During the conference, ministers will adopt the Valletta Declaration and a Resolution on the Framework for the Youth Perspective of the Council of Europe, which will define the strategic directions for youth policy over the next decade.
Ahead of the meeting, Deputy Secretary General Kairi Kaldoja emphasized that the strength of democracy depends on intergenerational trust and the genuine participation of young people. “The Council of Europe’s Youth Perspective Framework is a promise to young people – that their voices matter, their experiences are valued, and their future will be shaped together with them, not on their behalf. Democracy is not inherited; each generation must experience it, learn it, and renew it,” said Kaldoja.
“In Estonia, we have established youth councils attached to ministries, supported democracy education at school and local levels, and granted young people the right to vote in local elections from the age of 16. These measures help ensure that young people feel like full and valued participants in decision-making processes.”
During the visit, Kairi Kaldoja will meet with Norway’s Minister for Children and Families, Lene Vågslid; Latvia’s Minister for Education and Science, Dace Melbārde; Lithuania’s Deputy Minister of Social Security and Labour, Aušra Putkė; and Armenia’s Minister of Education, Artur Martirosyan, to discuss potential areas of cooperation in the youth field.
The last Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth took place in 2012.
