IntroducciónCuando se ponen en relación las palabras "infancia" y "ciudadanía" aparecen, casi automá-ticamente, frases del estilo de "La infancia es la ciudadanía del futuro" o "Hay que formar a los menores para que después sean buenos ciudadanos". Estas, aunque siempre dichas con la mejor intención, olvidan dos cosas importantes. La primera, que los niños/as no son ciudadanos/

The training and professionalization of youth workers in Europe has been implemented differently in each social and political context. This chapter focuses on how the training and professionalization of youth workers has evolved at a European level and its current situation, as well as concerns and challenges that arise in international debates. The training and professionalization of youth workers in Europe is currently being systematized through the deployment of regulatory frameworks, most of which are promoted by the Council of Europe and the European Union within the framework of the European convergence process. Despite this, there is much diversity in terms of types of training, recognition levels, and intervention models. However, consensus is gradually being reached regarding functions and competences that can contribute both to the credibility and recognition of professionals and to the improvement of their working conditions and quality of interventions.