The Council of Europe’s youth works on the basis of a partnership between non-governmental youth organizations and governments, in what is known as the comanagement system. This means that representatives from non-governmental youth organizations (NGYOs) and youth networks sit down with government officials to establish the work priorities of the youth sector and make recommendations for future budgets and programs. These proposals are then adopted by the Committee of Ministers, the Council of Europe’s decision-making body. In this context, the Advisory Council on Youth, the non-governmental partner in the co-management system, also has the task of formulating opinions and proposals regarding youth questions within the Council of Europe. This body comprises twenty representatives of youth organizations and national youth councils which are members of the European Youth Forum and ten other members, representing non-governmental youth organizations or networks that are not members of the European Youth Forum.
Eligibility:
- Representatives of non-governmental youth organizations or networks in Council of Europe member states, not members of the European Youth Forum, are invited to apply for a seat on the Advisory Council on Youth for a two-year mandate (2018-2019);
- Candidates, aged between 18 and 30, should have a mandate from their organization/network to actively participate in the work of the Advisory Council.
The Council of Europe Youth Department is part of the Directorate General of Democracy (DGII), Directorate of Democratic Citizenship and Participation. The Department elaborates guidelines, programs and legal instruments for the development of coherent and effective youth policies at local, national and European levels. It provides funding and educational support for international youth activities aiming at the promotion of youth citizenship, youth mobility and the value of human rights, democracy and cultural pluralism.