As the European Commission launches the President’s Youth Advisory Board, LYMEC has taken a firm stance to ensure that youth participation is as impactful as possible, not just symbolic.
Our Letter to President von der Leyen
In May 2025, we sent a formal advocacy letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In our letter, we welcomed the emphasis in the 2024–2029 Political Guidelines on giving young people greater freedom and responsibility in our democracies. While supportive of the proposed initiatives, we expressed concern over the composition of the Advisory Board and urged for more meaningful youth participation.
The current guidelines highlight geographical diversity and the involvement of National Youth Councils, but they overlook broader representation from the youth sector. We stressed the importance of including International Non-Governmental Youth Organisations to ensure well-rounded perspectives and genuinely inclusive decision-making.
Our letter underlined that youth organisations must be recognised not just as stakeholders, but as active partners in shaping the Commission’s mandate.
Read our full letter to President von der Leyen
The European Youth Forum also advocated for the creation of the Advisory Board. While we supported their call, their demands were broader and more extensive, touching on transparency, governance, and institutional youth engagement.
They strongly advocate for a Youth Advisory Board composed of democratically elected representatives from both National Youth Councils and International Youth NGOs. They emphasise meaningful, equal participation in agenda-setting and advising the European Commission.
Read the European Youth Forum’s position
The Commission’s Response
In June, we received a reply from Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, on behalf of President von der Leyen. The response acknowledged our letter and confirmed that the Youth Advisory Board will include young people from EU Member State’s National Youth Council and Candidate Countries.
A formal decision to establish the Board was adopted on 25 June 2025. However, the there was still no clarity on the selection process, and no recognition of PPYOs (Political Party Youth Organisations) or other international youth organisations as key stakeholders.
Member States and candidate countries have been invited to submit shortlists of potential youth representatives. The Commission is currently progressing with the selection process. Updates on the Advisory Board are being published on the European Youth Portal.
Read the full response from Commissioner Glenn Micallef
Read the Commission's Decision and Update on the Advisory Board
While we acknowledge the intention to ensure geographical and gender diversity, the lack of institutional representation from the broader youth movement, including political and ideological voices, remains a serious gap.
Our Renewed Call to Action:
We continue to advocate for genuine, inclusive, and diverse youth representation in the European Union’s policymaking structures.
We call on our members to:
- Contact your National Youth Council and request transparency in the nomination process.
- Put yourself forward as a candidate for the Youth Advisory Board if eligible.
- Speak up for the inclusion of International Non-Governmental Youth Organisations, including PPYOs, in this process.
Without representation from diverse youth structures (national, regional, and international) this Advisory Board risks becoming symbolic rather than impactful.
Our position remains clear:
International Non-Governmental Youth Organisations, including political party youth organisations, must be represented on the Advisory Board to ensure a plurality of views and genuine youth inclusion.
Let’s ensure that the voices shaping the future of Europe represent the full diversity of its youth.
For questions or support, please reach out to office@lymec.eu.
Photo Credits
Event date: 14/01/2020
Category: News
Reference: EP-098557A
Photographer: Fred MARVAUX
© European Union 2020 - Source : EP
LYMEC’s Call on the President’s Youth Advisory Board - Ensuring Real Youth Representation: