C Explanatory memorandum
by Ms Sona Ghazaryan, rapporteurNote
1 Introduction
1. The engagement of young people
in democratic governance remains one of the most pressing priorities for
the Council of Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly. This report
builds on the Assembly’s earlier work, while placing greater emphasis
on the institutional, policy and governance mechanisms that can
make youth participation systemic and sustainable.
2. Resolution 2619
(2025) and
Recommendation
2299 (2025) “Youth movements for democracy”, adopted on 1 October
2025, focus on civic mobilisation and youth activism outside formal
institutions. This report therefore explores how parliaments, governments
and public authorities can translate democratic aspirations into
concrete frameworks for youth inclusion.
4. It also integrates new findings from international organisations
and academic studies, which underline the urgency of addressing
the declining trust of young citizens in democratic institutions.
It proposes practical recommendations to strengthen the policy ecosystem
supporting young people’s full participation in democratic life
across member States.
5. Young people across Europe are already driving change in multiple
domains, from climate activism and digital civic initiatives to
social justice movements, highlighting their potential as agents
of democratic renewal. However, access to decision-making structures,
inclusive policies, and meaningful opportunities for participation
remain uneven and require urgent attention.
6. At the Council of Europe level, youth involvement in policy
making is supported through multiple mechanisms, including the European
Youth Centres in Strasbourg and Budapest and the European Youth Foundation.
The co-management system, which gives an equal voice to young Europeans
represented by the Advisory Council on Youth and to public authorities
responsible for youth issues, remains a leading example of institutionalised
youth participation that member States can emulate.
7. Following the stance of the Heads of State and Government
at the 4th Summit in Reykjavik, which underlined that a youth perspective
should inform all intergovernmental and other deliberations, the
Assembly adopted
Resolution
2553 (2024) “Strengthening the youth perspective in the work
of the Parliamentary Assembly” on 26 June 2024 and established a
participatory mechanism bringing together members of the Assembly
and young Europeans to debate youth policies. This mechanism also
enhances the visibility of young parliamentarians within national
delegations and encourages political groups to strengthen engagement
with their youth branches.
8. The Malta and Luxembourg Presidencies of the Committee of
Ministers have prioritised democratic participation of young people
at all levels, with the explicit aim of strengthening the rule of
law and democracy. In line with this, the Council of Europe adopted
a
Reference
Framework on a Youth Perspective (see paragraph 3 above) to systematically incorporate
a youth perspective in all intergovernmental committees and deliberations.
9. This report analyses barriers to youth participation, drawing
on Council of Europe initiatives, expert discussions, and recent
data. It provides recommendations to foster electoral and civic
engagement, strengthen youth-led organisations, and promote full
access to social, economic, and cultural rights, including in the
context of digital transformation.
10. Socio-economic challenges such as high living costs and housing
shortages, as well as inequalities in education and access to culture,
are also considered, recognising their centrality to meaningful
youth engagement. The report seeks to identify practical strategies
to bridge the gap between young people and democratic institutions
while aligning with the Council of Europe’s youth sector priorities.
11. Finally, the report reflects on hearings held on 1 October
2024, 12 March and 6 and 25 June 2025.
NoteNoteNoteNote These hearings contributed
to assessing current youth participation practices and informing
recommendations for stronger democratic engagement. The Committee
on Culture, Science, Education and Media has also invited the Belgian
youth organisation
Urban Foxes – Academy for
Urban Action (DURF) to the 1 December 2025 meeting, in Paris, to present
a concrete illustration of how culture and civic engagement can
be combined at the local level to strengthen a sense of belonging,
enhances democratic competences, and fosters inclusion in decision
making.
12. The rapporteur proposes the revised title “Strengthening democracies
with youth: from participation to shared responsibility” to better
reflect the report’s central argument that young people are not
merely participants in democratic life but essential partners in
shaping and sustaining it. It conveys the evolution from consultation
to genuine power-sharing and accountability within democratic governance,
moving beyond symbolic engagement towards systemic, institutionalised
forms of youth inclusion.
2 From lip service to meaningful policies
for today’s youth
13. The political, social and economic
context for youth participation remains challenging. Growing polarisation,
social inequality, the climate crisis, armed conflicts, and rampant
disinformation pose significant obstacles to meaningful engagement.
14. Without concrete measures, youth engagement risks remaining
symbolic, undermining democratic legitimacy and resilience.
15. Young people are often perceived primarily as a solution to
current governance problems, for instance as cheap labour or as
future bearers of the consequences of today’s policy decisions.
This perception undermines recognition of their immediate rights
and contributions to policy making. The 2025 report of the Secretary
General of the Council of Europe stresses that ignoring youth perspectives
in decision making perpetuates inequality, limits innovation, and
reduces trust in institutions.
16. Despite public statements by national and international organisations
acknowledging youth concerns, many young people continue to experience
disillusion (that democratic politics does not deliver for them,
that politicians do not represent their interests, or that their
vote will not make any difference), anxiety around their future
(jobs, financial security, social change), and a lack of trust in
democratic institutions (a gap between formal support for democracy
and confidence that democracy works for them in practice).
Note
17. Genuine youth policies require the promotion of human, political,
social, economic, and cultural rights today rather than postponing
them. Meaningful youth policies encompass three key dimensions:
political participation, socio-economic inclusion, and cultural
engagement. These dimensions are interdependent and must be addressed
through co-ordinated, evidence-based strategies at national and
European levels.
18. The Reference Framework on a Youth Perspective provides concrete
guidance on integrating youth considerations into all policy areas,
emphasising co-management, equal voice, and accountability mechanisms.
19. Policies must move beyond symbolic consultation and ensure
that young people have access to decision-making spaces where their
input can directly shape legislative and programme outcomes.
20. Structural barriers such as socio-economic disadvantage, digital
divides, and limited educational opportunities must be addressed
to make youth participation equitable.
21. Evidence from Eurostat and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD) data clearly point to the link between socio-economic
conditions and political engagement. Young people facing unemployment,
housing shortages and insecurity or educational inequalities are
less likely to engage in democratic processes, highlighting the
importance of comprehensive policies that combine political, social, economic
and cultural measures.
Note
22. To move from lip service to meaningful policies, it is essential
that member States, the Council of Europe, and political bodies
systematically integrate youth perspectives, support youth-led initiatives,
and create the conditions for equitable participation in all spheres
of society.
3 Promoting
participation in electoral and decision-making processes
23. Young people’s participation
in political life remains uneven across Europe, influenced by structural, social,
and generational factors. Studies repeatedly show that younger generations
feel excluded from conventional political processes, perceive politicians
as unrepresentative, consider the political environment as toxic,
ineffective or corrupt, and are more likely to support radical or
protest movements than traditional democratic institutions.
Note
24. The Reference Framework on a Youth Perspective recommends
ensuring that youth voices are present at every stage of policy
making. It highlights that lowering the voting age, providing e-participation
tools, and promoting civic education are essential measures to increase
engagement.
25. Evidence shows that participatory approaches that involve
young people from the design stage of policies result in more effective
and sustainable outcomes. For instance, co-creation workshops and
youth advisory panels have led to measurable improvements in local
policies in countries such as Finland and the Netherlands, including
greater satisfaction with municipal services and higher rates of
volunteer engagement.
26. Digital technologies present new opportunities for participation,
including e-voting, online consultations, and social media engagement.
Evidence from Estonia shows that e-voting has significantly increased
turnout among young voters, while other member States are beginning
to explore digital participation with mixed results due to infrastructure
and trust challenges.
27. However, digital participation is not without limitations.
While online tools increase accessibility for some, they can exacerbate
inequalities for youth without reliable internet access or digital
literacy skills. Member States need to combine digital innovation
with offline engagement strategies, ensuring that no group of young people
is left behind. Data privacy, cybersecurity, and misinformation
concerns must also be addressed to maintain trust in digital democratic
tools.
28. Recent hearings of the Committee on Culture, Science, Education
and Media highlighted the potential of digitalisation, civic simulations,
and multi-age candidate lists to foster inclusive participation.
Members stressed the importance of ensuring “the right, the means,
the space, the opportunity and the support” for youth involvement.
29. Evidence from the Eurobarometer 2024 survey shows that social
media is the primary source of political information for 42% of
young Europeans aged 16-30. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok
are particularly influential, although concerns regarding disinformation
remain high. Policy makers and social media platforms share responsibility
in promoting digital literacy and combating misinformation.
30. Also, media literacy programmes and partnerships between youth
organisations and tech companies can enhance critical thinking and
reduce the impact of false information. For example, the “
Check
Before You Share” initiative in Ireland and
digital
literacy campaigns in France have successfully increased young people’s awareness
of online misinformation, resulting in more informed participation.
31. Lowering the voting age remains a key instrument for youth
inclusion. Austria, Malta, Scotland, and Germany provide examples
of successful implementation, leading to higher participation rates
among younger voters.
Resolution
1826 (2011) “Expansion of democracy by lowering the voting
age to 16” and subsequent Council of Europe
studies emphasise that votes at 16 strengthen intergenerational
equity in decision making.
32. Inclusive political structures, such as quotas for youth under
30 and support for independent candidates, are necessary to ensure
that young people have meaningful influence within political parties
and representative bodies. Training programmes for emerging young
leaders, such as the Council of Europe Schools of Political Studies,
provide practical skills and networks to foster active engagement.
33. Many young people start their democratic journey at elections,
as voters and as observers. The Council of Europe promotes first-time
voting of young voters and youth participation, and NGOs like
AEGEE train and deploy young observer teams while addressing
hurdles facing young voters and candidates. Yet, recent Assembly
missions report growing pressure, smear campaigns and even arrests
of young candidates and observers, which deter youth. Recognising
and supporting the youth dimension of election participation and observation
is vital to safeguard election transparency and credibility and
to encourage lasting democratic engagement.
34. Additional mechanisms, such as mentorship schemes, leadership
incubators and cross-party youth networks, have proven effective
in equipping young people with negotiation, public speaking, and
policy analysis skills. Such initiatives also enhance the diversity
of voices within political institutions, ensuring that decision
making better reflects the perspectives and priorities of the next
generation.
35. To further enhance participation, member States are encouraged
to implement deliberative processes, including youth juries, mock
trials, and consultative councils. These mechanisms bridge the gap
between institutional politics and youth perspectives, promoting
informed, confident, and sustained civic involvement.
36. In conclusion, promoting youth participation in electoral
and decision-making processes requires a multi-faceted approach
combining legal reforms, digital innovation, civic education, inclusive
structures and dedicated support mechanisms. The Council of Europe’s
ongoing work in the youth sector, including the Assembly’s youth
participation mechanism, provides a model for embedding youth perspectives
across political levels.
37. To consolidate progress, member States should be encouraged
to adopt comprehensive youth participation strategies, integrate
youth consultation into all policy areas, and monitor participation
indicators regularly. Political parties, local authorities, and
civil society organisations must also be proactive in creating accessible,
safe, and inclusive spaces for youth engagement, ensuring that young
people are recognised as active contributors to democracy.
4 Tackling
social and economic inequalities
38. Economic and social inequalities
remain major barriers to meaningful youth participation across Europe. Young
people are disproportionately affected by high living costs, insecure
employment, rising housing prices, and limited access to financial
services, all of which reduce their capacity to engage in political
and civic life. Concerns are higher among young women and youth
in rural areas, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
39. Recent data underscores the severity of these challenges.
According to the OECD, approximately 12% of young people aged 18
to 25 live in relative poverty, compared to 11% for the total population.
This disparity highlights the heightened vulnerability of youth
to economic hardship and underscores the need for targeted interventions
to address their specific needs.
Note
40. The 2025 report of the Secretary General of the Council of
Europe stresses that social and economic inclusion of youth is essential
for democratic resilience. Policies addressing education, employment,
housing, and financial inclusion must be implemented with a youth
perspective to prevent further disengagement.
41. Youth inclusion has often been promoted through employment
measures. However, a broader approach is necessary, examining how
welfare systems, access to benefits, and services affect the rights
of young people.
42. Governments must implement urgent measures to enhance youth
economic empowerment, including access to quality education, vocational
training, affordable housing and sustainable employment opportunities. They
should be encouraged to engage youth directly in shaping these policies.
43. The hearing held by the Committee on Culture, Science, Education
and Media on 12 M arch 2025 pointed to the
OECD's
Youth Policy Toolkit advocating for addressing age-based inequalities and
promoting intergenerational justice as strategic priorities for
ensuring inclusive prosperity. It emphasises the need for tailored
solutions that consider the unique challenges faced by young people,
particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
44. Innovative approaches, such as cross-sectoral collaboration
models seen in Norway, combine efforts of local and central authorities
with that of civil society and NGOs to improve youth participation
and social mobility. These models demonstrate the importance of
multi-level governance in addressing socio-economic barriers.
45. Non-formal education and youth-led initiatives also play a
critical role in mitigating inequalities. The Committee on Social
Affairs, Health and Sustainable Development has supported projects
involving disadvantaged youth in parliamentary activities, increasing
both skills and engagement.
46. Policies should prioritise economic stability and job creation
for youth, leveraging emerging technologies to boost productivity
and inclusion. Expanding access to affordable housing and financial
services, alongside social protection measures, strengthens democratic
participation and fosters a sense of agency among young people.
5 Promoting
full access to cultural rights
47. Access to culture and education
is a fundamental prerequisite for young people to participate fully
in society and in democratic life. The legal and normative basis
for cultural rights of young people is well established in international
law. The
United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) stresses that the right of young people to access, enjoy
and actively participate in cultural life is essential for fostering
peace, diversity, and social cohesion.
Note Cultural engagement strengthens
civic awareness, nurtures a sense of belonging, and supports the
development of critical thinking and creativity.
48. Those principles underline that cultural policy should not
be treated merely as an adjunct to education or leisure policy,
but as a cornerstone of democratic participation and youth empowerment.
Governments should ensure young people’s access to cultural activities,
creative platforms and heritage sites, recognising culture as a
catalyst for social cohesion and active citizenship.
49. Dedicated youth spaces, both physical and digital, are essential
to provide safe environments for civic engagement and learning.
European Youth Centres in Strasbourg and Budapest serve as examples
of spaces free from commercial pressure promoting citizenship, cultural
exchange, and non-formal education. In addition, over 15 other Council
of Europe quality-labelled youth spaces across member States provide
access to cultural activities, workshops, and international exchanges.
50. The rapporteur welcomes the Ministers’ proposal in Malta to
launch a feasibility study on establishing a third European Youth
Centre in the Black Sea region, as it reflects a strong commitment
to advancing the Council of Europe’s youth policy principles and
fostering co-operation, capacity building, and democratic engagement
among young people in the Eastern regions.
51. Inequalities in access to cultural and educational resources
remain significant, particularly for youth from rural areas, low-income
households, and marginalised communities. Research shows that in
several European countries, fewer than 10% of young people with
lower secondary education participate in cultural activities, compared
with more than twice that share among those with tertiary education.
Young people in rural or Low-income areas often face financial,
geographical, and digital barriers that require targeted policy
interventions.
Note
52. Targeted policies to reduce these disparities include subsidised
participation, digital inclusion strategies, and enhanced mobility
programmes for cultural exchange.
Note
53. Digital literacy and media competence are essential for young
people to navigate the vast landscape of information and cultural
content. Programmes promoting critical thinking and media literacy
help counter disinformation, strengthen participation in democratic
processes, and support informed cultural engagement.
54. In this context, non-formal education and youth work play
a crucial role. The Council of Europe underlines that non-formal
learning empowers disadvantaged youth by providing creative platforms
to express themselves, develop leadership skills, and engage in
intercultural dialogue. Integrating these approaches into cultural
policy can significantly enhance participation among underrepresented
groups.
Note
55. The “
Urban
Foxes – Academy for Urban Action (DURF)” project in Belgium, supported through the Europe Goes
Local initiative, brings together young people, artists, urban planners,
and local authorities to re-imagine public space through participatory
design, creative expression, and community-based urban projects. By
engaging young people in collaborative urban action, the project
demonstrates how youth work, culture, and urban development can
intersect to empower young citizens as active co-creators of their
cities, turning cultural participation into a driver of democracy
and social cohesion.
56. Digital transformation also opens new avenues for cultural
inclusion. UNESCO encourages governments to involve young people
in heritage preservation, creative industries, and digital culture
initiatives such as online museums and virtual youth heritage forums.
Ensuring that these digital platforms are safe, inclusive, and accessible
is vital to guarantee that young people can act as both creators
and consumers of culture.
Note
57. To achieve this, member States should be encouraged to:
- recognise youth cultural participation
as a human right and integrate it into national youth and education strategies;
- support the creation of inclusive youth cultural spaces
that are accessible, affordable, and free from commercial pressures;
- invest in non-formal education and youth work in the cultural
sector, especially in rural or disadvantaged areas;
- develop digital inclusion programmes and media literacy
training to equip young people with skills to critically engage
with online content;
- monitor participation through disaggregated data (by gender,
income, geography) to ensure evidence-based policies;
- foster partnerships between youth organisations, local
authorities, and cultural institutions to co-create programmes reflecting
youth diversity and creativity.
6 A
shared responsibility: parliaments as drivers of the Council of
Europe’s youth agenda
58. The Assembly should welcome
the Resolution on the Council of Europe Reference Framework on a Youth
Perspective adopted by the Ministers responsible for Youth as timely
instruments.
59. This resolution acknowledges that young people are not just
beneficiaries of policy but active rights holders and agents of
change. It articulates a four-element approach: Think with young
people, Learn from and with young people, Participate with young
people, Act with and for young people.
60. The Reference Framework explicitly links youth participation
to the broader democratic agenda namely strengthening trust in institutions,
enhancing pluralism, inclusion, and human rights. It adopts a rights-based and
cross-sectoral approach, emphasising that youth issues cut across
education, employment, civic space, digital rights, among others.
The inclusion of a structured three-phase practical guidance (preparation,
design and implementation, monitoring and evaluation) gives clear
orientation for member States. There is recognition of the need
for financial and human resources and for youth organisations to
be genuine partners, not token consultees.
61. While the resolution and Reference Framework are robust in
many respects, the Assembly should make the following recommendations:
- Stronger binding commitments:
The language is still largely aspirational (“we encourage”, “we
undertake to consider”). For parliamentarians, there is value in
urging member States to adopt concrete legislative or regulatory
measures to embed the youth perspective;
- Clearer accountability and benchmarks: while the monitoring
phase is defined, the Reference Framework could benefit from specifying
standardised indicators (for example, youth representation on decision-making
bodies, youth voter turnout) and requiring member States to report
regularly to the Council of Europe on progress;
- Enhanced national parliamentary involvement: Much of the
focus is on executive or administrative actors. The Assembly can
recommend that national parliaments adopt oversight mechanisms:
for example, parliamentary youth committees, regular hearings with
youth organisations, budget scrutiny for youth participation;
- Addressing structural inequalities: The Reference Framework
rightly highlights barriers faced by young people from disadvantaged
backgrounds but could be stronger in prescribing actions to dismantle systemic
obstacles (poverty, digital exclusion, regional disparities). National
parliaments should also examine the disaggregated data by socio-economic
status, gender and region;
- Sustainability of youth engagement: The risk of tokenism
is explicitly mentioned, yet to counteract this, youth participation
can be institutionalised at all levels (local, regional, national)
with mandated youth quotas on advisory boards or commissions.
62. National parliaments have a pivotal role to play and key instruments
to deploy, such as:
- Legislation
and budgeting: parliaments should review and, where necessary, revise
legal frameworks to articulate the youth perspective, ensure youth
rights and participation mechanisms, and allocate sufficient resources;
- Oversight and evaluation: parliamentary committees (for
youth, education, employment, social affairs) should monitor government
implementation of the Reference Framework, request progress reports,
call youth organisations for testimony, and scrutinise impact;
- Engagement and co-creation: parliaments should engage
young people directly in the legislative process (e-consultations,
youth panels) and ensure youth representation in parliamentary advisory bodies;
- Interparliamentary exchange: through the Assembly, national
parliaments can share best practices, peer review each other’s progress
in implementing the youth perspective, and adopt common benchmarks.
63. As for the Assembly’s own role, it can:
- call on national parliaments to integrate and monitor
the youth perspective, setting out suggested benchmarks and indicators;
- facilitate peer-review visits or exchanges between parliaments
and youth organisations, also via its youth rapporteurs, to encourage
learning and foster innovation across member States;
- continue promoting youth voices within the Assembly itself,
ensuring that young people’s perspectives inform the Assembly’s
debates and that youth organisations are consulted as part of the
Assembly’s work.
64. In sum, the Reference Framework is an important step forward
in embedding a youth perspective into policy making across the Organisation.
For maximum impact, the Assembly should urge national parliaments to
translate the Framework’s commitments into legislative and oversight
practices, institutionalise youth participation, allocate adequate
resources, and track progress via measurable indicators.
65. By actively engaging young people and holding governments
to account, the Assembly and all 46 national parliaments can help
turn the Reference Framework’s vision into meaningful change.
7 Conclusions
and recommendations: consolidating the youth dimension of democracy
66. The Assembly has consistently
recognised that democracies cannot thrive without the meaningful involvement
of their younger generations. Building on the Assembly’s earlier
work, including
Resolution
2619 (2025) and
Recommendation
2299 (2025) “Youth movements for democracy” and
Resolution 2553 (2024) “Strengthening the youth perspective in the work of
the Parliamentary Assembly”, this report reaffirms that youth participation
must evolve from mere consultation to shared responsibility in decision
making.
67. Despite notable progress, youth participation across Europe
remains uneven and fragmented. Many young people continue to feel
excluded from political and civic life, perceiving institutions
as distant or unrepresentative.
68. Socio-economic barriers, precarious employment, limited access
to housing and education, as well as shrinking civic and cultural
spaces, have deepened generational divides. Restoring young people’s
trust in democratic institutions requires addressing these inequalities
while ensuring that young people have a real influence over the
policies that affect their lives.
69. The adoption of the Council of Europe Reference Framework
on a Youth Perspective and the Secretary General’s report entitled
“Towards a New Democratic Pact for Europe” provide a timely opportunity
to integrate the youth perspective across all sectors of governance.
The Council of Europe’s co-management system, embodied by the European
Youth Centres in Strasbourg and Budapest and the European Youth
Foundation, remains a unique and exemplary model of institutionalised
participation. The proposed feasibility study on the creation of
a third European Youth Centre in the Black Sea region would further
extend the Organisation’s outreach and strengthen democratic inclusion
across Europe’s eastern regions.
70. Moving forward, youth participation must become a structural
feature of democratic governance. Member States should adopt comprehensive
frameworks that guarantee the rights, opportunities and resources
for young people to engage meaningfully at national, regional and
local levels. This includes the creation or reinforcement of youth
councils, youth parliaments, and structured dialogue platforms with
advisory mandates or decision-making powers, as well as participatory
budgeting and consultation mechanisms that allow young people to
shape local priorities.
71. Equal access to rights remains the foundation of participation.
Governments should ensure universal access to quality education,
employment, housing and healthcare, with special attention to mental
health services and the inclusion of marginalised youth, including
those from minority, migrant, rural or low-income backgrounds, and
those with disabilities. Gender equality must be fully mainstreamed
across all youth-related initiatives and leadership structures.
72. Education and culture are critical enablers of active citizenship.
Civic education should be integrated into school curricula from
an early age, while non-formal education and youth work should be
supported as complementary learning spaces. Cultural participation,
creativity and artistic expression strengthen social cohesion and
should be promoted through inclusive public spaces and partnerships
between youth organisations, artists and local authorities.
73. The digital transformation of civic and political life presents
both opportunities and challenges. Digital literacy, critical media
education and transparent online participation frameworks are vital
to enable young people to engage responsibly and effectively. Member
States must ensure that online platforms respect human rights, protect
young users from disinformation and abuse, and promote open democratic
dialogue.
74. Sustainable youth engagement also depends on intergenerational
dialogue and institutional openness. Governments should establish
youth advisory boards in parliaments and ministries, promote mentorship programmes
linking young leaders with policy makers, and encourage political
parties to integrate and support young candidates. Civil society
and youth-led organisations must continue to act as drivers of democratic innovation,
fostering participation, diversity and civic learning.
75. The Council of Europe has a key role to play in advancing
this agenda, considering the centrality of youth engagement to the
New Democratic Pact for Europe. The Assembly should invite the Committee
of Ministers to reaffirm youth participation as a cross-cutting
priority, strengthen the co-management system, and provide stable
funding for the European Youth Foundation and the European Youth
Centres. Enhanced co-operation with the European Union, the United
Nations, UNESCO and the OECD will also be essential to promote a coherent
international framework for youth participation and democratic renewal.
76. The Council of Europe and its Assembly should also make every
effort to reach out to young people living in European societies
who may not have access to the usual institutional channels for
participation.
77. Building democracies with youth demands institutional reform,
accountability and trust between generations. By embedding the youth
perspective across all areas of public life, Council of Europe member States
can ensure that democracy remains inclusive, dynamic and future-oriented,
sustained by the energy, creativity and commitment of young people
across the continent.
