On 30 January, the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg hosted Petra Bayr (Austria, SOC), the newly elected President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) for a meeting with the members of the Joint Council on Youth Joint Bureaux.

 The co-chairs, Liliya Elenkova (Chair of the CDEJ/Bulgaria) and Nina Grmuša (Chair of the CCJ) congratulated Bayr on her election on 26 January, and welcomed the resolution and a recommendation on Strengthening democracies with young people: from participation to shared responsibility adopted on 28 January 2026 by PACE members. President Bayr and the Joint Bureaux members discussed the Council of Europe priorities in the field of youth and highlighted the youth sector co-management system as a model for youth participation at all levels.

 The following exchange covered the outcomes of the 10^th  Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth and topics such as youth participation, including the need to incorporate youth perspectives into policymaking. Attention was given to environmental sustainability, institutional trust, and political representation. The youth sector bureau members and the PACE President agreed on the importance of making institutions more accessible and relevant to younger generations, including by strengthening civic education in schools and providing targeted support for young women in politics. Considering the ongoing challenges posed by climate justice cases and persistent prejudices, they emphasised the need for inclusive dialogue and peace-building efforts that foster trust, promote understanding and highlight shared humanity, in order to build more inclusive and sustainable societies.

 Bayr recognised the Parliamentary Assembly’s proactive efforts to integrate a youth perspective into its work and resolutions and emphasised her commitment to partnering with young people as active participants in parliamentary work.

 President Bayr's visit concluded with a tour of the European Youth Centre Strasbourg, showcasing its unique architecture and diverse programmes. The Centre provides a safe space for international youth co-operation, welcoming thousands of young people, youth civil society organisations’ representatives and youth workers each year.