Young people's role in renewing democracy at the local and regional levels is crucial and youth perspectives need to be at the heart of decision-making in cities, municipalities, and regions.
These were the main messages of the European Youth Conference “Young people in local and regional life: Democracy in action!” held in Braga from 5 to 7 February. It brought together around 150 youth leaders and representatives of local and regional authorities from 42 countries of Europe.
The participants of the conference shared ideas on how to best revise the European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life so that the needs of younger generations are addressed.
The participants call for clear governance structures with defined responsibilities, ensuring youth participation in implementation, monitoring, and accountability, including consequences for non-compliance. They also emphasised the need for greater inclusivity of marginalised groups, clearer implementation guidelines, accessible language, and stronger directives, while addressing funding responsibilities.
Visibility and awareness raised through digital campaigns were also underlined as an important point for improvement of youth participation in local decision-making. Young people need to be better informed about the Charter and the rights they have, thus communication about those through digital channels is crucial.
Over the three days, the participants had the chance to exchange experiences and best practices on democratic participation, challenges, opportunities, and practical strategies for strengthening youth participation in decision-making.
They also got a chance to see what youth participation looks like in Braga – the most youthful city of Portugal, to learn from local initiatives, and leave with fresh inspiration and practical strategies to strengthen youth engagement back home.
The photo exhibition "Between Light and Darkness", featuring photographs by Konstantin and Vlad Liberovih and Yurka Dyachyshyn, was opened in the city of Braga and representatives of Lviv – European Youth Capital 2025 were also guests in the conference.
The conference was co-organised by the Council of Europe Youth Department and the Braga Youth Centre, and in partnership with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, the Municipality of Braga, the Portuguese Institute for Sports and Youth and the European Youth Forum.
Press release about the kick-off of the European Youth Conference
