What’s politics got to do with it?: European youth work programmes and the development of critical youth citizenship

European youth work interpreted as political is under threat. It is becoming increasingly difficult to address sensitive and controversial issues of the day without negative consequences for individuals and organisations. In an increasing number of countries, including those in the EU, doing so could result in your organisation being excluded from funding, you yourself being accused of over-stepping your mandate as an educator and people in positions of authority withdrawing their trust. This is a political issue in and of itself. For many in the community of practice an important element of their professional and vocational identities is engaging young people meaningfully as citizens, impacting not only their civic and political acumen but also their political agency. In this context, it has become imperative for the European youth work community of practice to question what the political dimension of European youth work is, why it is necessary to think about it and work on it and how it is possible to do this in their day-to-day practice with young people in European projects.