Belarusian National Youth Council (RADA)

In February 2026, the main trial of Enes Hocaoğulları — a Youth Delegate to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe — will take place, following politically motivated charges related to his public statements delivered within an official Council of Europe setting.

There is no future without young people, participation, and activism. In times of crisis, we must listen to communities and minorities to build a continent and world where everyone can prosper and live in equal, peaceful societies.

The European Youth Forum recognises the urgent need to protect youth rights and support young political prisoners in Belarus, calling for their immediate release and emphasising international solidarity and cooperation to promote human rights and democracy.

Repression in Serbia has intensified since the Novi Sad tragedy in Nov 2024. Over 1600 protests have erupted, with 325,000 marching on Mar 15, 2025. Young people demand accountability, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights. Read the motion to find out what we're calling for.

In recent months, Türkiye has seen a sharp rise in authoritarianism, threatening democracy, rights, and rule of law. Youth-led movements face arrests, censorship, and violence. Read the urgent motion to find out more about the situation and learn about our key demands.

As youth organisations, we highly appreciate the Erasmus+ programme. However, currently, many countries in Europe that share these principles do not fully benefit from the opportunities offered by Erasmus+.

The mid-term review of the current Erasmus+ Programme (2021-2027) set to be published in July 2025, provides a critical opportunity to reflect on the programme’s successes and challenges while preparing for the next phase. In light of this, the European Youth Forum and its members must actively campaign for a significantly increased budget for Erasmus+ under the next MFF.

Donald Trump’s shredding of USAID is about to hit much closer to home. Just as life-saving aid is at risk in Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the freeze on US development aid has set off the alarm in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries.

Serbia’s youth activists are facing worrying challenges to their safety, privacy, and basic freedoms, highlighting deep-rooted issues in the country's rule of law and democratic practices. Read the motion to find out the European Youth Forum's position.