The peer learning event was devoted to Activation, with a special focus on long-term unemployed, and to Outreach. The participants were exposed to the different activation strategies, evidence on the effectiveness of job search requirements and strictness of sanctions, differences between tier one and tier-two benefit system, types of activation approaches applied by EU27 countries in the Youth Guarantee, including the principles of the EU recommendation on the integration of LTUs, EU practices and outstanding challenges. In addition, the participants benefited from the presentations of examples of strategies implemented in the EU to reach out to young people who are detached from the labour market, as well as of the EU experiences in dealing with women with care responsibilities, discouraged workers and “other” NEETs.

The Republic of North Macedonia was the forerunner among the EU non-member states in introducing the Youth Guarantee in 2017. Therefore, the study visit, as part of the peer learning activities, afforded an opportunity for Public Employment Services (PES) officials and the YG Coordinators from the Western Balkan economies to review the challenges, lessons drawn, and good practices identified the 5-year implementation of the Youth Guarantee in North Macedonia. The study visit to the Employment Service Agency of North Macedonia touched upon two major phases of the YG implementation, namely, preparatory services and quality offer, and provided insights into the need for and challenges related to monitoring.