Rejuvenating politics

The ‘Rejuvenating Politics’ initiative was launched by Congress in 2014. It reflects the Congress' commitment to promoting the participation of young people in public life and in the decision-making process at local and regional level.
Since 2014, the Congress has invited one youth delegate from each of the Council of Europe member states to take part in its work each year. It offers young people a unique opportunity to sit (without voting rights) in a European assembly alongside local and regional elected representatives. They can make their voices heard, be part of a diverse group of committed young people, build a network and have an impact by stimulating debate from a young person's point of view.

Becoming a youth delegate

Each year, youth delegates are selected following an online application procedure to take part in the two Congress sessions in March and October and in other events organised during the year. Selection is based on specific criteria such as age (18 to 30), motivation to develop and strengthen dialogue between young people and local and regional elected representatives, commitment to disseminating the information received in their country and the ability to work in a multicultural group.

Acting as a youth delegate

Supported by two trainers in the form of mentoring to develop and evaluate their ideas, the youth delegates have to develop their own projects at local or regional level between the two sessions of the Congress (presentations in schools and universities, cross-border collaborations, television and radio appearances, campaigns to raise awareness of democratic citizenship, etc.).