The situation of youth organisations across Europe
Youth Organisations across Europe are facing an increasingly challenging situation. Political and economic circumstances are leading to shrinking civic spaces and therefore a shrinking chance of youth organisations to fulfil their purpose and represent the voice of young people. Youth organisations - National Youth Councils (NYCs) and International Non-Governmental Youth Organisations (INGYOs) alike - and the whole youth sector are currently being impacted by wars, democratic, rule of law and human rights backsliding and the overall global economic situation. While they are trying to provide spaces for young people where they can live and enjoy their democracy and freedom of participation, these spaces are at risk.
why this issue matters now
The current situation of democracy in Europe has reached a critical point. Europe is witnessing a rise and normalisation of the far right and other antidemocratic ideologies, burgeoning nationalism, threatening the welfare system, social rights and fiscal distributive justice, while conflicts and war are also threatening the existence of youth civil society in parallel. Many of our fellow NYCs and INGYOs are struggling in these circumstances.
Read the motion to find out which of the European Youth Forum's members have been impacted and how, as well as what we commit to internally as part of our Strategic Plan and what we call for externally.
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The relevance of the Erasmus+ Programme gains special light in the current context of global democratic backsliding. However, there are still areas where improvements can be made to ensure that Erasmus+ appropriately reaches all young people and supports the youth sector in Europe.
Empowering Youth Voices: Defending Democracy and European Values
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Protecting civil society and civic spaces in Georgia
In March 2023, the Government of Georgia initiated work on a legislative proposal on “foreign agents” that would have forced civil society organisations to be registered as being under foreign influence should they be receiving funding from sources outside of the country. As Georgia initiated negotiations for EU membership merely 6 months ago, this underscores how fragile Democracy and the Rule of Law are in our societies and how civic spaces must be protected tirelessly every day, everywhere.