MEMBERSHIP/Kind of Membership

Kinds of membership

There are three categories of membership (observer, candidate and full) within the European Youth Forum and the criteria for these depend on the nature of the organisation. The Consultative Body on Membership Applications (CBMA) recommends the observer type of membership for new applicants. Of course, you can consider applying for the candidate type of membership, but please bear in mind that after expiration of four years as a candidate member, this member becomes automatically an observer member, according to the Statutes of the European Youth Forum.

Observer membership
NYCs have to satisfy the following specific criteria:

  • be the national co-ordinating body of non-governmental youth organisations in a European country;
  • be open to all democratic youth organisations at national level.

INGYOs have to satisfy the following specific criteria:

  • either have at least 3000 young members in six European countries but no less than 100 young members in any one of these countries;
  • or have a justified recommendation from:
    • the Secretary General and the Bureau of the European Youth Forum; or from
    • the Consultative Body on membership applications which advises the Bureau on membership applications.

Most applicants join the European Youth Forum as observers, because it gives them room to develop and become eligible for the next stage of membership, which is…

Candidate membership

NYCs have to satisfy the following specific criteria:

  • be the national co-ordinating body of non-governmental youth organisations in a European country;
  • be open to all and represent most of the main democratic youth movements and organisations at the national level in that country.

INGYOs have to satisfy the following specific criteria:

  • either have at least 5000 young members in ten European countries and under no circumstances have less than 300 young members in any one of those ten countries;
  • or have a justified recommendation from:
    • the Secretary General and the Bureau; or from
    • the Consultative Body which advises the Bureau on membership applications.

Finally, candidate members may apply for full membership but only after they have maintained their candidate status for two years.

Full membership

NYCs have to satisfy the following specific criteria:

  • be the national co-ordinating body of non-governmental youth organisations in a European country;
  • be open to all and include most of the main democratic youth movements and organisations at the national level in that country.

INGYOs have to satisfy the following specific criteria:

  • either have at least 5000 young members in ten European countries, and under no circumstances have less than 300 young members in any one of these ten countries;
  • or have a motivated recommendation from:
    • the Secretary General and Bureau; or from
    • the consultative body which advises the Bureau on membership applications.

up