On 5 April in Lviv, Ukraine, Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge took part in the launching event of "Lviv, the European Youth Capital" together with thousands of youngsters and government representatives, the mayor of Lviv, international organisations and non-governmental organisations.
The Deputy Secretary General emphasised that the Lviv-European Youth Capital 2025* is offering an unprecedented platform to further empower young voices, strengthen participation and help to reinforce Ukraine's place in the European family.
"In the Council of Europe, we want to do what we can to support young people in building a better future. We will work towards the reconstruction of youth centres, educational hubs, and spaces for civic engagement in all over Ukraine. Our commitment is clear: youth must be at the heart of Ukraine's present - and future," he said.
On 4 April the Deputy Secretary General attended the opening of the "Unbroken Conference: Finding a New Lifestyle after Trauma".
In his opening remarks, he underlined the extraordinary resilience and commitment of Ukraine to upholding social rights, placing them at the heart of its recovery agenda. "This commitment is not just a moral imperative - it is a strategic foundation for Ukraine's stability, democracy and long-term reconstruction".
During his visit to Lviv the Deputy Secretary General met with the Mayor of Lviv Andriy Sadoviy and with young veterans at the "Unbroken Centre". He also met students of the Faculty of International Relations of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and held an exchange with youth civil society organisations from Ukraine and other countries.
*The European Youth Capital is a title awarded by the European Youth Forum, a long-standing partner of the Council of Europe, designed to empower young people, boost youth participation and strengthen the European identity of the continent's cities. In November 2022, Lviv was chosen as European Youth Capital 2025.
