Webinar: Youth Guarantee Implementation

WEBINAR: Youth Guarantee Implementation: Data, Dialogue, and Best Practices by European Training Foundation (ETF) and World Association of Public Employment Services (WAPES)

Online, 03 June 2025, 12:00 CET

Young people across many countries often face significant challenges as they transition from education to employment. These include limited professional experience, insufficient networks, lack of access to reliable information and guidance, and vulnerability to labour market fluctuations. Addressing these barriers is essential to fostering inclusive and sustainable youth employment.

In this context, the World Association of Public Employment Services (WAPES) and the European Training Foundation (ETF) are co-hosting a webinar focused on exploring effective active labour market policies (ALMPs) for youth. This webinar will provide an overview of how different policies are being implemented and feature two country case studies, highlighting effective practices and innovative strategies that are making a measurable impact in improving employment outcomes for youth.

The event will be held in Russian and English, but interpretation will be available in English, French, Russian, and Spanish.

Raisa DOGARU

Director of the National Employment Agency (NEA) of the Republic of Moldova

Raisa Dogaru is the Director of the National Employment Agency (NEA) of the Republic of Moldova, serving since 2016 after holding several leadership roles within the agency since 1991. With academic training in labour economics, international relations, and economics and management, she has led major initiatives in employment policy, labour market modernization, and migration management. Drawing from extensive national and international training, Mrs Dogaru has played a key role in aligning Moldova’s employment services with international standards, ensuring effective implementation of labour market measures and institutional reforms.

Senior Human Capital Development Expert at the European Training Foundation (ETF)

Cristina Mereuta is a Senior Human Capital Development Expert at the European Training Foundation (ETF), the agency of the European Union in charge with human capital development policies in the neighbouring regions of the European Union (www.etf.europa.eu). Currently, she serves are Head of Unit ad interim of Skills and Jobs Knowledge Hub.

She coordinates the following thematic activities of the ETF: (a) transition to work and employability, including Youth Guarantee and development of active labour market policies; (b) genuine pathways for upskilling, reskilling and comprehensive adult learning strategies; (c) consolidation of qualifications framework, flexible learning pathways and skills portability; (d) skills anticipation and matching, including digital, green and demographic transitions; and (e) social inclusion and equality dimensions of skills development policies. Her expert tasks include advice to the EU neighbouring countries on the design, implementation and monitoring of EU Youth Guarantee-inspired schemes; research and capacity development for skills anticipation and matching; skills mismatches and transition from school to work; policy cooperation frameworks between the European Union and the neighbouring countries as well as collaboration with other international and European organizations active in the fields of employment and skills development for youth and adults.

Before joining the ETF, she worked for the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Romania, where her main responsibilities included serving as Head of the Employment Policy Unit and expert in employment policies, lifelong learning and international relations. Her career also included independent expert contributions to international and European projects or initiatives focused on activation, skills development, and social inclusion; as well as expert collaboration with, among others, the European Commission, International Labour Organization, the Council of Europe, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Head of Unit for European Integration and Projects · Employment Service Agency of the Republic of North Macedonia

Mr. Goran Petkovski has been with the Employment Service Agency of the Republic of North Macedonia since 2010 and currently leads the Unit for European Integration and Projects. He manages EU-funded initiatives, particularly under the IPA framework, with a focus on youth employment and active labour market measures. He has coordinated several major projects targeting young people, long-term unemployed, and women, and contributes to national working groups on labour market strategy and youth employment. Mr. Petkovski holds a Master of Arts in Political Science, focused on public policy, implementation, and governance. His expertise in European integration, project management, and institutional cooperation has significantly contributed to aligning national employment services with EU standards and improving outcomes for young jobseekers.