The Youth Department is part of the Directorate for Democracy within the Directorate General of Democracy and Human Dignity of the Council of Europe.

The Council of Europe’s European Youth Centres in Budapest and Strasbourg and European Youth Foundation directly engage young people at European and international level. They foster democratic values and offer a unique platform for dialogue between youth organisations and government representatives through its co-management structure.

In the Joint Council on Youth (CMJ) young people share decision-making on policies and programmes alongside representatives of member States’ governments. The Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ) is made up of 30 young people who are changing every two years thus renewing the living standard of youth participation. The brings together the – with a two year mandate – while the European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ) brings together the representatives of governments. Together, they form the Joint Council on Youth, affirming the Council of Europe’s commitment to participatory democracy and youth involvement in shaping a more inclusive society.

The work of the youth sector is anchored in the European Youth Centre with its two venues in Strasbourg (founded 1972) and Budapest (opened 1995), and the European Youth Foundation. The European Youth Centres are unique international instruments for the participation of young people in Europe. They provide space for youth participation, non-formal education and training for democratic citizenship and human rights.

Through the European Youth Foundation, the Council of Europe supports youth co-operation in Europe by providing financial support to youth activities promoting peace, understanding and co-operation across Europe and beyond, in a spirit of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. These youth-led activities are helping to renew and adapt the Council of Europe’s youth sector, foster grassroots engagement and transnational youth co-operation.