth participation.
The legal framework for participation in Municipal Youth Councils dates back to 2006 and such Councils are only functioning in a handful of municipalities.

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Establish, improve and provide adequate resources for mechanisms of child participation at the national and subnational levels.
Strengthen civic education around citizenship, equality and participation in democratic processes and support students to engage in their school’s daily life and decision making.
Improve the job readiness of youth entering the labour market through integrated, modularized programmes that include basic and life skills development, active job orientation and counselling as well as mentorship and apprenticeship.

Financial access and social behavioural drivers

Widespread perception that children’s participation is difficult, costly, and demanding in resources and expertise.

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