The meeting will take place on 6-7 May 2025 in Marienthal, Luxembourg, under Luxembourg’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

With the theme “Spaces for young people”, the event will explore youth work across Europe and the need for quality spaces designed with and for young people. Public authorities will also highlight the positive impact of youth facilities, encouraging member states to engage in the network of Quality Labelled youth centres.

The opening will feature the Grand Duke of Luxembourg and keynote speeches by Matjaz Gruden, Director for Democracy at the Council of Europe, and Claude Meisch, Minister of Education, Children and Youth of Luxembourg. Remarks will follow from Miriam Teuma, Chair of the European Steering Committee for Youth, and Jessy Jónsdóttir, Member of the Advisory Council on Youth.

Since March 2022, the Council of Europe’s “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine” project has supported youth policy and work under war conditions, collaborating closely with Ukraine’s Ministry of Youth and Sports.

On 1 April 2025, the project entered its fourth phase in partnership with the Ministry, the All-Ukrainian Youth Centre, and the Ukrainian Youth Foundation. Running until December 2026, it aims to empower young people through participatory youth policies and quality youth work, helping them build resilience, safeguard well-being, exercise their rights, and contribute to Ukraine’s reconstruction.

A 3-day seminar from 23-25 April 2025 trained local consultants - trainers and researchers - on effective planning, implementation, and evaluation of capacity-building activities. Natalia Radchuk, Head of International Cooperation at the Ministry, shared youth sector priorities and updates, including insights from the 52nd session of the co-managed youth decision-making body of the youth sector.

Young people are central to Ukraine’s recovery, both as beneficiaries and key actors. Supporting Lviv-European Youth Capital 2025 is essential, and the Council of Europe remains committed to aiding young Ukrainians through the evolving realities of war - addressing youth work, policies for veterans, IDPs, minority youth, housing, education, and public health.

On 16 April 2025, the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Bjørn Berge met with a group of Serbian students who arrived in Strasbourg on bicycles, having made the journey from Novi Sad. The meeting took place in the European Youth Centre of the Council of Europe.

The Deputy Secretary General listened to the messages from the students and promised to transmit them to the competent bodies of the Council of Europe. He also presented the priorities of the organisation, notably in the efforts to restore confidence in democracy in Europe and make it more resilient. This is also the main objective of the Secretary General’s initiative for the New Democratic Pact.

From 4 to 7 April, young trainers and educators from the Nordic countries and regions gathered on Utøya Island, Norway, to strengthen their competences in human rights education aimed at combating hate speech, extremism, and xenophobia.

The participants, aged 16–25, are actively involved in youth work, campaigns, networks, youth organisations, or other activities that promote young people’s engagement in addressing these issues in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland.

Over four days, participants explored and practiced human rights education and non-formal learning methods based on the Council of Europe educational resources such as Compass and Bookmarks. The training also provided a space for sharing experiences within the Nordic context and building networks.

In April, the Programming Committee on Youth approved funding for 11 pilot activity projects, granting a total of €156,648. These projects tackle key issues like human rights education, civic engagement, empowerment of youth with disabilities, Roma youth rights, and peacebuilding through intercultural dialogue.

Additionally, two international projects received funding under the EYF special call supporting young people from Ukraine. One project focuses on youth involvement in Ukraine’s post-war recovery, while the other trains young women with disabilities in leadership skills to enhance their participation in European political processes. So far, 52 projects have been funded, benefitting 3,768 participants, with a total of €797,842.94 awarded under the Special Call for Ukrainian youth. These initiatives aim to create meaningful change in communities across Europe.