How can young people help revitalise democracy in their communities? This question was at the heart of “Think globally, act locally!”, the Youth Day organised by the Council of Europe’s Youth Department on 4 November at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg, following the World Forum for Democracy.

Bringing together around 135 young people from diverse backgrounds, the event provided a space for intercultural dialogue and collective reflection on the future of democracy and meaningful youth participation. Participants included members of the World Forum for Democracy youth delegation, young people from Strasbourg and the Grand Est region, and members of the Génération Francophonie delegation, coordinated by the Office franco-québécois pour la jeunesse (OFQJ) with partner organisations in Quebec, Germany and Belgium.

Building on the discussions of the World Forum, the Youth Day invited young participants to reflect on the challenges facing democratic societies and explore how young people can turn shared ambitions into concrete action at local level.

Tobias Flessenkemper, Head of the Council of Europe Youth Department, opened the event. The programme then moved into participatory workshops, where participants explored the challenges to youth participation and discussed ways to strengthen it at local and regional levels.

A highlight of the programme was “Strasbourg Talks”, which brought together representatives of local, regional and European institutions for an exchange with young people. Speakers included Pap Ndiaye, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of France to the Council of Europe; Youness el Hassnaoui, Deputy Councillor of City of Strasbourg; Mathieu Mori, Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe; and Claudia Luciani, Director for Democracy at the Council of Europe.

The discussion offered an opportunity to explore how institutions and young people can work together to strengthen democratic participation, respond to local needs and create opportunities for young people to influence decisions affecting their lives.

In afternoon workshops, participants exchanged experiences and developed ideas for local initiatives and potential cooperation to revitalise democracy and youth participation. By bringing together young people from across Europe and around the world to exchange ideas and identify courses of action, this event helped connect the wider debate on democratic renewal and concrete initiatives rooted in local life. The discussions highlighted the importance of connecting European and global perspectives with the realities of local communities.

The Youth Day also continued the reflection on youth participation initiated at the June 2026 event on the New Democratic Pact for Europe, which produced the Manifesto: Youth Visions for a European Democracy in 2049. Participants considered how this wider vision of democratic renewal could be translated into action in their own communities.

Particular attention was given to the European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life, a key Council of Europe standard promoting young people's involvement in decisions and activities that affect them. Participants explored how such standards can support meaningful participation and inspire action in their own communities.

At the close of the day, Diamando Zisimopoulou and Marcus Melau, representatives of the Advisory Council on Youth, shared their reflections on young people’s participation and the importance of putting local democratic standards into practice. Diamando Zisimopoulou said: “Young people from around the globe made it loud and clear that they want more participation in the decision-making table. It was clear during the discussion that young people care, they are interested and willing. They just need an open door!”

Marcus Melau added: “Democracy starts with young people at the local level. It is clear after the many exchanges today that the implementation of the European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life is much needed in the member states. We should not play bingo with young people's influence depending on postal codes.”

Organised with the support of the City of Strasbourg, the Grand Est Region, the European Collectivity of Alsace and the French Government, the Youth Day reaffirmed the importance of cooperation across institutions, organisations and generations.