Connect International was a part of the Council of Europe two-day consultative meeting on the inclusion of a youth perspective in the Organisation’s intergovernmental and other deliberations on 19-20 September 2024 at the European Youth Centre. Consultations were held as the CoE and its working group is committed to increase youth participation in decision-making processes, to improve the effectiveness of public policies and strengthens democratic institutions through open dialogue.

Organised by the Joint Council on Youth (CMJ) Working Group of which Connect’s represenative is a part of, the meeting brought together key stakeholders, including members of the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ), the Steering Committee on Youth (CDEJ), the European Youth Forum (YFJ), the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), international non-governmental youth organisations, national youth councils and independent youth experts.

Led by the youth department, other sectors of the Council of Europe also contributed to the development of a reference framework for integrating a youth perspective across the Council of Europe and its member States. This meeting follows the 2023 Reykjavik Declaration, which called for greater youth participation in democratic life.

Following the consultative meeting, the reference framework will be designed to be user-friendly, practical, and responsive to specific situations. The reference framework will serve as a living and dynamic standard for the Council of Europe and its member States ensuring that youth perspectives are taking account for the benefit of present and future generations.