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Strengthening democracies with young people: from participation to shared responsibility

Doc. 16308: compendium of written amendments | Doc. 16308 | 27/01/2026 | Final version

Contents

A Draft Resolution
B Draft Recommendation

Compendium index

Amendment 1 Amendment 2 Amendment 3 Amendment 4 Amendment 5

Caption: AdoptedRejectedWithdrawnNo electronic votes

ADraft Resolution

1The effective participation of young people in democratic life is vital for the renewal, resilience and legitimacy of democratic institutions. The future of Europe depends on societies in which young people are recognised as equal partners in shaping political, social, economic and cultural life.
2Building on its Resolution 2619 (2025) and Recommendation 2299 (2025) “Youth movements for democracy” and its Resolution 2553 (2024) “Strengthening the youth perspective in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly”, the Assembly emphasises that youth participation must evolve from consultation to shared responsibility, ensuring that young people have both the right and the means to influence decisions that affect them.

27 January 2026

Tabled by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy

In the draft resolution, paragraph 2, after the words "Strengthening the youth perspective in the work of the Parliamentary Assembly", insert the following words:

"which introduced the PACE-Youth Participation Mechanism with the aim of ensuring that the youth perspective is systematically taken into account in the work of the Assembly’".

3The Assembly notes that while progress has been made, youth participation remains uneven and fragmented across Europe. Many young people continue to feel excluded from decision making, perceive institutions as unrepresentative, and have limited opportunities to shape public policy. Persistent barriers such as social inequality, precarious employment, limited access to housing and education, and shrinking civic and cultural spaces have deepened generational divides.
4The Assembly welcomes the Declaration adopted at the 10th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth, held on 8-9 October 2025 in Malta and the resolution on the Council of Europe Reference Framework on a Youth Perspective, adopted on the same occasion. It also welcomes the adoption of the new European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional life by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe on 29 October 2025 , as well as the 2025 report of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe entitled “Towards a New Democratic Pact for Europe”, which together provide a coherent roadmap for integrating youth perspective across all sectors of policy and decision making.

27 January 2026

Tabled by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy

In the draft resolution, paragraph 4, second sentence, replace the words "as well as the 2025 report of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe entitled ‘Towards a New Democratic Pact for Europe’" with the following words:

"as well as the New Democratic Pact for Europe, which aims at strengthening democratic resilience in Europe, and to which the Assembly actively contributes".

5The Assembly recognises the importance of the Council of Europe unique co-management system of the youth sector as a standard and inspiration to be followed, including the instruments of the European Youth Centres in Strasbourg and Budapest and the European Youth Foundation, as an exemplary model of youth participation. It also welcomes the proposal to conduct a feasibility study on the establishment of a third venue of the European Youth Centre in the Black Sea region as a sign of renewed commitment to democratic inclusion in Europe’s eastern regions.
6The Assembly stresses that youth participation must move beyond consultation towards genuine influence in decision making. This requires transparent and accessible institutional mechanisms, accountability of authorities towards young people, and a culture of trust between generations.

27 January 2026

Tabled by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy

In the draft resolution, paragraph 6, at the end of the first sentence, insert the following words:

"in accordance with the principle that young people should be provided with ‘the right, the means, the space, the opportunity and the support’ to participate meaningfully in democratic life"

7In light of the above and in consideration of the centrality of youth engagement to the New Democratic Pact for Europe, the Assembly calls on member States to develop and implement comprehensive frameworks for youth participation, taking inspiration from the Council of Europe Reference Framework on a Youth Perspective, at all levels and in particular to:
7.1adopt or update national youth policies and strategies and ensure their effective implementation through measurable indicators;
7.2establish or reinforce youth-led councils, youth parliaments, and structured dialogue platforms with decision-making powers or advisory mandates, including by integrating participatory youth budgeting;
7.3implement the new European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional life adopted by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe;
7.4include young people in public administration advisory bodies, boards of cultural institutions, and environmental councils;
7.5adopt targeted measures to prevent and address hate speech directed at young people engaged in political life, including through stronger legal protections, reporting and rapid-response mechanisms, and educational programmes that promote democratic participation and safeguard young voices in the public sphere.
8The Assembly emphasises that equal access to rights is the foundation of participation. As a priority, it urges member States to:
8.1guarantee universal access to quality education, vocational training, and employment opportunities, housing and healthcare for young people;
8.2prioritise mental health policies and accessible services tailored to young people’s realities, particularly in post-crisis contexts;
8.3combat discrimination and ensure the inclusion of marginalised youth, including those from minority, migrant, rural or low-income backgrounds, or with disabilities;
8.4ensure gender equality in all youth-related initiatives and leadership positions.
9The Assembly notes that civic and citizenship education are key to nurturing democratic competences and critical thinking. It therefore calls on member States to:
9.1integrate civic education into formal curricula from an early age and across disciplines;
9.2support non-formal education and youth work as complementary spaces for experiential learning and active citizenship;
9.3enhance teacher training and youth worker professionalisation;
9.4recognise youth civil society, volunteering and community engagement as integral parts of civic learning;
9.5welcome the Council of Europe’s Quality Label for Youth Centres as a symbol of commitment to shared values, collaborative learning and continuous improvement of youth work across Europe.
10The Assembly highlights that cultural participation strengthens belonging and community cohesion, based on the principles set out in the Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (CETS No. 199, “Faro Convention”, 2005). It invites member States and local authorities to:
10.1support projects linking art, civic engagement and urban regeneration;
10.2provide accessible public spaces for youth creativity and expression;
10.3promote partnerships between youth organisations, artists and municipalities to co-create inclusive cultural initiatives, including by strengthening links with the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe.
11Recognising the digital transformation of political and civic life, the Assembly calls on member States to:
11.1promote digital literacy and critical media education for young people;
11.2establish transparent frameworks for online participation, including e-consultations and digital assemblies;
11.3ensure that digital platforms respect human rights, protect young users from disinformation and online abuse, and promote respect, remedy and democratic dialogue.
12The Assembly also strongly supports lowering the voting age to 16 as a concrete step towards intergenerational equality and more inclusive democracy. It recalls the positive experience of several member States where such reform has led to higher levels of political engagement and civic trust among young voters. It therefore urges all member States to:
12.1examine the legal and institutional feasibility of lowering the voting age to 16 in all elections;
12.2accompany this reform with civic education and awareness-raising initiatives to ensure informed participation;
12.3support peer-learning and capacity building among electoral authorities, youth organisations, and youth workers to facilitate implementation.
13The Assembly further encourages governments to foster intergenerational dialogue and participation by:
13.1developing mentorship programmes linking young leaders with experienced policy makers;
13.2establishing youth advisory boards in national parliaments and government ministries, in consultation with national youth councils;
13.3supporting political parties in promoting youth wings and candidate training programmes, including young women, vulnerable and underrepresented groups, and minorities.
14Civil society and youth-led organisations are indispensable partners for democratic innovation. The Assembly calls on them to strengthen advocacy for youth rights, promote diversity and inclusion, develop civic education initiatives, and engage in structured co-operation with parliaments and public authorities.
15Furthermore, the Assembly invites international and regional organisations, including the European Union, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and United Nations agencies, to co-ordinate efforts to promote youth participation, support research and data collection, and share best practices on intergenerational solidarity.
16Finally, the Assembly resolves to:
16.1continue integrating the youth perspective in all its thematic, political and monitoring activities, and encourage the visibility of young parliamentarians in national delegations;

27 January 2026

Tabled by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy

In the draft resolution, paragraph 16.1, after the words "and monitoring activities", insert the following words:

"to ensure the implementation of Resolution 2553 (2024)".

16.2ensure regular involvement of youth representatives, including grass-root organisations, in its debates, hearings as well as election observation missions and electoral activities;
16.3promote interparliamentary co-operation on youth engagement through regional exchanges and capacity-building for youth representatives.

27 January 2026

Tabled by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 16.3, insert the following paragraph:

"promote dialogue initiatives within its framework, involving young people from the youth organisations of political parties represented in the Assembly, with a view to fostering intergenerational exchange and informing parliamentary work."

17Building democracies with youth requires meaningful engagement, which demands institutional reform, accountability, and shared responsibility. By embedding the youth perspective across all levels of decision making, Council of Europe member States can ensure that democracy remains inclusive, dynamic and sustainable for generations to come.

BDraft Recommendation

1The Parliamentary Assembly refers to its Resolution … (2026) “Strengthening democracies with young people: from participation to shared responsibility”, which reaffirms that the renewal and resilience of democracy depend on the full and effective participation of young people in all spheres of public life.
2The Assembly commends the achievements of the Council of Europe’s youth sector, notably its co-management model, which remains unique in international governance, and recognises the pivotal contribution of the European Youth Centres in Strasbourg and Budapest, and the European Youth Foundation.
3The Assembly welcomes the Declaration adopted at the 10th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth and the resolution on the Council of Europe Reference Framework on a Youth Perspective adopted on the same occasion, and invites the Committee of Ministers to ensure its effective implementation across all sectors and monitoring bodies of the Organisation.
4The Assembly invites the Committee of Ministers to:
4.1reaffirm youth participation as a cross-cutting priority of the Council of Europe, ensuring systematic inclusion of the youth perspective in all intergovernmental, monitoring and co-operation activities;
4.2strengthen the co-management system by enhancing synergies among the Joint Council on Youth, the Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, including through regular exchanges and joint initiatives;
4.3provide predictable, multi-annual funding for the Council of Europe Youth For Democracy programme, the European Youth Foundation and the European Youth Centres to secure long-term planning, accessibility and inclusiveness;
4.4continue its support to the Quality Label for Youth Centres on the basis of the “Marienthal Statement” adopted during the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers;
4.5support the integration of Council of Europe standards on youth participation into national legislation and practice through technical assistance, peer learning and training of civil servants;
4.6enhance partnerships with other international and regional organisations, including the European Union, the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), to promote a coherent international agenda for youth rights and democratic engagement;
4.7encourage the collection of comparative data and research on youth participation, disillusionment and trust in democracy, to support evidence-based policy making;
4.8make every effort in its work to reach out to young people living in European societies who may not have access to the usual institutional channels for participation;
4.9promote the establishment of a third venue of the European Youth Centre in the Black Sea region, within available resources, as a concrete expression of solidarity and outreach to young people in the wider region.
5The Assembly supports the creation of a pan-European campaign on lowering the voting age to 16 to provide expertise, training and advocacy materials to member States willing to explore or implement this reform, in line with best practices identified within the Council of Europe.
6By reinforcing the institutional capacity of the Council of Europe and its commitment to youth participation, the Committee of Ministers can ensure that young people are meaningfully involved in shaping the future agenda of the Organisation and its reforms as active builders of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.