A representative of Connect International participated at the 51st meeting Joint Council on Youth (CMJ that took place in the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg on 21st and 23rd of October 2024.  The CMJ brings together representatives from the European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ) and the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ) and establishes the youth sector’s priorities, objectives and budgets.

At the meeting, the CMJ reviewed a draft Council of Europe Reference Framework for a Youth Perspective as a follow-up to the Declaration of the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe (16-17 May 2023, Reykjavik), which puts special emphasis on the continued work on integrating a youth perspective in the Organisation’s intergovernmental and other deliberations, including the Parliamentary Assembly.

For its 51^st meeting, a broad range of issues concerning young people at European level were discussed: the review of the Revised European Charter on the participation of young people in local and regional life; results and follow-up to the Consultative meeting on accessibility and inclusiveness of the youth programme; and the ongoing mid-term review of the Council of Europe Youth Sector Strategy 2030. The Joint Council on Youth also examined, with a view to its approval and further transmission to the Committee of Ministers for adoption, a CM Recommendation to member States on the social, economic, and political participation of rural youth which is vital when talking about inclusive participation. 

Another important item on the CMJ agenda is the preparations for a European Conference of Ministers for Youth and the 4^th European Youth Work Convention under the Presidency of Malta 2025 where a key topic will be youth rights in the context of AI and digitalisation.