European Youth Forum Explained

European Youth Forum
Abbreviation:YFJ
Formation:1996
Headquarters:French: Rue de l’Industrie|italic=no, 10, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Language:English
Sec Gen:Milosh Ristovski
Leader Title:President
Leader Name:Rareș Voicu

The European Youth Forum (from French: Youth Forum Jeunesse, YFJ) is an international non-profit association that serves as an umbrella organisation and advocacy group of the national youth councils and international non-governmental youth organisations in Europe.[1] It works on youth rights in international institutions such as the European Union, the Council of Europe, and the United Nations.

The European Youth Forum works mostly in the fields of youth policy and youth work development. It focuses its work on European youth policy matters, whilst through engagement on the global level, it is enhancing the capacities of its members and promoting global interdependence. In its daily work, the European Youth Forum represents the views and opinions of youth organisations in all relevant policy areas and promotes the cross-sectoral nature of youth policy towards a variety of institutional actors. The principles of equality and sustainable development are mainstreamed in the work of the European Youth Forum.[2] [3] [4]

It consists of 44 National Youth Councils and 61 international youth NGOs, a total of 105.[5]

History

The European Youth Forum is a European international organization, which was established in 1996 by national youth councils and international non-governmental youth organizations. It works as the successor to the Council of European National Youth Committees (CENYC), Youth Forum of the European Communities (YFEU), and the European Co-ordination Bureau of International Youth Organisations (ECB). CENYC and ECB had been representing youth interests since the sixties.[6] The YFEU was set up by them in the late 1970s to work vis a vis the European Union (then called the European Community).[7] The establishment of a single structure replacing all three was a major rationalization.

Vision, mission, and aims

According to the European Youth Forum[8] their Vision, mission, and aims are as follows:

Vision

To be the voice of young people in Europe, where young people are equal citizens and are encouraged and supported to achieve their fullest potential as global citizens.

Mission

The European Youth Forum is an independent, democratic, youth-led platform, representing national youth councils and international youth organizations from across Europe.

The Youth Forum works to empower young people to participate actively in society to improve their own lives, by representing and advocating their needs and interests and those of their organizations.

Aims

The European Youth Forum has the task of nominating 20 young people from its member organizations for the Advisory Council on Youth, 13 representatives from international youth organizations (INGYOs) and seven representatives from national youth councils for a two-year mandate.[9] These are elected democratically by the member organizations, usually at the Council of Members (COMEM) in Brussels in spring.[10]

Organisation

Presidents

DatePresidentNationalityNominating organization(s)
2024-2026Mr Rareș VoicuOrganising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU)
2023-2024Ms María Rodríguez AlcázarSpanish Youth Council (CJE)
2021–2022Ms Silja MarkkulaWorld Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM),
Suomen Nuorisoalan kattojärjestö Allianssi ry (Allianssi)
2019–2020Ms Carina AutengruberOesterreichische Kinder- und Jugendvertretung (ÖJV),
International Federation of Catholic Parochial Youth Movements (FIMCAP)
2017–2018Mr Luis Alvarado MartinezAssociation des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de l’Europe (AEGEE-Europe)
2015–2016Ms Johanna NymanFinnish Youth Cooperation (Allianssi)
2011–2014Mr Peter MatjašičYoung European Federalists (JEF)
2009–2010Mr Tine RadinjaNational Youth Council of Slovenia (MSS)[11]
2007–2008Ms Bettina SchwarzmayrEuropean Student Information Bureau (ESIB) [12]
2005–2006Mr Renaldas VaisbrodasLithuanian Youth Council (LiJOT) [13]
2003–2004Mr Giacomo Filibeck
2001–2002Mr Henrik Söderman
1999–2000Mr Pau Solanilla
1997–1998Ms Pauliina Arola

Current Board

Each board elected by the entire membership every 2 years at the General Assembly, it is made up of:

The Secretary-General attends the board meetings as a non-voting ex-officio

NamePositionNationalityNominating Organization
Rareș VoicuPresident RomaniaOrganising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU)
Giorgos-Aggelos PapaioannouVice President (INGYO)Erasmus Student Network (ESN)
Andreea-Alexandra ScrioșteanuVice President (NYC) RomaniaConsiliul Tineretului din România (CTR)
Anna HoltkampBoard Member (INGYO) GermanyInternational Young Catholic Students - International Movement of Catholic Students (JECI-MIEC)
Caillum HeddermanBoard Member (INGYO)World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM)
Natalia KallioBoard Member (INGYO) FinlandInternational Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Intersex Youth and Student Organisation (IGLYO)
Sina Riz à PortaBoard Member (INGYO)European Educational Exchanges - Youth for Understanding (EEE-YFU)
Chloë CauchiBoard Member (NYC)Kunsill Nazzjonali taż-Żgħażagħ (KNŻ)
Laure VerstraeteBoard Member (NYC)Vlaamse Jeugdraad (VJR), Forum des Jeunes (FdJ)
Tom MatthewBoard Member (NYC)Conférence Générale de la Jeunesse Luxembourgoise (CGJL)

Secretaries-General

NameTerm
Mr Milosh Ristovski2023–
Mr Joe Elborn2020–2022
Ms Anna Widegren2017–2020
Mr Allan Pall2014–2017
Mr Giuseppe Porcaro2009–2014
Mr Diogo Pinto2005–2009
Ms Johanna Tzanidaki2003–2005
Mr Kim Svendsen2001–2002
Mr Tobias Flessenkemper1998–2001
Ms Hrönn Pétursdóttir1997–1998
Mr Stephen Grogan1996

Funding

In 2012, almost 87% of the Youth Forum income stemmed from annual grants from international institutions. 83.9% of the total income came from the European Communities' Budget, through a grant from DG Education and Culture, while around 3.2% was from Council of Europe grants.[14]

Partnership projects also constitute an essential part of Youth Forum income, and such income includes the support of partner organizations for concrete activities, e.g. YFJ Member Organisations hosting YFJ meetings, or grants from foundations or other entities, such as the United Nations, Governments or Local Authorities.[14]

Volunteer Time Contributions (VTCs) are an essential source of external funding, and which allow the YFJ to fulfill its co-funding requirements as per the European Commission. VTCs also represents the further recognition of volunteer work as an important contribution to society and to the work of youth organizations. These contributions in 2012 represent approximately 4.8% of the Youth Forum budget.[14]

Membership

The European Youth Forum has 104 member organizations of two types of Membership: National Youth Council and International Non-Governmental Youth Organization, of which there are three levels: Observer, Candidate and Full member. Only full members may vote at the statutory meetings of the Forum.

According to the statues:

All members have to fulfill the following general criteria:

National Youth Councils

Presently there are 43 National Youth Councils who are members of the European Youth Forum. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Turkey don't currently have recognized National Youth Councils.

National Youth Council members must:

  1. be the national coordination body of non-governmental youth organizations in a European State;
  2. be open to all democratic youth organizations at the national level.

To be full members they must be open to all and represent most of the main democratic youth movements and organizations at the national level in that State.

CountryNameAcronymStatus
ArmeniaNational Youth Council of ArmeniaNYCAFull
AustriaOesterreichische Kinder- und JugendvertretungÖJVFull
AllianssiFull
Dutch National Youth CouncilNJR / DNYCFull
Comité pour les Relations Nationales et Internationales des Associations de Jeunesse et d'Education Populaire CNAJEPFull
Eesti Noorteühenduste Liit (Estonian National Youth Council) ENLFull
Conférence Générale de la Jeunesse Luxembourgoise CGJLFull
CJEFull
Consell Nacional de la Joventut de CatalunyaCNJCFull (non-voting)
Polish Council of Youth OrganisationsPROMFull
Conselho Nacional de Juventude CNJFull
Consiliul Național al Tineretului din MoldovaCNTMFull
BelgiumConseil da la Jeunesse de la communauté française de Belgique CRIJFull (Vote shared with VJR)
National Youth Council of Switzerland SAJV/CSAJFull
Romanian Youth CouncilCTRFull
CyprusCyprus Youth CouncilCYCFull
GermanyDeutsches Nationalkomitee für Internationale Jugendarbeit (German National Committee for International Youth Work)DNKFull
Dansk Ungdoms Fællesråd (Danish Youth Council)DUFFull
Hellenic National Youth Council ESYNFull
Consiglio Nazionale dei Giovani CNGFull
MaltaKunsill Nazzjonali Taz-ZghazaghKNZFull
LithuaniaLithuanian Youth CouncilLIJOTFull
LatviaLatvijas Jaunatnes PadomeLJPFull
NorwayLandsrådet for Norske barne- og ungdomsorganisasjonerLNUFull
SwedenSwedish National Council of Youth OrganizationsLSUFull
IcelandLandssamband ungmennafélaga (National Youth Council of Iceland)LUFFull
MSSFull
Mreža Mladih Hrvatske / Croatian Youth NetworkMMHFull
AzerbaijanNational Assembly of Youth Organisations of the Republic of Azerbaijan date=12 April 2019 --> NAYORAFull
GeorgiaNational Council of Youth Organisations of GeorgiaNCYOGFull
IrelandNational Youth Council of IrelandNYCIFull
National Youth Council of RussiaNYCRFull
BelarusBelarusian Union of Youth and Children's Public AssociationsRADAFull
SlovakiaRada Mládeže Slovenska (Slovak Youth Council) RMSFull
Czech RepublicČeská rada dětí a mládeže (Czech Council of Children and Youth)ČRDMFull
BulgariaNaciolen Mladezki Forum (National Youth Forum-Bulgaria)NMFFull
SerbiaKrovna Organizacija Mladih Srbije (National Youth Council of Serbia)KOMSFull
BelgiumVlaamse Jeugdraad (Flemish Youth Council) VJRFull (Vote shared with CRIJ)
National Youth Council of MacedoniaNYCMFull
BelgiumRat der Deutschsprachigen Jugend RDJCandidate
UkraineNational Youth Council of UkraineNYCUFull
HungaryNational Youth Council of HungaryNITObserver

International Non-Governmental Youth Organisations

Presently there are 61 International Non-Governmental Youth Organisations who are members of the European Youth Forum.

Full IYNGO Members either must have: at least 5000 young members in ten European States, and under no circumstances have less than 300 young members in any one of these ten States; or: have a motivated recommendation from: the Secretary-General and Board; or the Consultative Body on Membership Applications which advises the Board on Membership Applications.

Observer INGYO members must have 3000 young members in at least six European States with at least 100 members in any of these six states.

INGYOs cannot become members if they are largely identical in terms of aims, membership, and structures of an existing INGYO, which is already a member. This is to be appreciated solely by the General Assembly, by a two-thirds majority, abstentions not counted.

NameAcronymStatus
Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de l'EuropeAEGEEFull
Alliance of European Voluntary Service Organisations ALLIANCEFull
International ATD Fourth World MovementATD-Quart MondeFull
Board of European Students of Technology BESTObservers
DEMYCFull
European Bureau of Conscientious ObjectionEBCO/BEOCFull
YESFull
European Confederation of Youth ClubsECYCFull
EDSFull
EEE-YFUFull
European Federation for Intercultural Learning EFILFull
Erasmus Student NetworkESNFull
European Union of Deaf YouthEUDYCandidate
ACTIVE - Sobriety, Friendship and PeaceACTIVEFull
ESU/ESIBFull
European Trade Union Confederation Youth ETUC YouthFull
European Federation of Youth Hostel Associations EUFEDFull
EUJS/UEEJFull
Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe EYCEFull
FIMCAPFull
FYEGFull
IFLRYFull
IFM-SEIFull
IFMSAFull
IGLYOFull
IUSYFull
International Young Nature Friends IYNFFull
International Young Catholic Students - International Movement of Catholic Students JECI-MIECFull
JEFFull
LYMECFull
MIJARC-EuropeFull
Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions OBESSUFull
Rural Youth Europe RYEuropeFull
SCIFull
TEJOFull
WAGGGSFull
World Organization of the Scout Movement (European office) WOSMFull
YAPFull (Suspended)
Youth and Environment Europe YEEFull
YEPPFull
YEUFull
European Alliance of YMCAs YMCAFull
YWCAFull
Youth of European Nationalities YENFull
CEJAObservers
CESI-Youth Observers
Don Bosco Youth NetDon BoscoObservers
EFAYObservers
ENGSO YouthObservers
European Youth Press EYPObservers
International Federation of Training Centres for the Promotion of Progressive Education FICEMEA Observers
International Coordination of Young Christian Workers ICYCW/CIJOCObservers
JMIObservers
Pax ChristiObservers
Red Cross YouthRCYObservers
Youth Express Network Y-E-NFull
Young Democrats for EuropeYDEObservers
CISVObserver
IFHOHYPObservers
Young Entrepreneurs Organisation of the European Union JUENEObservers
IDEA NLObservers
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation The AwardObservers
FLARECandidate (Suspended)

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: European Youth Forum. Statutes. . European Youth Forum . 2018-11-24 . 2020-05-04 .
  2. http://www.youthforum.org/fr/system/files/yfj_public/strategic_priorities/en/0544-06_Strategi_%20Priorities_2007-12_FINAL.pdf Strategic Priorities of the European Youth Forum 2007-2012
  3. Web site: HOME . Coe.int . 2013-06-15.
  4. Web site: Platform of European Social NGOs . SocialPlatform . 2013-06-15.
  5. Web site: Our Members . €uropean Youth Forum . 2020-05-04 . 26 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200526011114/https://www.youthforum.org/our-members . dead .
  6. http://wwwarc.eui.eu/pdfinv/inv-cenyc.pdf Archived profile of the Council of European National Youth Committees (CENYC), held in the European University Institute - Historical Archives of the European Union, 1994-2006
  7. Web site: Gaetano. Morese. 30 November 2020. Citizenship, Education and Democracy through the Youth Forum of European Union (YFEU). 15 April 2021. cwld.hypotheses.org/.
  8. Web site: The European Youth Forum: our goals & vision . European Youth Forum . 2020-05-04 . 22 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200422034433/https://www.youthforum.org/european-youth-forum-our-goals-vision . dead .
  9. Web site: Advisory Council on Youth Terms of references. Council of Europe. 2020-01-01. 2020-05-02.
  10. Web site: Spring #COMEM in Brussels . European Youth Forum . 2017-04-22 . 2020-05-02 . 27 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201027204850/https://www.youthforum.org/spring-comem-brussels . dead .
  11. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/180594/20090203ATT48186EN.pdf
  12. Web site: ESIB candidate becomes the head of the YFJ . 15 November 2006 .
  13. https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/documents/ga60rtbio.pdf
  14. http://www.youthforum.org/en/finances Finance page from the YFJ website. Accessed 29 March 2010