On Europe Day, marked on 5 May by the Council of Europe, we celebrate the signing of the Treaty of London, the Council’s founding Statute that embodied the collective will in post-war Europe to build a pan-European organisation grounded in the core values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Although the current system of rights and protections has been in place for 75 years, it should not be taken for granted, all of us must ensure it remains strong and respected. The Advisory Council on Youth recognises that the increasing trends of intolerance, exclusion and discrimination towards minorities, remain a rife obstacle, corroding the foundational values of equality and solidarity. Moreover, the ongoing war in the Middle East and the rise of extremist rhetoric in many European countries have led to an unprecedented upsurge in antisemitic and anti-Muslim incidents.

Read the complete statement English only

_{The statements of the Advisory Council are published for the purpose of informing the public about the activities of the statutory bodies of the Council of Europe youth sector. The statements reflect the opinions and positions of the Advisory Council and its members. The views expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Council of Europe.}