Advisory Council on Youth

Advisory Council on Youth
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Name	Advisory Council on Youth
Formation	1998
Headquarters	Strasbourg
Region served	Europe
Parent organization	Council of Europe

Advisory Council on Youth The Advisory Council on Youth is an advisory body within the Council of Europe system that represents youth organizations and young people in policy-making. It links youth voices to regional institutions such as the Committee of Ministers and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, and interacts with civil society networks including European Youth Forum, Erasmus+, and national youth councils across France, Germany, and Poland. The Council operates alongside other consultative bodies like the European Youth Foundation and engages with international actors such as the United Nations and the European Union.

History

The advisory body emerged from post-Cold War reforms in the late 1990s parallel to initiatives involving Jacques Chirac, Tony Blair, and leaders of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe to deepen civic participation. It was established when the Council of Europe revamped youth participation following dialogues with the European Youth Centre Strasbourg, Youth Forum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and NGOs such as Amnesty International and Save the Children. Early milestones included cooperation with the European Commission on youth mobility and alignment with conventions like the European Cultural Convention. Over time the Council adapted to challenges raised by events such as the expansion of the European Union in 2004 and crises affecting youth policy in countries like Ukraine and Greece.

Mandate and Functions

The Council’s mandate is framed by decisions of the Committee of Ministers and resolutions of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and it functions as a consultative organ similar to advisory mechanisms in the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Core functions include drafting policy recommendations, contributing to the work of the European Youth Centre, monitoring instruments like the European Convention on Human Rights implementation for young people, and advising on youth participation initiatives inspired by programs such as Erasmus+ and the Europe 2020 strategy. It produces opinions that inform ministers, rapporteurs, and bodies influenced by figures such as Thorbjørn Jagland and collaborates with stakeholders including the European Committee of the Regions.

Membership and Structure

Membership comprises elected youth representatives nominated by national delegations and youth organizations including the European Youth Forum and regional networks from Balkan Peninsula states, with convening in locations like Strasbourg and occasional sessions in capitals such as Brussels and Vienna. The internal structure includes a bureau, working groups, and a secretariat cooperating with the Directorate of Democratic Participation and officials akin to rapporteurs and chairs seen in bodies like the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Representatives have included activists from movements linked to organizations such as Scouts of Europe and student unions from universities like University of Oxford and Sorbonne University. Terms, election procedures, and eligibility reflect standards comparable to those of the European Youth Forum and national youth councils in Spain, Italy, and Sweden.

Activities and Programs

Activities include thematic conferences, seminars, and campaigns on issues that intersect with instruments like the European Social Charter and topics addressed by organizations such as Human Rights Watch and UNICEF. Programs range from youth participation workshops modelled after Erasmus Mundus exchanges to partnerships with cultural initiatives like the European Capitals of Culture. The Council organizes training using resources from the European Youth Foundation and cooperates with research bodies similar to the European Institute of Innovation and Technology on youth employment, migration, mental health, and civic engagement. It issues policy papers and recommendations presented to ministers, committees, and international forums including sessions attended by delegations from Norway, Turkey, and Romania.

Impact and Criticism

The Council has influenced statutory changes and policy approaches in member states and supranational bodies, contributing to youth rights debates alongside actors like the European Court of Human Rights and the European Commission for Democracy through Law. Its outputs have been cited by national youth strategies in countries such as Lithuania and Portugal and by NGOs including Red Cross national societies. Criticism centers on perceived gaps in representation compared with networks like the European Youth Forum, bureaucracy analogous to critiques leveled at the Council of Europe itself, limited enforcement power compared with instruments like the European Court of Justice, and challenges engaging marginalized youth affected by crises in regions like the Western Balkans and Caucasus.

Relations with Other Bodies

The Council maintains formal links with the Committee of Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and operational cooperation with the European Youth Foundation and the European Commission. It interacts with transnational NGOs such as Amnesty International, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and networks including the European Youth Forum and local councils across Germany, France, and Poland. The Council participates in multilateral dialogues involving the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and liaises with regional institutions like the Council of the Baltic Sea States and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Category:Council of Europe bodies