logo Council of Europe
DG Democracy
Directorate of Democratic Participation
Youth Department
THINK YOUTH No 88 - January 2021
Revitalising pluralistic democracies
Debate available online

The Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ) organised a public debate under the aegis of the German presidency of the Committee of Ministers, on the topic of  “Revitalising pluralistic democracies”. 

With this debate, we aim to explore the current challenges for young people to participate democratically from different perspectives, and to find some solutions that could help us tackle this issue, as well as to create a solid basis for the further development of a future youth sector campaign.

The panellists explored current challenges for young people to participate democratically from different perspectives, and the necessity and urgency of a future youth campaign on how to revitalise democracy.
Youth Information and Counselling in Europe in 2020
ERYICA new publication

In the framework of the Partnership Agreement between the Council of Europe and ERYICA, the two organisations published the Youth Information and Counselling in Europe in 2020 booklet.

The publication includes survey results about the current situation of youth information and counselling. It can be read and downloaded free of charge.

The publication gives a thorough overview of organisations that coordinate youth information services in Europe and in certain cases provide youth information themselves. The booklet guides you through the continent and provides a snapshot as complete as possible about the state of the art of youth information and counselling in Europe in 2020. As well as a country overview and key data, for each organisation, the publication also showcases the implementation of the principles of the European Youth Information Charter and shares good practice examples.  

Have a look at the other tools and resources offered by ERYICA.
Youth sector statutory bodies’ Bureaux: democracy, Covid and the upcoming statutory meetings
18 and 19 January 2021 - online

The Bureaux of the European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ) and of the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ) met to discuss the ongoing work of the Council of Europe youth sector in 2021 and beyond.

During a stimulating debate with the Director of Democratic Participation, the Bureaux members discussed a future flagship youth campaign to be centred around the state of democracy today, and examined the conditions that need to be met in order that the Joint Council on Youth (CMJ) may take a decision at its March 2021 meeting on the feasibility of going ahead with the campaign.

The Bureaux finalised the agendas of the next plenary meetings, to be held in March 2021, and heard progress reports on the work on protecting youth civil society; Roma youth participation; climate crisis and governance; and on Artificial Intelligence and its impact on young people.

The follow-up to the 3rd European Youth Work Convention (December 2020) and the Council of Europe’s role in the implementation of the European Youth Work Agenda were also discussed at length.
Youth Centres follow-up to the 3rd EYWC
17 representatives of 11 youth centres holding the Council of Europe Quality Label for Youth Centres gathered on 21-22 January 2021 for a virtual follow-up meeting to the 3rd European Youth Work Convention (EYWC) which took place in December 2020.

On the occasion of this unique event, the participating centres were provided with the opportunity to present themselves as a collective for the very first time which was both an empowering and motivating experience.

Although national approaches to implement the European Youth Work Agenda may vary from country to country, youth centres in the Quality Label network remain committed to take joint action to achieve goals set out in the Agenda. Participants see great potential in the Quality Label network of youth centres to fill the gap between the European and local level of youth work and to ensure that the key message of the Final Declaration of the Convention gets disseminated to national and local levels.
Youth for Democracy in Ukraine
The Council of Europe Action Plan on Ukraine 2018-2022 is a strategic programming instrument which aims, through co-operation, to accompany the country in its efforts to bring legislation, institutions and practice further into line with European standards in the areas of human rights, the rule of law and democracy.

Youth has been present in the Action Plans of the Council of Europe on Ukraine, with results in the definition of youth policy in Ukraine, the quality and provision of youth work and a strong emphasis on youth participation and human rights education.

The project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine” is a part of this Action Plan which is built on previous experience and fruitful bilateral co-operation between the Council of Europe and the Ministry in charge of youth policy in Ukraine; it is implemented between March 2020 and December 2021 and based on standards of the Council of Europe in the youth field; 3 Committee of Ministers Recommendations have been published in Ukrainian:
 
Youth Sector Strategy 2030: brochure now available in 38 languages!
In 2020, the Committee of Ministers adopted the Council of Europe youth sector strategy 2030, which was officially launched by the Secretary General and the President of the Ministers' Deputies. Since then, the Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the capacity of this long-term strategy to respond to new challenges, and to continue empowering young people despiste difficult circumstances.

The strategy's thematic priorities  remain as relevant as ever. In this context, the need to increase the dissemination and translation of the Council of Europe youth sector strategy 2030 has been underlined by several stakeholders. To that end, the brochure summarising the strategy's vision, principles, missions, priorities, and instruments is now available in 38 linguistic versions, covering all the official languages of the States Parties to the European Cultural Convetion.

Do not hesitate to spread and use this brochure in your daily work!
Youth Department Trainers Pool prepared for 2021
20-23 January 2021, online - 10th Consultative meeting

40 trainers consulted during an online meeting to exchange and update their network and knowledge within the Council of Europe youth sector with the aim to develop their work in the implementation of the Youth for Democracy programme, notably also during the pandemic.

Trainers exchanged also on quality criteria and methodology for online education and training and discussed a proposal for adopting some COMPASS manual's activities on the e-learning platform of the Youth Department.A strong shared wish for 2021 is to have as soon as possible the opportunity to go back to the European Youth Centres and hold activities with youth organisations.
International seminar “Remembrance and learning from WWII”
What may we take from the past to live better today and tomorrow?

The seminar was held online - for the first time - from 14-18 December 2020 and brought together around 50 participants from 23 countries.

The event aimed at strengthening the relevance and quality of remembrance activities with young people today, on the occasion of 75 years since the end of the Second World War and marking the 70th anniversary of the European Convention on Human rights. 

The seminar formed part of the 2020 Action Plan of the Framework Programme on cooperation between the Council of Europe and the Russian Federation in the field of youth policy, as a contribution to implementing one of the objectives of the Framework Programme – promoting intercultural dialogue, peace-building and cultural diversity.
Continued availability of the EYF consultancy service until June 2021
In November 2020, the EYF established an online consultancy service to assist youth organisations with approved grants in implementing and adapting projects during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It has now been decided that the EYF consultancy service shall remain available until June 2021. This service is free of charge for all youth organisations with ongoing EYF funded activities and we encourage you to take advantage of it.If you are interested in accessing this service, please book an appointment.
EYF grant for projects in the category Pilot Activities increased to €15 000
The Programming Committee on Youth decided to raise the maximum grant for pilot projects by 50 %. Youth organisations can now apply for a for a maximum of 15 000 EUR.

The aim of pilot activities is to support action which addresses needs identified and/or challenges faced by young people at local level. The pilot activities should have a clear link to and impact on the local context and address the focus themes set by the Joint Council on Youth:
  • Access to rights
  • Youth participation and youth work
  • Inclusive and peaceful societies
 
New podcast series on youth: trends, research and youth policy and practise!
Welcome to UNDER 30', the podcast series by the EU-Council of Europe youth partnership that brings research results, explores trends in young people's lives and themes relevant for youth policy and practice.
Already available:
  • Education career paths of youth workers in Europe
  • Young people, digitalisation and techlash
  • The impact of COVID-19 on youth services
  • Youth work in Eastern and Southeast Europe 
 
More episodes are coming, stay tuned and start listening!
The effects of COVID-19 on young people’s mental health and psychological well-being - new publication
The EU-Council of Europe youth partnership has published The effects of COVID-19 on young people’s mental health and psychological well-being by Stefanos Mastrotheodoros, PhD.

"The pandemic tends to magnify pre-existing social inequalities in resources (such as good quality education, income, access to health care, access to other supporting services) resulting in an unequal impact on youth from different social strata." Read the publication and find out more about the impact of COVID-19 on the youth sector on the COVID-19 Knowledge Hub.
Upcoming activities
  • 9-10 February 2021, online: Preparatory seminar for Compass National Training Course organisers
  • 11-12 February 2021, online: Review of the implementation of the Recommendation on Young people's access to rights 
  • 16-18 February 2021, online: Consultative meeting on the climate crisis, young people and democracy 
  • 24-26 February 2021, online: Consultative meeting on combatting all forms of discrimination with an intersectional approach
 
Useful links
The CoE Directorate General Democracy
The CoE Youth Portal
European Youth Centre Budapest
European Youth Centre Strasbourg
European Youth Foundation
Intergovernmental Cooperation
The EU-CoE Youth Parthership
Facebook pages
Advisory Council on Youth
Council of Europe - Youth
European Youth Centre Budapest
EU-CoE youth partnership
European Youth Foundation
No Hate Speech Movement
Coyote magazine
Send us your comments and suggestions
Council of Europe, Avenue de l'Europe F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex
Tel. +33 (0)3 88 41 20 00
www.coe.int
logo Council of Europe