At a time when democracies are facing unprecedented challenges, full and active participation of young people stands out as an essential catalyst for democratic renewal and resilience. Collective action of young people who are given a voice and the power to act can strength democratic security in Europe.
This was the rationale behind the Council of Europe making meaningful youth participation one of the key aspects of the 2026 World Forum for Democracy. In addition to hosting a youth delegation of 50 young people from diverse backgrounds and every continent who participated in the forum itself, the Council of Europe, with the support of the City of Strasbourg, the Grand Est region, the Collectivité européenne d’Alsace and the French government, has organised the youth day at its European Youth Centre, to promote local initiatives to revitalise democracy.
United by a shared passion: democracy
The youth day brought together 135 young people from diverse backgrounds. In addition to the 50 members of the youth delegation to the World Forum for Democracy, around 50 young people from France’s Grand Est region, selected by the French partner institutions, and 35 members of the Génération Francophonie delegation, coordinated by the Franco-Québec Office for youth in partnership with youth mobility organisations in Quebec, Germany and Belgium, took part in the event.
Young people from diverse backgrounds discussing together what they can do to boost European Democracy is far more than a mere symbolic action.
By sharing their lived experiences and plans, by reflecting on shared challenges and by inspiring each other, the young people are becoming drivers of change, proposing solutions for a renewed democracy that reflects their own generation – open, innovative, and rooted in solidarity.
Acting locally to turn ambitions into meaningful change
Identifying concrete, locally grounded actions that could take in their own communities to turn shared ambitions into meaningful change was an important objeective of the event. The youth day, which had a strong local perspectve, also aimed at raising awareness of youth participation standards, particularly the European Charter on the participation of young people in local and regional life. The charter was a result of a consultative process set up by the Joint Council on youth and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe .
The Secretary General of the Congress Mathieu Mori was among the speakers at the “Strasbourg talks” panel which also featured contributions from Claudia Luciani, Director for democracy of the Council of Europe, Youness El Hassnaoui, a Strasbourg city councillor, Nicolas Matt, Vice-President of European Collectivity of Alsace and Pap Ndiaye, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of France to the Council of Europe.
The discussions at the Youth Day were intrinsically linked to the Youth visions for a European Democracy in 2049 manifesto, developed during the New Democratic Pact youth event “Innovating Democracy” in June 2026.
Learn more about the Council of Europe’s work for the continent’s youth
