On 29 October 2025, during its 49th session, the Council of Europe Congress adopted a new European Charter on the participation of young people in local and regional life. The Charter’s primary goal is to ensure that the current needs of young people are adequately represented in democratic processes. Building upon the original 1992 and revised 2003 Charters, this latest version was developed through extensive consultation with European youth and youth organisations, and reflects the current geopolitical and socio-economic context. As a result, the new charter aims to enhance youth empowerment in a context where crises have eroded trust in democratic processes and hindered active civic participation. Read more here.