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Recently there has been a discussion raised within the Commission on Youth Issues whether or how well we know if youth issues are planned and prioritized in UBC cities. To answer these questions, the Commission started a research among UBC members in May 2010. Internet based questionnaire, which consisted altogether of 8 questions on youth policy and youth work strategies, was used as the data collecting method. Within the period of May-Septem ber 28 cities filled the questionnaire.The questionnaire will remain opened for answering until December 2010.

On the basis of the results received by now, the conclusion is that the majority of the cities has youth policy or youth work strategy in their cities (64%) or they are planning to have it or to integrate it into other strategies. Only 4% of those who answered are not even considering the issue. Mostly covered topics in strategical docu ments are youth participation, youth centers and clubs, non-formal education, youth culture. To lesser extent youth unemployment, health and social issues are covered in youth work strategies, which does not mean that these questions are not dealt with, they just might be part of social work plans. It is interesting to notice that fo cus on solving social problems within the youth work is more com mon in Scandinavian cities. In the Baltic States cities co-operation, youth work quality, training for youth leaders and youth workers and following EU Youth Policy guidelines are more stressed. From the goals already mentioned, the dialogue with youth and sup porting participation stood upas most important and that is in line with EU guidelines on Youth Policy, which, as turned out are fol lowed by cities.

In conclusion, it might be stated that 1/4 to 1/3 of UBC cities are actively involved or will be involved in youth policy planning and work strategy.