Convinced of the importance of youth participation as a crucial element of democratic structures and processes in the modern society, the Congress launched its “Rejuvenating Politics” initiative as early as 2014. Since then,  more than 400 young people from across the 46 member states of the Council of Europe have participated in the sessions, debates, committee meetings and other activities of the Congress and have been able to advance on their own grassroots projects aimed at promoting local and regional youth participation in their country.

The initiative forms part of the Congress’ longstanding commitment to promoting youth participation, as a means of overcoming the gap between political institutions’ decision-making processes and outcomes that will affect youth in multiple ways, and young people’s own expectations towards youth participation and youth-friendly policies. This approach was expressed through the adoption of the first European Charter on the participation of young people in municipal and regional life in 1992, which was then revised in 2003 and, most lately, in 2024-2025 in a broad participatory process involving young people and youth organisations from across Europe. In October 2025, the Congress adopted a new European Charter on the participation of young people in local and regional life, which was endorsed by Committee of Ministers in March 2026.

New European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life

More clearly and comprehensively than ever before, the new European Youth Participation Charter defines that “youth participation is about young people having the right, the means, the space and the structures, the opportunities and the tools, as well as the full support to participate in and influence decision making at local and regional level.”

It uses and engaging and accessible language, clearly defines local and regional authorities as “duty bearers” of youth participation and young people as “rights holders” and calls for young people to be systematically involved in decision-making in all policy areas that may affect them, and not only in a “tokenistic manner”, i.e. via occasional, one-off opportunities or minor decisions.

Booklets available in:
English - French