Under the authority of the Committee of Ministers, the Joint Council on Youth (CMJ) will oversee the Council of Europe’s programme in the field of youth and advise the Committee of Ministers on all questions within its area of competence.

Taking due account of relevant transversal perspectives, the Joint Council on Youth, within the framework of the Council of Europe policy established by the Committee of Ministers, is the youth policy-making body of the youth sector, bringing together the members of the European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ) and the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ).

With this purpose, the Joint Council on Youth is instructed to:

• (i) develop, jointly between member States and non-governmental youth organisations, standards of European youthpolicy with a view to submitting them, where appropriate, to the Committee of Ministers and other relevant bodies of the Council of Europe;
• (ii) prepare the priorities and expected results of the youth sector, and apportion the budgetary means available within the political and budgetary framework established by the Committee of Ministers;
• (iii) establish the structure and programme policy of the youth sector;
• (iv) contribute to the effective mainstreaming of youth policies across the Council of Europe’s programme of activities;
• (v) contribute to transversal activities of the Council of Europe involving youth;
• (vi) evaluate on a regular basis the implementation of Resolution CM/Res(2008)23 on the Council of Europe policy in the field of youth;
• (vii) where appropriate, contribute to the preparation of the Council of Europe Conferences of Ministers responsible for Youth and ensure, as appropriate, the follow-up of any decision taken by the Committee of Ministers subsequent to the Conferences;
• (viii) identify opportunities for Council of Europe input and/or complementary Council of Europe action and programmes, taking into account the activities of other international organisations, in particular the European Union, the United Nations and the OSCE;
• (ix) take due account of a gender perspective in the performance of its tasks.
• (x) implement the youth related elements of the Council of Europe Action Plan on the fight against violent extremism and radicalisation leading to terrorism.

Pillar:  Democracy

Sector:  Promoting Participation and Diversity

Programme: Youth for Democracy

• (i) Support all forms of youth par ticipation as a way to increase the possibilities for all young people to influence decisions in democratic processes and structures in their living environment with special emphasis on: formal and non - formal democratic participation processes; increasing young people’s participation in voting; prevention of social exclusion; E - forms of youth participation; participation at local and regional levels; Revitalizing European values though notably innovative forms of human rights education;
• (ii) Promote young people’s access to rights by supporting youth policy and youth work, and facilitating their transition to autonomy , active citizenship and their social inclusion with special emphasis on: the acquisition of competences for positive and purposeful personal, civil and professional futures through non - formal learning; solidarity and dialogue between generations; implementation of the CM recommendation on young people’s access to rights (if adopted); increasing capacity of youth NGOs to work with multiple discrimination; access to social rights of vulnerable groups;
• (iii) Provide young people with capacity building opportunities to increase their involvement in the development of inclusive and peaceful societies with special emphasis on: the follow - up of the No Hate Speech Movement; contribution to mutual understanding though non - formal (and formal) education; mobility and intercultural learning; social inclusion of migrants, young refugees and minorities; follow - up of the Roma Youth Action Plan.

The members of the European Steering Committee on Youth (CDEJ) and the members of the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ).

The Council of Europe will bear the travel and subsistence expenses of each member (two in the case of the State whose representative has been elected Chair).

Participants:

The participants in the European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ) and the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ), without the right to vote and at the charge of their corresponding administrative budgets

Observers:

The observers in the European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ) and the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ), without the right to vote and without defrayal of expenses;

The “Pool of European Youth Researchers” (PEYR), co-operating with the Council of Europe Youth Department and the European Commission in the framework of their partnership in the field of youth, will be invited to send a representative without the right to vote. The expenses of this representative are borne by the Council of Europe in derogation from Resolution CM/Res(2011)24 on intergovernmental committees and subordinate bodies, their terms of reference andworking methods.

Meetings:

80 members, 2 meetings in 2016, 1.5 days

80 members, 2 meetings in 2017, 1.5 days

The meetings of the CMJ are held during the meetings of the CDEJ and CCJ.

The Committee will also appoint a Gender Equality Rapporteur from amongst its members.

The rules of procedure of the Committee are governed by Resolution  CM/Res(2011)24 on intergovernmental committees and subordinate bodies, their terms of reference and working methods.