The European Youth Conference "Young people in local and regional life: Democracy in action!" has opened at the Braga Youth Centre, bringing together 150 youth leaders and representatives of local and regional authorities from across Europe.
The event is dedicated to updating the European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life, a unique Council of Europe standard that strengthens young people's role in renewing democracy at the local and regional levels. By revising the Charter, participants aim to ensure that youth perspectives are at the heart of decision-making in cities, municipalities, and regions, addressing the needs of younger generations and revitalising democracy.
The Braga Youth Conference is the largest gathering of young people and local authorities in 2025, anchoring youth perspectives in the Council of Europe's work on local and regional democracy. The conference is co-organised by the Council of Europe Youth Department and the Braga Youth Centre, and in partnership with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, the Municipality of Braga, the Portuguese Institute for Sports and Youth and the European Youth Forum.
By hosting this event, Braga Youth Centre - holding the Council of Europe Quality Label for Youth Centres since April 2024 - demonstrates the impact of investing in spaces for youth participation, training, and youth work.
