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Safe digital environments: Pompidou Group’s advancing action on the mental health and wellbeing of children and youth online
Policymakers, researchers and practitioners from the Pompidou Group member States and internationally gathered in Vienna and online on 2–3 June 2026 for a thematic seminar dedicated to the topic of online and digital addictions....
Europe strengthens co-operation on drug policy and addictions at Pompidou Group meeting in Vienna
How can Europe respond more effectively to organised crime linked to drug trafficking, protect human rights, and tackle emerging forms of addiction in an increasingly digital world? These questions were at the centre of the 98th meeting of the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe, held in...
Pompidou Group adopts new Guidelines to strengthen member States' response to drug-related organised crime (OC-DT)
The Permanent Correspondents of the Pompidou Group have adopted new Guidelines designed to strengthen member States’ response to Organised Crime linked to Drug Trafficking, while ensuring full respect for human rights.
Conference addresses growing involvement of youth in terrorism and violent extremism
Digital spaces like gaming platforms can allow radicalisation to grow
Congress Highlights – New edition published
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities has issued its latest biannual publication Congress Highlights covering key activities from May to December 2025. The publication presents the...
Help us update "Solutions Exist!" board game on youth participation
"Solutions Exist!" was developed in Ukraine in 2023–2024 in response to requests from national and local partners of the Council of Europe project "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III",...
First Meeting of the Joint Council on Youth in 2026!
On 24-25 March, the Joint Council on Youth came together for its first statutory meeting of the year with the new Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ) starting into its mandate of 2026-2027. The...
From Commitment to Implementation: Making Social Rights Real for Young People
Young people across Europe face significant barriers to accessing their social rights, including unpaid internships, low wages, and inadequate protection in certain jobs. These challenges are...
Deputy Secretary General addressing youth: “Democracy is an evolving process”
Seminar on the role of National Youth Councils in strengthening democracy
Youth democratic participation – especially at local level – essential in times of stability and crisis alike
New Committee of Ministers recommendation to European governments
From Scroll to Action: Rural Youth Leaders Strengthen Media Literacy for Democratic Participation
Thirty young people and youth leaders active in rural youth organisations from across Europe came together in Budapest for the study session “From Scroll to Action: Media Literacy for Rural...
Council of Europe calls for stronger co-operation and balanced drug policies at the 69th CND Session
Today, 10 March 2026, in Vienna, Ambassador Gerhard DOUJAK, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Vienna, delivered a statement on behalf of the Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions (Pompidou Group)....
The Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions at the 69th UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs: advancing human rights-based drug policies
From 9 to 13 March 2026, the international drug policy community will gather in Vienna for the 69th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND). As the capital city for the Presidency of the Council of Europe’s International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions (2026–2027), Vienna...
European Rural Youth Forward Conference 2026: From Vision to Action in Rural Youth Participation
Photos by Rural Youth Europe More than 100 rural youth leaders, representatives of youth-led and young farmers’ organisations, and Spanish and European policy-makers gathered between 25 and 28 February in Infiesto, Asturias, for the European Rural Youth Forward Conference 2026, “From Vision to...
Acquittal of Congress youth delegate: Young people must be able to make their voices heard without fear of reprisals
“I welcome yesterday’s decision by the Ankara courts to acquit Enes Hocaoğulları, the 2025 Congress youth delegate in respect of Türkiye, of all the charges brought against him following words he spoke during a plenary debate held by the Congress in Strasbourg on 27 March 2025,” said Council of...
Youth work on the frontline: a tale of resilience
Second collection of youth work experience in Ukraine during time of war published
Council of Europe Congress reaffirms its support to Congress youth delegate ahead of his trial in Türkiye
On 23 February 2026, Enes Hocaoğulları, Congress youth delegate and human rights defender, will face trial in Ankara for a speech he made in a plenary debate held by the Congress in Strasbourg on 27 March 2025, on dismissals of mayors in Türkiye. On this occasion, the President of the Congress of...
Parliamentary Assembly calls for young people to be equal partners in European democracy
A “culture of trust between generations” must be nurtured
Record number of young people apply to Congress youth delegates’ programme
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has received a record-breaking number of applications for its “Rejuvenating Politics” initiative for 2026. By the 15 December deadline, 830 applications had been submitted from 46 member states and one Partner for Local...
PACE committee calls for young people to be equal partners in European democracy
The Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media has reaffirmed that the effective participation of young people is “vital for the renewal, resilience and legitimacy of democratic institutions” and stressed that Europe’s future depends on societies “in which young...
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