What is the Advisory Council on Youth?

The voice of young people in the Council of Europe

About the Advisory Council

The Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ) is the non-governmental partner in the co-management structure which establishes the standards and work priorities of the Council of Europe’s youth sector and makes recommendations for future priorities, programmes and budgets.

It is made up of 30 representatives from youth NGOs and networks in Europe and its main task is to advise the Committee of Ministers on all questions relating to youth. Specifically, the Advisory Council helps to ensure youth policies are mainstreamed into the Council of Europe's programme of activities by providing opinions and proposals to all of the Organisation's bodies. It also ensures that young people are involved in other activities of the Council of Europe and promotes the policies beyond the Organisation. Observers from organisations admitted to the committee can participate in the committee’s meetings.

The Advisory Council on Youth promotes the co-management system in decision-making processes at all levels as a good practice for youth participation, democracy and inclusion, whilst preparing and encouraging young generations to take responsibility to build their desired society.

In practice, the tasks of the Advisory Council on Youth are to:

• contribute to the effective mainstreaming of youth policies in the Council of Europe programme of activities by formulating opinions and proposals on general or specific questions concerning youth in the Council of Europe; where appropriate, address these opinions and proposals to the Committee of Ministers or other bodies of the Council of Europe. The Advisory Council on Youth may also be invited by the Committee of Ministers to formulate opinions on general or specific questions concerning youth policy;
• formulate opinions and proposals concerning the priorities, expected results and budget for the youth sector;
• promote the Council of Europe’s youth policies within the Organisation and beyond;
• designate, for two years, the CCJ members who shall be invited to represent it in the Programming Committee on Youth (CPJ), the co-management body in charge of establishing the programme of activities of the youth sector.

 Here are the Advisory Council on Youth's Terms of Reference for 2024-27 which were adopted by the Committee of Ministers.

   Meet the Advisory Council on Youth

Find out more about the members and the portfolios for which they have responsibility.

Meet the members >