How can European youth policy adapt to the war in Ukraine, and how can we support the well-being of young people coming of age in war conditions, displaced within their own country or to other European states? This is the key question of a five-day seminar in Strasbourg starting on Monday 30 September. The event brings together professionals, volunteers, policy makers and experts working with young people from Ukraine. Participants from Ukraine, Armenia, Czechia, Croatia, Denmark, Georgia, Greece, Romania, Portugal, France, Switzerland, and the UK will discuss their experiences in addressing the needs of young people impacted by the Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
On 2 October the seminar will feature a public discussion “Youth, Ukraine, Europe: Coming of age during war. How can European youth policy adapt?”, aimed at shedding light on the role of youth policies and youth work in Europe to support young people experiencing war and its consequences. Matjaž Gruden, Head of the Directorate of Democracy of the Council of Europe, Yevheniia Kravchuk, Member of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and Andriy Chesnokov, Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports of Ukraine will take part in the public discussion.
The event seminar and its activities are organised within the Framework Programme for co-operation in the field of Youth Policy between the Council of Europe Youth Department and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine for 2021-2025. Its outcomes will be reflected in the 4th European Youth Work Convention in May 2025 and the Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth in October 2025.