On 28 February 2024, the delegation of the youth department led by Tobias Flessenkemper, Head of the Youth Department of the Council of Europe, during his three – day visit to Ukraine met with representatives of youth centres in Ukraine. Representatives of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine took part in the event as well.

The meeting took place in the Council of Europe Office in Kyiv and was devoted to the discussion of the recent developments in the Council of Europe youth sector, the analysis of the current situation in the field of youth work in Ukraine, as well as the planning of activities for 2024, in particular in relation to the war time in Ukraine, and perspectives about moving forward in partnership in 2025 and beyond.

This meeting was an important step in the development of youth work in Ukraine, providing a platform for dialogue and co-operation between youth centre representatives, state institutions and the Council of Europe.

The Project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III” is implemented within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2023-2026 and is based on the results and experience of the projects “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine” in 2020-2022.  The project will expand the systematic impact by strengthening youth participation policies and youth work during the war and in the post-war context, taking into account the specific needs of young people.

The project "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III" emphasizes the importance of the Council of Europe's Youth Sector Strategy until 2030 and reflects the National Strategy of State Youth Policy until 2030, the State Targeted Social Program "Youth of Ukraine" 2021-2025.

The project encourages youth policy stakeholders in Ukraine to implement and disseminate the Recommendations of the Committee of Ministers to Member States: on the access of youth from disadvantaged neighbourhoods to social rights, CM/Rec(2015)3; on young people's access to rights, CM/Rec(2016)7; on youth work, CM/Rec(2017)4; on Roma youth participation CM/Rec(2023)4; on protecting youth civil society and young people, and supporting their participation in democratic processes CM/Rec(2022)6.

News, Council of Europe resources in the field of youth and open announcements for participation in project activities can be found here.