This publication was developed in the framework of the Artificial Intelligence for Youth Work (AI4YouthWork) project, a Cooperation Partnership in the Youth field co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

The paper translates empirical evidence generated through the AI4YouthWork project into actionable policy recommendations for the ethical, inclusive, and sustainable integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into youth work systems across Europe. It addresses a significant structural gap: while AI governance and digital transformation strategies are increasingly central to European policymaking, youth work remains largely absent from these frameworks.

The paper identifies structural challenges currently affecting youth work in relation to AI, including fragmented competence development, ethical and legal uncertainty, unequal access to training, and the risk of marginalising youth work in digitally mediated environments.

Based on this evidence, the policy paper proposes coordinated, multi-level action across European, national, and regional governance systems.