On 24-25 March, the Joint Council on Youth came together for its first statutory meeting of the year with the new Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ) starting into its mandate of 2026-2027. The meeting brought around 100 representatives of governmental and non-governmental organisations, national and international youth stakeholders to the European Youth Centre in Budapest.

At their 54^th session, members of the youth sector’s co-managed decision-making body, composed of the European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ) and the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ), discussed and reached key decision on several significant initiatives, including:

• The follow-up to the 10^th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth, paying particular attention to the priorities set by the Committee of Ministers in January 2026, and reviewed steps to implement its deliverables for the years to come.
• The activities and processes of integrating a Youth Perspective within the Council of Europe and its member states as follow-up to the Resolution on the Council of Europe Reference Framework on a Youth Perspective.
• Finalised the draft Recommendation on Peace Education by, with, and for young people.
• The endorsement of the conclusions and recommendations of the review process of the implementation of the Enter! Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the access of young from disadvantaged neighbourhoods to social rights (CM/Rec(2015)3).

 The CMJ meeting also focused on the follow-up to the 4^th European Youth Work Convention and the Partnership with the European Commission, reform of the European Youth Foundation, and the adoption of the Committee of Ministers Recommendation on the European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life (CM(2026)3) at the beginning of the year.

During the meeting, the Committee discussed bilateral co-operation and the youth sector’s contribution to country action plans, and multilateral projects, including support for Ukraine.

In line with the follow-up to the Youth Ministerial Conference and the work of the Committee in the years to come, the 54^th session underscored the youth statutory bodies’ ongoing dedication to empowering young people, fostering democratic participation, and advancing the integration of youth perspectives with the Council of Europe and its member States.