Youth

The Council of Europe has for decades supported democratic innovation and youth participation as essential pillars of democratic resilience. As many European societies face rising levels of distrust in institutions, political disengagement among youth, and increasing polarization, it is critical to find ways to reinvigorate democracy from the ground up.

Participatory and deliberative democracy offers a promising mechanism to rebuild trust, foster inclusion, and improve the quality of decision-making. The Council of Europe, through its institutions, networks, and programs, is uniquely positioned to lead the effort in engaging citizens in policy development and decision-making and support its member states in the role of young people as co-creators of democratic renewal.

 This in-person roundtable, co-organised with the Embassy of Ireland in Hungary, will kick off the Council of Europe’s event series “Strengthening Democratic Resilience through Youth Engagement and Deliberative Democracy”. This series aims to enhance the intersections between youth engagement and deliberative democracy, provide inspiration and practical guidance for actors from the youth sector of member states, and equip future advocates and practitioners with the skills and knowledge necessary to implement high-quality deliberative processes that meet standards set by the Recommendation CM/Rec (2023)6 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on Deliberative Democracy.

 Drawing on Ireland’s positive experience, the goal of this roundtable is to spark dialogue and raise awareness about the transformative potential of deliberative democracy - particularly citizens' assemblies - in revitalizing democratic institutions and fostering meaningful citizen engagement in both local and national contexts. The focus will be on how young people can act not only as subjects but as active agents in public affairs and policymaking.