Young people have a key role in building resilient democracies and safeguarding information space from propaganda and harmful influences. The Council of Europe standards on democratic youth spaces, human rights and democratic citizenship education, and the European Youth Foundation are important resources in supporting young people restoring their trust in inclusive and peaceful societies. During the Republic of Moldova’s presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which begins in November 2025, youth should be one of the priorities.
These were among the main takeaways of discussions with youth stakeholders, representatives of Council of Europe member states, and international partners during the Youth Department’s visit to the Republic of Moldova. The visit included meetings with both governmental and non-governmental actors, the Ministry of Education and Research and National Youth Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Parliamentary Commission responsible for youth, as well as youth civil society organisations, including the National Youth Council of Moldova and National Network of Local Youth Councils.
Tobias Flessenkemper, Head of the Youth Department, emphasised in his remarks at the Annual Conference of the National Youth Council of Moldova that national youth councils, when properly organised, are a living example of participatory democracy, offering pluralism of organisations and bringing together young people with different experiences and backgrounds.
The Youth Department delegation visited the local youth organisation “Renasterea”, which, with the support of the European Youth Foundation, is enhancing the democratic competencies of young people from rural areas of the Stefan Voda region, and attended the National Youth Award Gala, organised by the Ministry of Education and Research and the National Youth Agency.
The visit was a part of the Council of Europe ongoing co-operation efforts with the youth stakeholders in the Republic of Moldova, notably in the context of the upcoming Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2025-2028, and the Republic of Moldova’s Presidency over the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
