logo Council of Europe
DG Democracy and Human Dignity
Directorate of Democratic Participation
Youth Department
THINK YOUTH| No 118 - November-December 2023
The Youth Delegation and the Advisory Council on Youth at the 11th World Forum for Democracy
The Youth Delegation and the Advisory Council on Youth at the 11th World Forum for Democracy

50 young people from 45 countries from all continents, selected from over 2100 applications, travelled to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, and brought their voices to the burning debate ”Democracy = Peace ?“

With war once again returned to the European continent, these young people shared their perspectives and experience, adding a rich global dimension to the Forum. The Youth delegation was actively involved in the Forum with 21 young people as discussants in the Labs and Forum talks. For the second time, a youth delegate played a central role as Youth rapporteur in the closing Plenary Session, and another was speaker in the “Conversations of generations”.

Advisory Council member Marko Lončar participated as discussant in Lab 6 “The age of global protest: how to get out voice hear?” ; together with Anna Knobbout. Nedeljka Ivošević co-chaired the reporting session with Marja Ruotanen, Director General of Democracy and Human Dignity.

This edition of the World Forum for Democracy illustrates the increasing participation of young people in key roles, in line with the commitment taken in the Reykjavik declaration to include a youth perspective in the Organisation’s deliberations.

Find out more about the 11th World Forum for Democracy ›
Let’s get political! Young people stand for a policy of democracy and human rights
Let’s get political! Young people stand for a policy of democracy and human rights

In the framework of the project Youth revitalising democracy, the Council of Europe Youth Department organised the seminar Let’s get political on the engagement of young people in political life; it brought together 80 participants, young representatives of political parties and their youth branches, national youth councils and youth organisations.

The seminar explored the hurdles faced by young people in their political engagement in the current political European context. In the follow-up to the Reykjavik summit of the Council of Europe, the upcoming framework for a youth perspective in the Organisation along with its work to engage young people in political life were introduced by Ambassador Francesca Camilleri Vettiger, Permanent Representative of Malta to the Council of Europe and Tobias Flessenkemper, Head of the Youth Department of the Council of Europe
Read more on the seminar ›
Youth as promoters of sustainability: the European Youth Card as a tool to reinforce sustainable mobility
Youth as promoters of sustainability: the European Youth Card as a tool to reinforce sustainable mobility
Promotional seminar of the Partial agreement on Youth mobility through the Youth Card


The seminar took place in Vitoria-Gasteiz (European Green Capital in 2012), Basque Country on 30 November-1st December under the auspices of Council of Europe, the European Youth Card Association and the Government of Basque Country.

The event was organised in the framework of Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the youth card, a cooperation agreement signed by 25 Member States of the Council of Europe, agreeing to priorities and mainstream mobility in youth policies.

The seminar focusing on sustainability offered a space for debate, update and participation of decision makers, young people, youth workers and private sector around the topic. It brought stakeholders from 17 nationalities to reflect, debate and find common solutions on how to empower and support the young generations to take the driving seat on topics related to climate change, just economic transition and sustainability

Watch the video of the seminar!

More information on the seminar ›
EYF-funded projects in the spotlight: “Youth Impacts: acting for more inclusive communities and civil society organisations working with refugees” by YMCA Europe
EYF-funded projects in the spotlight: “Youth Impacts: acting for more inclusive communities and civil society organisations working with refugees” by YMCA Europe

This one-year project of YMCA Europe aimed to promote inclusiveness, peace, justice and diversity in local communities by improving the impact of refugee services and representational governance processes in youth organisations. During that year, YMCA Europe carried out capacity building activities in connection with local actions to strengthen the capacity of 30 youth NGO leaders on the concepts of impact, intersectionality, vulnerability, work with refugees and intercultural dialogue. By doing so, the project has intensified the effect of social services in 15 youth organisations working with 500 young refugees and other youth from vulnerable groups

“I did not know what to expect from participating in the YMCA Europe Leadership Academy 2023, but I can say with certainty that this experience changed the way I think about myself and my goals forever. For the first time, I looked at impact in society as something that I could achieve. Instead of feeling powerless, I felt motivated to make a change. We learnt how to manage problems and how to create a project while maximising the social impact that our project has on these issues.” (quote from a participant in the project).

Find out more about the project ›
Strengthening the youth perspective after the Council of Europe 4th Summit
Strengthening the youth perspective after the Council of Europe 4th Summit


Mr Thibaut de Saint Pol, Directeur of Youth, Non Formal education and Voluntary organisations and Ambassador Pap Ndiaye, Permanent Representative of France to the Council of Europe visited the European Youth Centre with by Tobias Flessenkemper, Head of the Youth department and Marie Farigoules, Executive director of the EYCS; the visit was the occasion to exchange on areas of future cooperation to strengthen the youth perspective.

Ambassador Ndiaye underlined the pioneer role played by the Council of Europe in the youth sector and the importance of developing the integration of the youth perspective into all Council of Europe activities in line with the Reykjavik Declaration adopted by the Member states of the Organisation on the occasion of its 4th Summit.

EU Delegation visit at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg
EU Delegation visit at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg

On 6 December, Ambassador Vesna Batistic Kos, Head of the European Union delegation to the Council of Europe and Franziska A. Scheppach, Political Attachée paid a visit to the European Youth Centre Strasbourg and met Tobias Flessenkemper, Head of the Youth Department, Marie Farigoules, Executive Director of the EYCS and Clotilde Talleu, Manager of the Youth Partnership.

The Youth Partnership resources, produced throughout the 25 years of co-operation between the two institutions, were presented along with the 2024-2025 workplan. The visit was also the occasion to discuss new perspectives and further developments of this collaboration, to be continued in 2024.

Youth Partnership in 2024-2025
Youth Partnership in 2024-2025


The Youth Partnership’s 2024-2025 workplan was adopted on 21 November 2023 by the Partnership Management Board in Brussels. The two directors, Matjaz Gruden, Director of Democratic Participation, Council of Europe and Sophia Eriksson Waterschoot, Director for Youth, Education and Erasmus+, European Commission both expressed their satisfaction with the 25 years of cooperation between the partner institutions through the Youth Partnership and its valuable contribution to the European youth sector.

The new workplan includes research related to the youth perspective and youth mainstreaming, a symposium on young people, climate crisis and sustainability; and several activities related to youth work.

Stay tuned for the detailed list of Youth Partnership activities!

Read more on the EU-CoE Youth Partnership ›
Mental well-being of young people affected by war
Mental well-being of young people affected by war
EUROPEAN YOUTH CENTRE BUDAPEST, 12-15 NOVEMBER 2023


The Council of Europe and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine co-organised a seminar on the role of youth work in supporting mental well-being of young people affected by war, in the framework of the Youth for Democracy programme.

Among the new priorities for co-operation in 2024, the widespread issues of mental health affecting young people in Ukraine was highlighted by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.  According to the results of a survey conducted in February 2023, 73% of young people expressed a need for more mental support after 24 February 2022. However, only 29.8% sought psychological help.

The seminar brought together youth workers and specialists working with youth in Ukraine to better understand the role of youth work in addressing the emotional and mental health challenges affecting young people in wartime.

Read more on the seminar ›
Consultative meeting on youth participation in digital governance
Consultative meeting on youth participation in digital governance


The meeting took place on 29-30 November 2023 and brought together representatives from youth organisations involved in digital governance and experts in the field of youth participation in Digital Governance to exchange, reflect and make proposals to help the Council of Europe Youth Department identify priorities within this area of work.

The meeting started with a presentation on the state of affairs of youth participation in internet governance and continued with the Council of Europe’s work on digital governance such as internet governance, artificial intelligence, digital citizenship. Special emphasis was put on artificial intelligence methods where specific challenges related to their use and spread were addressed and debated. The group of experts made proposals for improving youth participation on digital governance; they will be submitted to the next meeting of the Joint Council on Youth.

Read more on the Consultative meeting ›
Revitalising Expertise and Commitments - Consultative Meeting of the Trainers Pool
Revitalising Expertise and Commitments - Consultative Meeting of the Trainers Pool


From 11 to 13 December, the 11th consultative meeting of the Trainers Pool of the Youth Department  took place at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg to review developments within the youth sector of the Council of Europe and support quality and relevance of the activities of the Youth for Democracy programme. Organised every two years, the meeting serves to discus matters of common interest,

This meeting focused on developing the Trainers Pool and keep its members up to date with the work of the Council of Europe and the activities of the educational programme of the Youth Department in particular, especially following the 4th Summit of the Organisation. Particular attention was paid to exploring trauma-informed youth work. improve the functioning of the pool and propose ways of improving and sustaining the quality of the activities.

Read more ›
Youth for democracy and participation
EUROPEAN YOUTH CENTRE BUDAPEST - 6-10 NOVEMBER 2023
Youth for democracy and participation

The study session organised by the World Armenian Youth Network (WostAYN) in cooperation with the Council of Europe under the title RIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY WITH THE COMMUNITY! contributed to raise the level of participation of young people and member organisations of WostAYN, including those with fewer opportunities, in democratic processes at local and national levels via traditional and alternative means of participation. In addition to the participatory approaches and dialogical learning, the participants attended a session of the World Forum for Democracy.
Read more on the study session ›
Take initiative
Take initiative
EUROPEAN YOUTH CENTRE BUDAPEST - 6-11 NOVEMBER 2023


The study session Take Initiative organised by the Erasmus Student Network-ESN empowered participants to contribute to matters concerning young people, including policy and political processes at the local, national, and international levels. Throughout the session, participants explored different models of meaningful youth participation and engaged in discussions around challenges and opportunities for youth participation at the local level. Several deliverables were developed including the Erasmus Student Network Charter on Youth Participation, non-formal education session plans, and a map of stakeholders, which will be used when implementing local follow-up initiatives.

Read more on the study session ›
Intercultural dialogue and non-violent communication with young people
EUROPEAN YOUTH CENTRE BUDAPEST - 6-10 NOVEMBER 2023
Intercultural dialogue and non-violent communication with young people


The Youth Department, in co-operation with the World Esperanto Youth Organisation - TEJO, hosted a study session titled “Junularaj Perspektivoj: Rediscussing intercultural dialogue and non-violent communication among young people”. The session brought together young people from 15 member states of the Council of Europe to learn about the value and the challenges of intercultural encounters and to develop their competences to contribute actively to the development of intercultural societies.

Read more on the study session ›
Compass Followers: Training course in Granada
Compass Followers: Training course in Granada


The Compass training course was organised by AIFED (ASOCIACIÓN DE INNOVACIÓN FORMACIÓN Y EMPLEO PARA EL DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE) in partnership with the Youth Department of the Council of Europe. This activity, as part of the Human Education Youth Programme, took place from 6 to 10 November 2023 in Granada, Spain.

Compass Followers introduced human rights education to youth activists and volunteers through various non-formal education activities emphasising topics requested by the participants, particularly discrimination and intolerance, education, democracy, peace and violence, migration. The programme of the training also included components of human rights performance art, flamenco and discussion on youth, peace and security with Professor Jusaima Moaid-Azm Peregrina from Granada University.

Read more on the training course ›
15 January 2024: deadline for pilot activities supported by the European Youth Foundation
15 January 2024: deadline for pilot activities supported by the European Youth Foundation

15 January 2024 is the next deadline for local and national youth organisations to apply for the pilot activity grants of the European Youth Foundation; the second deadline will be on 15 May 2024. Pilot activity grants support projects that address young people’s needs and challenges in relation to the priorities of the youth sector of the Council of Europe, and need to have a clear link to the local context and address the priorities of the youth sector of the Council of Europe. Projects should be based on innovative methodologies, have a clear youth work dimension, be based on non-formal education principles and have local impact with a European dimension.

Projects must also be organised by, with and for young people (between 15-30 years old). Project formats are flexible, and this type of EYF grant can be used for training sessions, meetings, workshops and local actions, visits, campaigns, festivals etc. Have a look at the examples of projects supported!  

More information on the Pilot projects grants ›
Boosting democratic participation of young refugees

Voice of Young Refugees in Europe (VYRE) held the study session ‘Human Rights Education as a Catalyst for Boosting Democratic Youth Participation of Young Refugees in Europe’ at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg on 12-18 November 2023.

The activity empowered young refugees in combating populism and countering dominant negative narratives, to play an active part in constructing firmer democratic and inclusive European societies. The programme and methods are grounded on educational resources on human rights education: the Council of Europe Recommendation on Protecting Refugees in Transition to Adulthood and the Action Plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Migration and Asylum in Europe.

Youth dialogue 2023
Youth dialogue 2023
Young people take a stance for participation at local and regional level


The Youth Regional Centre of Ajara region (Georgia) in partnership with the Youth Agency of Georgia organised in the framework of the project Youth revitalising democracy an international forum on enhancing youth participation at local and regional level. The activity took place in Batumi, Georgia between 20 and 22 November 2023 and it brought together 25 participants from Georgia and 25 from other member states of the Council of Europe.

The activity aimed to create the space to learn and discuss about standards for youth participation and practices at local and regional level, as well as support young people to develop initiatives to further participation.

More on the international Forum ›
Youth dialogue 2023
Training Trainers for Youth - TRAYAZE

The evaluation and consolidation seminar of the long-term training course Training Trainers for Youth in Azerbaijan (TRAYAZE) brought together 32 youth workers, trainers and staff of youth centres at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg on 20-27 November 2023. 

The course is implemented by the Council of Europe Youth Department and the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Azerbaijan, in cooperation with the Azerbaijan Youth Foundation and the National Assembly of Youth Organisations of the Republic of Azerbaijan (NAYORA). The activity is implemented within the Action Plan of the Council of Europe on Azerbaijan 2022-2025 and the project Youth campaign for revitalising democracy.

Read more on TRAYAZE ›
Better Human Rights Education with Young People in Serbia
Better Human Rights Education with Young People in Serbia

The second COMPASS Training course for Trainers in Human Rights Education with Young People took place from 6 to 10 November 2023 in Brzeće, Serbia.

Over the five-day period, 24 youth leaders, multipliers and youth workers were developing competencies to act as trainers or multipliers for human rights education with young people in Serbia. The participants learned how to make use of the COMPASS manual, to design and implement human rights education activities in line with the quality standards of the Council of Europe, to advocate for human rights education and promote human rights education at a national and local level.

The training course follows the publication of the Serbian language version of the COMPASS Manual in June 2023, and contributes to the implementation of the Council of Europe Charter on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education.

Read more on the Compass training course ›
Romania for young people, too?
Romania for young people, too?
National Youth Council organises a debate on political youth participation ahead of the super elections year

The National Youth Council of Romania organised the conference “Romania for young people, too?” on 29 November 2023 in the Parliament of Romania. Organised in the framework of the project Youth revitalising democracy, the conference brought together young people and political representatives to discuss how a Manifesto for political participation of young people of the National Youth Council can be made reality through politics and policy measures ahead of a super elections year for Romania in 2024 (all elections to be held throughout the year).

The conference featured Oana Ţoiu, president of the Commission on Youth and Sports of the Deputies Chamber in the Parliament of Romania, Nina Grmuša, member of the Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe and Mihai Dragoş, vice-president of the Economic and Social Council of Romania. Attended by more than 60 young people, the conference offered solutions to respond to the challenges posed by the high level of emigration among Romanian youth and the limited chances for political participation in the country.

Watch the interview with Advisory Council on Youth member Nina Grmuša ›
YOUTH WORK & YOUTH POLICY IN WAR TIME IN UKRAINE
Since March 2022, the Council of Europe project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine”  accompanies youth policy and youth work under war conditions, the project activities are implemented in close co-operation with the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Ukraine.
Access to Youth Work: Newly Created NGOs started training

On 6-10 November, in Lviv, teams of NGOs took part in a five-day training seminar "Ensuring Young People's Access to Open Youth Work". The programme will be implemented until October 2024 and provides training, mentoring and expert support for the development of project proposals and the implementation of open youth work projects.

Read more on the programme ›
Access to Youth Work: Newly Created NGOs started training
Lviv Regional Forum of Youth Centres and Organisations
Lviv Regional Forum of Youth Centres and Organisations
Presentation of the Council of Europe support and opportunities


On 11-12 November, in Lviv, the Forum of Youth Centres and Organisations gathered representatives of youth centres and civil society organisations working with young people in the region.

Tobias Flessenkemper, Head of the Youth Department of the Council of Europe, welcomed the participants. Grants, capacity building and training programmes, resources, peer exchanges and other activities of the Council of Europe support in the youth sector were presented at the Forum within various sessions.

Also in attendance were representatives of the youth centres of Brežice (Slovenia), Virrat (Finland) and Killarney (Ireland), who spoke about the experience of youth centres with the Council of Europe Quality Label.

Read more on the Forum ›
Participatory Youth Policy in Ukraine: new training programme for civil servants
Twenty-two teachers (trainers) from eleven regions of Ukraine took part in the training for trainers on the programme “Participatory Youth Policy”.
Participatory Youth Policy in Ukraine: new training programme for civil servants
LVIV, 27 November-1st December 2023


The programme aimed to increase the professional competences to deliver training for civil servants and local self-government officials to ensure a participatory youth policy, taking into account the standards and approaches of the Council of Europe.

The programme is based on the developed and approved Model general short-term training programme “Participatory Youth Policy”.

Read more on the programme ›
Strengthening youth councils: the research results of the needs were discussed
Strengthening youth councils: the research results of the needs were discussed

On 5 November, the Council of Europe project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III” presented the research results of the needs and state of activity of youth consultative bodies, in particular, taking into account the needs and realities of young people in the war and post-war period, at an organisational meeting of organisations, which are engaged in the creation and strengthening of youth councils in Ukraine.

On 27 November 2023, the Council of Europe project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III” presented the results of a research of the needs and state of activity of youth centres and spaces of Ukraine of various forms of ownership at the local and regional levels at the All-Ukrainian Forum “Youth Centres in Ukraine: Best Practices of Work with Youth in the Conditions of War”.

Read more on the Council of Europe project in Ukraine ›
Human Rights Education with Children in Belgium

Educators, youth workers and practitioners involved in human rights education, gathered in Brussels from 27 November to 1st December 2023 to explore human rights education for and with children using the Compass and Compasito manuals.

The training course was organised by le Foyer des Jeunes des Marolles in partnership with the Council of Europe ; participants enhanced their capacities as multipliers to promote and advocate for human rights education for children between 8 and 12 at local level in Belgium.

Read more on the training course ›
Human Rights Education with Children in Belgium
Rise: Design for emergent futures
EUROPEAN YOUTH CENTRE STRASBOURG - 26 November-2 December 2023
Rise: Design for emergent futures

Rise: Design for emergent futures, a study session for youth workers and trainers implemented by the Don Bosco Youth Network (DBYN) in cooperation with the Council of Europe, trained volunteers of

DBYN’s member organisations to increase their knowledge and capacities in non-formal education and youth work, specifically in the context of polycrisis.

The session worked on emergent design as a model to support human rights education in emergency times or situations. The volunteers and youth workers explored questions related to human rights, polycrisis, resilience but also facilitation and existing tools, in order to improve their daily youth-work service.

Read more ›
Young people's political participation
Young people's political participation

The Youth Partnership’s recently published Youth Knowledge Book on youth political participation examines young people’s engagement with democracy in the context of shrinking space for civil society, polarisation, economic crisis, precarity and rapid digitalisation. The volume includes seven chapters ranging from the mapping of young people’s involvement in environmental justice movements and climate strikes, dissent and radical kindness, explorations of the understanding of the concepts of liberal democracy, youth voice and European citizenship, as well as the importance and role of values and the context. In addition, there are four personal essays written by young people themselves.

Read the publication ›
Young people's political participation
Transitions on hold?

What have we learned of the impact of Covid-19 measures on young people? This volume of the Youth Partnership’s Youth Knowledge Book series presents an  account of the impact of the pandemic on young people. It broadly confirms the resulting exacerbation of inequalities affecting young people in different ways, as their lives and aspirations were disrupted and put on hold. But it is not completely bad news. Young people also displayed creativity, resilience and sometimes resistance during the pandemic, as did some professionals supporting them. From this diversity of understanding about responses to one crisis, there are important lessons and ideas for youth policy and how it may respond better to similar crises in the future.

Read the publication ›
Youth work in Eastern and Southeast Europe

The Youth Partnership gathered 50 participants at the regional seminar ’Growing youth work in Eastern and Southeast Europe to explore trends and challenges in youth work in the two regions: peer learning, input from practitioners, young people, policy makers and PEYR Advisory Group, mapping challenges and making plans for the coming period.

More on youth work development ›
Youth work in Eastern and Southeast Europe
Bucharest, Romania, 29-30 November 2023
The value of youth work
The value of youth work

How is youth work developing in your country? What are the realities of youth work in Eastern and Southeast Europe? How is youth work functioning under the pressure of multiple crises? What are the priorities now? The Youth Partnership’s new Visible Value handbook builds on the expertise from the 2022 regional seminar and resources of the Council of Europe and European Commission. 

Policy makers, youth work practitioners, actors for youth work development at organisational, local or national level, are invited to use the handbook.

Get your copy of the Handbook! ›
Upcoming Activities and Deadlines
 
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 Partnership

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