From February 5 to 7, 2025, the Braga Youth Center will host the European Youth Conference under the theme "Young People in Local and Regional Life: Democracy in Action!". This event, co-organized by the Youth Department of the Council of Europe and the Braga Youth Center, is also supported by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, the Municipality of Braga, the Portuguese Institute for Sport and Youth, and the European Youth Forum. Its primary objective is to empower young people for active and meaningful participation in democratic processes at the local and regional levels.

The event will bring together around 140 participants, including young representatives from local and regional youth councils, civil society youth organizations, and local authorities from various countries. They will have the opportunity to share best practices, discuss challenges, and contribute to the revision of the European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life.

The conference aims to strengthen democratic youth participation by promoting critical reflection and the exchange of experiences to foster the development of more inclusive and effective practices. Over the course of the three-day event, the program will include plenary sessions, working groups, cultural activities, and organized visits to explore youth participation in Braga.

One of the key highlights will be the official opening of the conference, featuring speeches by Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga; Nina Grmuša, President of the Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe; Luís Guedes, President of the Braga Municipal Youth Council; and Veronique Bertholle, Spokesperson for Youth at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and Deputy Mayor of Strasbourg.

Other notable speakers at the conference include Margarida Balseiro Lopes, Minister for Youth and Modernization of Portugal; Matvii Bidnyi, Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports of Ukraine; Matjaž Gruden, Director for Democracy at the Council of Europe; and Tobias Flessemkemper, Head of the Youth Department of the Council of Europe.

The event will also serve as a consultation platform for the revision of the European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life, a key document that establishes guidelines and best practices for youth involvement in local decision-making. The revision, led by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and the Youth Department of the Council of Europe, aims to incorporate new practices and address the challenges faced by young people, while also creating supportive measures to strengthen the implementation of the document in various contexts.

Additionally, the conference will serve as an opportunity to highlight Braga’s role as a reference in youth policies and civic participation. With a long-standing tradition of youth engagement, Braga was the European Youth Capital in 2012 and the Ibero-American Youth Capital in 2016. The city also hosts important youth organizations and the Braga Youth Center, which holds the Council of Europe’s Quality Label.

"Braga is once again at the heart of a transformation that spans generations. The European Youth Conference is an opportunity to renew our democratic commitment by placing young people at the center of local and regional decision-making. The revision and update of the European Charter on Youth Participation at the Local Level, which will take place here in our city, reinforces Braga’s vision as a European benchmark in building a more inclusive and participatory future," emphasizes Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga.