Democratic backsliding, disinformation, impunity, and authoritarianism are undermining democracy in Europe. People are increasingly afraid and frustrated. It comes at a time when democratic security – the resilience of our democratic institutions, freedoms, and values – is our first line of defence against the threats we face. A collective response is needed. There is no quick fix and no single solution. With the New Democratic Pact, the Council of Europe unites with its partners to boost solutions that work and create new responses. To identify them, consultations are needed. The Pact will serve as a collective and inclusive process – not to reinvent democracy, but to reinforce its foundations, amplify its benefits, and innovate its form to make it tangible for everyone, especially younger generations. The directions set during the consultation phase running through 2026 will shape the work that follows.
About the Youth Event
The youth event is the key youth event of the consultation phase leading towards the New Democratic Pact for Europe, being organised in the framework of the Presidency of Monaco of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
The youth event will further strengthen the ties between the Council of Europe, its mission, and young people. The event is designed to discuss the aspirations, challenges and proposals of young people to innovate and renew democracy, building on the commitment and experience of a long-standing partnership in the field of youth.
The Council of Europe has been leading the way in youth participation and engagement in democratic decision-making, starting with its co-management system. More recently, the 10th Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth, held in Malta in 8-9 October 2025, recognised the important role of youth participation. The national delegations included in their composition representatives of youth civil society, in their vast majority national youth councils or similar platforms, where national youth councils do not exist. The Council of Europe Reference Framework on a Youth Perspective sets an innovative and high standard for the integration of young people’s views in decision-making in all policy areas, not only in the youth sector. This offers the possibility of a strengthened role for national youth councils to play an important role in organising youth participation and consultation in member States across policy areas beyond the youth sector. In 2026, the Committee of Ministers joined the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in responding to the needs and aspirations of young people through the adoption of the Recommendation CM/Rec (2026)3 on the European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life, an innovative standard that completes a multilevel framework of governance.
The event also builds on the experience and models tested by youth organisations, laboratories for democratic participation and innovation addressing the full spectrum of youth engagement.
The youth event will develop proposals, as well as creative outputs to be included in the New Democratic Pact, notably in respect of its pillar on Innovating democracy.
Objectives
To engage young people and youth organisation in shaping the New Democratic Pact for Europe with critical discussions and proposals on how to innovate and rejuvenate democracy, ensuring inclusive youth participation.
To highlight practices and initiatives of young people and youth civil society on the relevant content strands of the event
To provide a space for advocacy, networking and dialogue between young people and political representatives at Council of Europe and member States level.
To associate young people and youth civil society, as key partners, with the Council of Europe values and work, notably the New Democratic Pact for Europe.
Programme and outcomes
The youth event will bring together some 120 young people, representatives of youth organisations in their full diversity, including youth initiatives and movements, as well as representatives of national authorities and elected officials, for a three-day programme that will be a strong experience of participation, democratic deliberation, creativity and action characteristic to non-formal human rights education approaches of the youth sector of the Council of Europe. The programme features plenary sessions focused on exchanges with the political leadership of the Council of Europe, as well as democratic dialogue and debates on the key three themes addressed.
The youth event is prepared by a team of representatives of the Advisory Council on Youth, the European Steering Committee for Youth and the European Youth Forum.
Why a New Democratic Pact for Europe? 
About the Youth Event 
Objectives 
Programme and outcomes 
