Fresh Faces, Big Decisions: General Assembly 2025 wraps up in Brussels
On May 9 and 10 2025, hundreds of young people gathered in Brussels for our General Assembly (GA). They all came together for two days of democratic decisions, in depth discussions and conversations around the issues that really impact and matter to young people all over Europe.
🎉 A huge congratulations to the 20 young people elected to the Council of Europe Advisory Council on Youth!
The newly elected members of the Council of Europe Advisory Council on Youth, in alphabetical order, are: Adam Lambe, Adamantia Zisimopoulou, Andrei Dragos Tarta, Anna Sofia Dalhoff Weinrich, Clara Föller, Duarte Lopes, Emilie Tamo Kamguia, Emma Wedner, Eva Kotnik, Josef Burker, José Francisco Silva, Katrina Lambert, Max Ternes, Maurizio Cuttin, Nathan Lusseau, Niklas Tiemann, Riikka Pasanen, Sean Currie, Tobias Driling, and Xesc Mainzer.
Chosen by our member organisations, they’ll serve from January 2026 to December 2027, making sure youth voices continue to drive policymaking at the Council of Europe.
đź“Ł Policy in action: Motions that matter
Delegates didn’t just vote on people, they also voted on ideas. Several new motions were passed, shaping our collective stance on key youth issues. From tackling eco-anxiety to an enlarged and more inclusive European Union, this General Assembly was a powerful reminder that young people are ready to lead change.
🌍 We’re also getting stronger!
We’re thrilled to welcome the National Youth Council of Andorra to our membership, and European Youth Press and Phiren Amenca as full members of the European Youth Forum.
💬 What’s next?
As always, the General Assembly wasn’t just about formal decisions, it was a space to connect, collaborate, and reimagine what youth participation looks like across Europe. With new policies and growing membership, we're more ready than ever to keep pushing for a world where young people are heard, included, and empowered.
Related articles & publications
From conversation to change: the European Youth Capital’s Policy Labs
What happens when young people and decision-makers sit at the exact same table to tackle local challenges? News from Tromsø, where they have implemented innovative Policy Labs to turn everyday youth experiences into concrete political action. Read more to discover what meaningful youth participation actually looks like in practice!
The new EU Affordable Housing Act: What will future historians say about it?
It’s almost become a fact of being young. Housing is either too expensive, too insecure, or nowhere near as abundant as it needs to be. Stories of parents buying homes in years gone with normal salaries have now cemented themselves firmly in the realm of fiction.
Closing a youth space makes Europe weaker
Every time a youth space closes its doors, Europe loses a piece of its democratic foundation. Not just a hypothetical threat, but a reality happening more and more across the continent.