We are proud to share that CONNECT’s representative participated in the first Joint Council on Youth (CMJ) meeting of 2026, held on 24-25 March at the European Youth Centre in Budapest.

The Joint Council on Youth is the Council of Europe’s supreme decision-making body on youth policy, bringing together government representatives from member states and youth organisations through a unique co-management system. In practice, this means young people and governments sit at the same table, sharing responsibility for setting priorities that shape youth policy across Europe.

This year’s discussions centred on some of the most pressing issues facing young people today: access to social rights and the barriers that prevent too many young people from exercising them, meaningful youth participation in democratic processes and governance, strengthening youth work and the implementation of Council of Europe standards, and intercultural competences, non-discrimination, and youth’s role in conflict transformation.

For CONNECT, being present at this meeting is part of our ongoing commitment to bringing the European youth policy conversation closer to the work we do on the ground. The priorities set at the CMJ feed directly into the Council of Europe’s broader agenda, and we believe our sector’s voice needs to be part of shaping them.

We came back with new connections, renewed energy, and a clearer sense of where European youth policy is heading in 2026 and beyond.