Council of Members - coming together #ForYouthRights

Young representatives from youth organisations across Europe came together this weekend, 12-13 April, for the European Youth Forum's Council of Members (COMEM) in Brussels.

Taking place over two days, the European Youth Forum's COMEM is a bi-annual meeting where Members are invited to make decisions on the direction, vision and positions of the Youth Forum. The packed agenda saw delegates raising their voice on many crucial issues facing young people in Europe, from peace and security and non-formal education, to the future of work and what it means to be a European youth representative.

One outcome of these discussions is a new Resolution in support of youth demanding urgent climate action.

Elections!

This year's COMEM also hosted elections for the Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe. Taking place every two years, Member Organisations of the European Youth Forum nominate candidates who have the ideas and vision to strengthen and shape the Council of Europe’s youth sector, helping to make recommendations for future priorities, programmes and budgets.

Well done to all candidates who put themselves forward for election.

Elected representatives for International Non-Governmental Youth Organisations (INGYO)

Tilemachos Boni, Georgios Chatzigeorgiou, Sara Finnbogadottir, Emilija Gagrcin, Patricia Gonçalves, Nami Isaki, Marine Kurtanidze, Leonie Martin, Robert Napier, Spyros Papadatos, Natascha Skjaldgaard, Pia Slogar, Andrea Ugrinoska

Elected representatives for National Youth Councils (NYC)

Sarah-Anna Awad, Alice Bergholtz, Mihai Dragos, Sean Ellul, Mila Lukic, Pegah Moulana, Sebastian Vogt

COMEM delegates also voted for a new member of the Financial Control Commission (FCC) of the European Youth Forum. Well done, Virgilio Falco!

Schwarzkopf's Young European of the Year 2019

The European Youth Forum was also very excited and proud to host the Young European of the Year 2019 award ceremony. This award is given to young Europeans “who have distinguished themselves in an exemplary manner concerning their honorary commitment and dedication in the support of international understand and/or the integration of Europe”, and is granted by the Schwarzkopf Foundation Young Europe.

The winner of the Young European of the Year 2019 is Yasmine Ouirhrane, for her commitment to equality for women and equal participation opportunities for migrants in Europe.

The Youth Forum family keeps growing!

We are very happy to welcome a new youth organisation to the Youth Forum, Junior Chamber International Europe (JCI Europe). JCI Europe joins as an observer member.

European Elections

Upcoming European Elections were also high on the agenda at this year's COMEM, with a debate between young candidates organised on the evening of Thursday 11 April. The audience were given the chance to ask questions on the big topics of European Youth Forum's #ChangeIsComing campaign, democracy, climate change and digital.

Until next time...

Thank you to all who attended our COMEM and speaking out #ForYouthRights! We look forward to seeing you next time in November.

To see all the photos from this weekend, check out the Facebook album here.