27/10/2026 New Democratic Pact | President
Rebuilding the trust of young people in democracy was the focus of a major parliamentary conference which took place today in Budapest – with recent street protests and political change driven by students and young people in several countries on the minds of several of the speakers.
Organised by PACE together with the Hungarian National Assembly, the conference – with the title Educate. Engage. Empower. Youth Shaping Democracy – brought together parliamentarians, youth representatives and experts to explore ways of strengthening democratic participation among the young.
In the first of a series of opening addresses, the Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Ágnes Forsthoffer said: “Across the world, youth plays a vital role in society and is often the driving force behind change. Today’s young people quite rightly want more than simply to be heard by decision-makers. They want to play an integral part in decision-making. Time and again, they prove to be game-changers.”
PACE President Petra Bayr said: “Young people in Europe are not apathetic. Far from it. They march for stopping the climate crisis and for better schools. They organise online. They volunteer. They debate – fiercely. What they lack is not passion. What they lack is a seat at the table.” Referring to the demands made by young people during recent protests in France and some other countries, she said: “The answer is not on the street. It is in our parliaments. When young people must block their schools to be heard, we have listened too late. That is the gap this conference must close.”
Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Tanja Gonggrijp said: "Listening to the young people in the streets of Europe and acting on what we hear will help us make sure that democratic security does not slide into a democracy run on security. This is what the New Democratic Pact for Europe is for – it is an open process, with the voices of young people at its heart. Today we are here to engage and to listen – and until 12 November, anyone can take part in our citizens’ consultation and tell us what needs to change for democracy to work better for them and for you."
Hungary’s Minister of Education and Children's Affairs Judit Lannert cited different ways that the country was taking steps to strengthen youth participation, by restoring the right of co-decision to student councils and by giving opportunities to school children to express their views. Addressing young people directly, she said: “Europe needs your voice. It needs your ideas, your energy, your critical thinking and your willingness to challenge us. Help us, the older generations, understand what needs to change and how we can shape the future together.”
A number of different sessions focused on democracy across the generations, understanding the participation gap, the role of parliaments, citizenship education and the way forward.
The conference was preceded, the day before, by a youth-focused event held at the Council of Europe Youth Centre in Budapest, Renewing Youth Engagement in Democratic Societies: Listen. Engage. Shape the Future.
Organised in the context of the Council of Europe's New Democratic Pact for Europe, it brought young people and parliamentarians together – including via the format of a “reverse parliament” – to find ways to rebuild trust between generations and reinvent democratic participation and co-decision.
