Partial agreement on Youth mobility through the Youth Card

The Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card was set up in 1991 at the initiative of the then Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Catherine Lalumière, following the Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth held in Lisbon (Portugal). At this Conference, the ministers advocated an increase in mobility of young people between the East and the West.
The Committee of Ministers' Resolution ResAP(1991) revised in 2003 (Resolution ResAP(2003)1) institutes a Partial Agreement on the Youth Card for the purpose of promoting and facilitating youth mobility in Europe. The Partial Agreement is part of the Youth Department of the Council of Europe and thus follows the priorities and objectives of both the youth sector and the Council of Europe as a whole.
Developments regarding the European Youth Card scheme and/or youth mobility policy
NEW! Presentation leaflet in 38 languages & promotional brochure in 7 languages!

Aims of the partial agreement
The overall objective of the Partial Agreement is for member governments and EYCA member organisations to work together to create better mobility solutions for young people. This general objective implies two main aims:

1. Development of the Youth Card scheme
The Statute of the Partial Agreement states:
“The Partial Agreement shall be aimed at developing the Youth Card scheme, particularly at European level in the best interests of young people […] with a view to facilitating their mobility as well as their access to the various goods and services necessary for their personal and cultural development.”
This is the first goal of the Partial Agreement.
Anyone under the age of 30 can become a youth cardholder, a young person does not need to be a student or a resident of a European country.
Youth cards provide young people – residents or travellers – with access to advice, discounts and benefits in the fields of mobility, accommodation, culture, language courses and services and products both on-line (by category, city or country) and off-line. Youth cards are issued by national youth card organisations.
2. Development of better youth policies with and for member governments
The second goal is to cater to the interests and needs of the member governments on youth mobility and youth card issues. The work programme is devised in such a way as to generate and mobilise knowledge on these issues, share best practices and thus offer better policy solutions (seminars, workshops, symposia, etc). These activities are followed by Best Practice Publications and recommendations for specific actions to member States and EYCA national member organisations.
A wide range of stakeholders is activated for that purpose: governments, European institutions, business community, experts, academics, youth NGOs, national youth card organisations as well as young cardholders themselves. Thus, member States both actively contribute to and benefit from the expertise of the Partial Agreement.

What is a partial agreement?
A Partial Agreement is a particular form of co-operation within the Council of Europe. It allows member States to join or abstain from a certain activity advocated by other member States. From a statutory point of view, a Partial Agreement remains an activity of the Organisation in the same way as other programme activities. The exception lies in the fact that a Partial Agreement has its own budget and its own working methods which are determined only by the members of the Partial Agreement.
How does it work?
The programme of activities is overseen by a Board of Co-ordination made up of 17 members:
- eight representatives of the Partial Agreement member States appointed by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe;
- eight members of the European Youth Card Association appointed by the latter;
- one representative appointed by the Advisory Council on Youth without the right to vote.
What is the procedure for joining the Partial Agreement?
For member States of the Council of Europe and States parties to the European Cultural Convention:
- These member States may join the Partial Agreement at any moment by simply making a declaration to this effect to the Secretary General. This consists in sending an official letter or a verbal note from the Minister of Foreign Affairs or from the Permanent Representative of the country to the Council of Europe addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
For States outside the Council of Europe and not party to the European Cultural Convention:
- On a proposal by the European Youth Card Association and the Board of Co-ordination of the Partial Agreement, the Committee of Ministers may invite any non-member State of the Council of Europe to join the Partial Agreement, following consultation with any other non-member States already participating.

Partial agreement member States
Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, The Netherlands, North Macedonia, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia and Switzerland.
More information on membership

Activities
2022 - Planned activities
- PA seminar 50/50 for civil servants on youth policy and youth leaders ‘Implementing Council of Europe standards in youth work: a roadmap to shaping the European youth work agenda’ - Malta, May 2022
- PA seminar ¨Democracy done right: young people as key actors in pluralistic democracy and the role of the European Youth Card as a civic engagement tool´ - Ireland, September 2022
- PA seminar ´Mobility of youth from disadvantaged backgrounds: the European youth card as a tool to promote interculturality and access to rights´ - Italy, November 2022
2021
- Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card - Annual report 2021
- Reimagine our future: youth policies meeting new realities - The role of the European Youth Card in connecting topics with youth policy development, 18-19 November 2021, Valletta, Malta - Report
- European Youth Card as a tool to build resilient communities, seminar organised in the framework of the Conference ''ReStart ReNew ReIntegrate-Opportunities for young people after coronavirus'', 29 October 2021 (Budapest and online)
- Mental health in digital environments - The role of European Youth Card in supporting a resilient generation, 18 Octobre 2021, (Ljubljana and online); REPORT; Presentations
- Promotional Seminar of the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card, 16 March 2021, online - Report
- Partial agreement work programme 2021
2020
- Ministerial Feedback on the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the European Youth Card - Report by Dan Moxon, People Dialogue and Change (18/02/2020)
- Partial agreement work programme 2020
- Webinar “New challenges and opportunities for innovative youth services. The role of the European Youth Card in promoting the rights of young people in post COVID era”, 5-6 November 2020, Athens and online
Webinar report
- Role of European Youth Card in promoting young people’s rights post-COVID, 5-6 November 2020, Athens and online
- Report of the 44th meeting of the Board of co-ordination of the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card, Strasbourg, 6 October 2020
2011-2019
2019
- Final report 2019 - Development of the European Youth Card: Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the youth card and the European Youth Card Association
- Promotional Seminar of the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card, 12-13 November 2019, Brussels, Belgium
- Seminar report: Exploring different models of democratic participation: fostering youth participation through the European Youth Card, 17-18 October 2019, Strasbourg, France
- Report of the 43rd meeting of the Board of co-ordination of the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card, Strasbourg, 14 October 2019
- Partial agreement on youth mobility through the youth card - 43rd meeting of the Board of co-ordination, Strasbourg, 14 October 2019. Implementation of the Partial agreement work programme
- Report of the 42nd meeting of the Board of Co-ordination of the Partial Agreemnt on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card, 18 March 2019, Budapest, Hungary
- Seminar on: Youth work and sustainable communities: the role of the European youth card in delivering youth services 5-7 May 2019, Helsinki, Finland
2018
- Final report of activities 2018
- Programme of activities 2018
- Report of the 40th meeting of the Board of Co-ordination of the Partial Agreemnt on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card, 26 March 2018, Budapest, Hungary
- Seminar report: From youth policies to good practices: the European Youth Card as a tool to promote access to social rights for all young people Budva, Montenegro, 22-24 April 2018
- Report of the 41st meeting of the Board of Co-ordination of the Partial Agreemnt on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card, 15 October 2018, Strasbourg, France
- Seminar report Brain drain or brain gain? The role of the European Youth Card in providing opportunities for young people at home and abroad, Zagreb, Croatia, 28-30 October 2018
2017
- REPORT of activities 2017
- Implementation of the work programme 2017
- Report of the 38th meeting of the Board of Co-ordination of the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card, 27 March 2017, Budapest, Hungary
- Report of the 39th meeting of the Board of Co-ordination of the Partial Agreemnt on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card, 16 October 2017, Strasbourg, France
- Contribution to the 2017 European University on Youth Policies (CDEJ Summer University) 29-31 August 2017, European Youth Centre Budapest, Hungary; Presentation; Practice descriptions
- Report of the seminar Promotional Seminar of the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card 14-16 December 2017, Varna, Bulgaria
- Report: Countering Violent Extremism and Youth Radicalisation: Using the European Youth Card to Promote Peaceful Communities 29-31 January 2017 | Nicosia, Cyprus
- Presentation EYC services to combat social exclusion in Catalunia
- Presentation United Network of Young Peacebuilders
- Presentation Role of business sector in combatting youth radicalisation
- Presentation Struggles for success
- Presentation EYCA Good practices in countering violent extremism and youth radicalisation
2016
- Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card - Final report 2016
- Report of the 36th meeting of the Board of Co-ordination of the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card, March 2016, Budapest, Hungary
- Partial Agreement & The European Youth Card: 30 Years Implementing Youth Policies 28 September 2016, Sitges, Spain - Seminar Report; Programme; Background document.
- Presentation - “Youth Card in Catalonia” Actions and boost of the social role - Generalitat de Catalunya, Agència Catalana de la Joventut
- Presentation - Young Scot Card: a tool for delivering policy
- Presentation - Diàk Kedvezmény - The new Student Discount System, Hungary
- Presentation - The Youth Card Promoting Mobility
- "Online, mobile and active: engaging communications with new generations" - EYCA Conference and General Assembly, 2-5 June 2016, Gdansk, Poland
- "Mobility towards Inclusion: European Youth Card supporting young migrants & refugees" 10-11 May 2016, Samobor City, Croatia. Final programme
- Report of the 37th meeting of the Board of Co-ordination of the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card, October 2016, Strasbourg, France. Work Programme 2017
- European Seminar on youth mobility and inclusion.
- European Seminar on evidence on youth mobility – launching the report on youth mobility commissioned through the Partial Agreement and exploring the creation of a youth mobility think tank as part of the Agreement.
- European Seminar on how the European Youth Card can help young people boost their employability through internship and scholarship schemes.
2015
- Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card - Final report 2015
- European Symposium - ‘Mobility in the Mind: Creating New Routes to Employment’ 17-20 March, Lisbon, Portugal. Background and practical document.
- European Seminar – ‘The Role of European Youth Cards in Youth Work’ In the framework of the 2nd European Youth Work Convention, Belgian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, 27 April, Brussels, Belgium.
- Report of the 34th meeting of the Board of Co-ordination of the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card, April 2015, Budapest, Hungary
- European Seminar - ‘The Role of European Youth Cards in Implementing Youth Policies’ 30 April, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Participants
- World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue - WFID Conference, Shared Culture for Shared Security, 18-19 May, Baku, Azerbaijan.
- Report of the 35th meeting of the Board of Co-ordination of the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card, October 2015
2014
- European seminar – ‘Inclusive Mobility for Young People in Europe: Better Mobility Opportunities for Young People with Disabilities or from Disadvantaged Backgrounds’ 6-7 May, Vienna, Austria.
- Is youth mobiliy good? What is the truth about youth mobility in Europe? Seminar for Permanent Representatives to the Council in Europe in Strasbourg (June 2014)
- European seminar ‘Inclusive Online Engagement for Young People in Europe: to Support Youth Mobility and Active Citizenship’ 11 November 2014, Strasbourg, France. List of participants.
- Report of the 33rd meeting of the Board of Co-ordination of the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card, November 2014, Strasbourg
- EYCA Presentation to the CDEJ (24 March 2014, Budapest)
2013
- European seminar ''Developing better youth mobility for young people and for Europe" ; 27 February-1 March, Andorra. Programme and participants
- Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card - Presentation (Budapest, April 2013)
- Workshop: ''What governments can get from EYCA organisations'' (Belgrade, Serbia, 9-12 May 2013)
- Seminar on “Employability and mobility for young people – youth cards’ contribution” ; 12 July 2013, Strasbourg, France. Background paper.
- Report of the 32nd meeting of the Board of Co-ordination of the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card, October 2013, Strasbourg
- For more information on good practice examples shared during Partial Agreement seminars, please see the EYCA Good Practice Series Publications.
2012
- Report of the 31st meeting of the Board of Co-ordination of the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card, November 2012, Strasbourg
- European Youth Cards as a tool for youth mobility and active citizenship in Sweden (Gothenburg, 4 October 2012). Programme
- Discussion on developing the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card (October)
2011

Partners:
European Platform on Learning Mobility (EPLM)
The European Platform on Learning Mobility is one of the activities of the Partnership between the European Commission and the Council of Europe in the field of youth policy, youth research and youth work.
Its mission is to engage in the improvement, knowledge, visibility and recognition of learning mobility in the youth field, particularly in various forms of youth work.
A Steering Group guides the EPLM; the members of the Steering Group represent a wide variety of stakeholders, programmes and formats in the field of learning mobility, a balanced mixture of the respective fields of work and a regional diversity within Europe. The Steering Group consists of researchers, policy makers and practitioners. The Partial Agreement is part of this Steering Group.
Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes
The Cultural Routes programme was launched by the Council of Europe in 1987. Its objective was to demonstrate, by means of a journey through space and time, how the heritage of the different countries and cultures of Europe contributes to a shared cultural heritage. The Cultural Routes put into practice the fundamental principles of the Council of Europe: human rights, cultural democracy, cultural diversity and identity, dialogue, mutual exchange and enrichment across boundaries and centuries.
European Youth Cards are made available on a number of cultural routes offering discounts along the way.


Activities per topic
Inclusive youth mobility
2014
- European seminar – ‘Inclusive Mobility for Young People in Europe: Better Mobility Opportunities for Young People with Disabilities or from Disadvantaged Backgrounds’ 6-7 May, Vienna, Austria.
- European seminar ‘Inclusive Online Engagement for Young People in Europe: to Support Youth Mobility and Active Citizenship’ 11 November 2014, Strasbourg, France.
2016
- "Mobility towards Inclusion: European Youth Card supporting young migrants & refugees" 10-11 May 2016, Samobor City, Croatia. Final programme
2018
Youth participation
Employability and mobility
2013
- Seminar: “Mobility in the mind: Employability and mobility for young people – youth cards’ contribution” (Background paper).
2015
- European Symposium: ‘Mobility in the Mind: Creating New Routes to Employment’ 17-20 March, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Good practice on financial inclusion for young people
Youth mobility and active citizenship
2014
- European seminar ‘Inclusive Online Engagement for Young People in Europe: to Support Youth Mobility and Active Citizenship’ 11 November 2014, Strasbourg, France.
- Good practice on Active citizenship
European Youth Card and youth work
2015
- European Seminar – ‘The Role of European Youth Cards in Youth Work’ In the framework of the 2nd European Youth Work Convention, Belgian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, 27 April, Brussels, Belgium.
2019
- Seminar on: Youth work and sustainable communities: the role of the European youth card in delivering youth services 5-7 May 2019, Helsinki, Finland
EYC and youth policies
2015
- European Seminar - ‘The Role of European Youth Cards in Implementing Youth Policies’ 30 April, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
2016
- Partial Agreement & The European Youth Card: 30 Years Implementing Youth Policies 28 September 2016, Sitges, Spain - Seminar Report
EYC and intercultural dialogue
2015
- World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue - WFID Conference, Shared Culture for Shared Security, 18-19 May, Baku, Azerbaijan.
Prevention of radicalisation
EYC and access to rights
2014
- European seminar – ‘Inclusive Mobility for Young People in Europe: Better Mobility Opportunities for Young People with Disabilities or from Disadvantaged Backgrounds’ 6-7 May, Vienna, Austria.


Partial Agreement’s promotional video
Address by EYCA President and by Board of Coordination Chair

Council of Europe Directorate of Democratic Participation
Youth Department
Youth Policy Division
Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility through the Youth Card
F – 67075 Strasbourg Cedex
Tel.: + 33 (0)3 88 41 29 98
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