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The Council of Europe, through its Youth Department, has been developing policies and tools for over 50 years to support the youth sector in Europe, with a particular focus on the themes of Human Rights, inclusion and democratic participation.

The Council operates in the youth sector with a Medium-long term strategy which is structured around four pillars:

  • revitalize pluralistic democracy
  • young people's access to rights
  • coexistence in peaceful and inclusive societies
  • youth work.

The two main instruments for this Council activity are the European Youth Centers in Strasbourg and Budapest and the European Youth Foundation.

To these is added the Partnership of the Council of Europe with the European Commission on youth.

Logo of the Council of Europe and the European Youth Foundation
The European Youth Centers (EYCs)

They are permanent structures for the implementation of the youth policy of the Council of Europe. They are international training and meeting centres, with residential structures in which it is possible to host youth sector activities. The professional staff includes a consultancy team that provides technical and educational assistance for the preparation, management and follow-up of activities.

European Youth Center Strasbourg European Youth Center Budapest

The European Youth Foundation (EYF)
Founded in 1972, it is a body founded by the Council of Europe with the aim of financially supporting and promoting educational activities aimed at young people in 46 member states and in countries signatory to the European Cultural Convention.

At the center of the Youth Department of the Council of Europe, the EYF is committed to funding projects aimed at promoting peace, intercultural cooperation, information exchange and mutual solidarity between young generations, to facilitate their active participation in civil society and to make their voices heard in political life and democratic.

The European Youth Foundation provides support and funding for youth activities, studies and research, in line with the values ​​of the Council of Europe.

The activities that can be financed differ based on the type of organization and the characteristics of the project, identifiable in four different typologies: international activities, annual work plans, pilot activities and structural grants. Furthermore, projects must be designed and implemented to strengthen peace and cooperation, to promote greater collaboration and understanding between young people and encourage the exchange of information, in compliance with the priorities of the Youth Sector of the Council of Europe.


EYF Pilot Activity: local innovation and youth involvement

The pilot activities supported by the EYF provide fertile ground for innovation and local action, focusing directly on youth needs and challenges at a local level. These projects place the emphasis on innovation, integrating the best practices available and trying to replicate them in similar contexts. A key point is to actively involve young people, providing them with a central role in the decision-making process and promoting their direct participation to generate tangible and significant impacts in their community.

The Pilot Activities offer an opportunity to local, national and regional youth Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). They encompass different modes of intervention, such as awareness-raising activities to inform participants about specific problems and push them to take action at a local level, or the development of skills to address these identified challenges and create concrete results, such as campaigns, guidelines or recommendations. Activities can vary greatly in format, including training sessions, workshops, meetings with experts and other initiatives related to non-formal education.

The Pilot Activities projects have a maximum duration of 6 months and the maximum funding awarded for this category in 2024 is € 15.000, which can cover the entire cost of the activity. The allocation of funds follows a payment model of 80% at the beginning of the project and the remaining 20% ​​after the submission of the final report.

The deadlines for the pilot activities which are expected to start during 2024 are set for January 15th and May 15th. For more information on how to apply, see the page dedicated to this link.


EYF International Activities: meetings for the growth of the youth sector

The international activities funded by the EYF promote meetings of young people or youth leaders at European level, offering a stage for discussion and exploration of crucial issues with a clearly European perspective and promoting youth cooperation. Activities must fulfill the priorities of the youth sector of the Council of Europe and respond to the concrete needs of young participants.

International activities sponsored by the EYF must adhere to rigorous criteria, ensuring that their impact and participation reflect the essence of diversity and inclusion to which Europe aspires. The requirements include the need for participants to come from at least 7 member states of the Council of Europe, with a representation of at least 4 nationalities in the project core.

Furthermore, at least 75% of participants must be under the age of 30, thus ensuring a meaningful voice for young people in the decision-making process. The activities, ideally lasting at least 4 working days, are structured to effectively respond to the needs of young people, providing space for non-formal education and active participation. Geographic and gender balance is another essential requirement to ensure fair and inclusive representation.

Who can apply? International youth organisations, networks and national and regional non-governmental organizations have the opportunity to apply, ensuring that the proposed activity involves a broad and diverse partnership.

The European Youth Foundation offers significant financial support, with a maximum grant of €25.000 for international activities. This funding covers up to two thirds of the total costs of the activity, while youth organizations must secure the remaining third through additional resources.

The EYF deadlines for international activities planned for the following year are set for 1 April and 1 October 2024. To participate and submit your application, consult the dedicated page via THIS LINK.

This call for participation offers a unique opportunity for young people across Europe to engage in meaningful dialogue and contribute to the social and cultural fabric of the continent.
For further information on the criteria and details of the financing you can consult the specific page on the European Youth Foundation website.


This guide was created as part of the annual work plan of the European network IGNet, co-financed by the European Union. The content of this guide reflects the views only of the authors and neither the European Commission nor any of its agencies can be held responsible for its content or any use made of it. The content of this guide has no official value for the purposes of submitting applications and projects, for which only the official guides of the individual programmes and initiatives are valid.