The Joint Council on Youth of the Council of Europe

The Joint Council on Youth of the Council of Europe composed of youth and government representatives met at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg on 17-19 October. The meeting was part of the regular “co-management” of the Council of Europe’s work on youth issues between policy makers and young people.

The Joint Council discussed and co-decided about different several issues, including the three priorities for the Youth Sector of the Council of Europe in 2018-2019 under the title 'Youth for Democracy and Human Rights':

• Access to Rights
• Youth Participation and Youth Work
• Inclusive and peaceful societies

As well as these overarching youth issues, the Joint Council also had a thematic debate on the critical topic on integration of young refugees and migrants into European societies was held.

The day before the Joint Council met, the European Youth Forum hosted a preparatory meeting for the youth representatives. The aim of the meeting with the delegates was to support youth participation throughout the discussion and provide a space for informal discussions.

The Joint Council on Youth allows young people to be included in the decision-making on policies on an equal basis. The Joint Council on Youth is made up of 30 youth representatives from the Advisory Council and government representatives from member states of the Council of Europe. The European Youth Forum has an observer status and is contributing to and supporting the selection of members of the Advisory Council to ensure that the voice of young people is properly heard.