This week, members of the bureaux of the European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ) and the Council of Europe’s Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ) are gathering in Strasbourg for their first official meeting of the year. Held at the European Youth Centre, the meeting considers several initiatives aimed at enhancing youth participation in policy-making processes across Europe.
A key focus is the development of a Reference Framework for the integration of a Youth Perspective into the Council of Europe’s work and in member States’ policies and actions. The reference framework, which stems from the 2023 Reykjavik Declaration, is designed to be a flexible, evolving standard to guide the inclusion of youth perspective in decision-making at both national and international levels. The framework is expected to be presented at the 10th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, scheduled to take place on 8-9 October 2025, in Malta.
The meeting serves as a key preparatory step for the 52nd session of the Joint Council on Youth, set to take place on 7-9 April 2025, in Budapest.
Additionally, the bureaux meeting featured a review of the mid-term evaluation of the Council of Europe Youth Strategy 2030. Researchers provide insights into the progress made thus far, with an opportunity for members to discuss the findings and share perspectives.
Updates are also provided on the collaborative efforts with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to promote a Youth Perspective, including preparations for upcoming roadmap and side events in 2025. Finally, the joint bureaux will consider the ongoing implementation of the 2024-2025 Council of Europe – European Commission Youth Partnership work plan, reinforcing the continued commitment to fostering youth empowerment across Europe.
