The Parliamentary Assembly, through its Recommendation 2299, underscores the vital role young people play in shaping and defending democracy across Europe amidst challenges like authoritarianism, socio-economic exclusion, and environmental crises. It calls on the Council of Europe and member States to enhance youth engagement by dismantling barriers to participation, protecting youth rights, and providing financial and institutional support to youth organisations. The Assembly advocates for integrating youth participation into the Council of Europe's broader agenda, strengthening resources for youth initiatives, and fostering international collaboration to safeguard youth civic spaces. Additionally, it recommends measures such as lowering the voting age and embedding civic education, while ensuring diverse youth representation from varied backgrounds. Emphasis is placed on facilitating structured dialogue between youth-led organisations and high-level governance structures within the Council of Europe.