Wordcloud inluding words such as youth, decision, participation, cooperation, etc.

The Council of Europe’s ground-breaking co-management system is a living example of participatory democracy.  It is a place for common reflection and co-production, combining the voice of young Europeans and that of public authorities responsible for youth issues, leading to a sharing and evaluation of experience.  Thanks to this dialogue, where each party has an equal say, ideas and experiences can be exchanged, in a spirit of mutual understanding and respect, giving legitimacy to the Joint Council on Youth’s decisions.

How does it work?

Visual representing the co-management system and its different decision-making bodies

The voice of young Europeans is represented by the Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ), made up of 30 representatives of youth NGOs and networks.

Find out more about the Advisory Council, what it does, who the members are and how to get involved.

 The representatives of ministries and bodies responsible for youth issues of the member states come together in the European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ).

Find out more about the CDEJ and what it does.

The Joint Council on Youth (CMJ) is the co-managed body which brings together the Advisory Council and the CDEJ.  The Joint Council takes the decisions on the youth sector’s priorities, programmes and budget.

Find out more about the Joint Council and what it does.

The Programming Committee on Youth (CPJ) consists of eight goverment representatives from the CDEJ and eight non-governmental representatives from the CCJ.