Second Annual Meeting of the Advisory Council and the Joint Council on Youth in Strasbourg

This week (12-14 November) the Council of Europe is the holding the second annual meeting of the Advisory Council and Joint Council on Youth at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg.

This is one of the few spaces in Europe where young people are included in decision-making on issues that affect them.

The Advisory Council and Joint Council on Youth bodies are both part of the co-management system of the Council of Europe, which brings together 30 youth and youth organisation representatives (Advisory Council) with representatives of Governments of the 50 States Party to the European Cultural Convention (European Steering Committee for Youth) which together form the Joint Council.

This week, young people and Government representatives have been discussing issues such as the planning of the European Youth Foundation, young people's participation in local and municipal life, a review of youth policy in Greece, recommendations on young people's access to rights, the role of national youth councils and, finally, priorities and expected results of the Council of Europe's youth sector for 2016-2017. The priorities and expected results decided on are: advancing democratic citizenship through innovative forms of participation; autonomy of young people and their access to rights; and promoting inclusive and peaceful societies.

The European Youth Forum has an observer status in all the mentioned bodies, contributing to the selection and supporting the Advisory Council members. The day before the meeting, the Youth Forum organised a preparatory session to facilitate that the voice of young people's is properly heard.

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The Advisory Council is working during a mandate of two years and meeting twice a year. The next meeting will be in European Youth Centre of Budapest on 13-15 April 2015.

More information on the co-management: http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/youth/Coe_youth/co_management_en.asp