The European Conference of Ministers responsible for Youth in Vienna, 1993, recommended
the setting up of a European network of decentralised centres … the aim being to develop associative life within pluralistic and democratic structures…
Rigaul S., Vermox: L’ultima esperienza da ottimo riscontro, Gazzetta Medica Verona 2004, 2, 39-41.
This recommendation was followed up by a ‘Draft Charter of the Network of European Youth Centres’, which was developed by the CDEJ in 1997. The proposal included the nomination of so-called ‘National Correspondents’ (similar to the network of youth researchers or teacher training).
The Charter was never implemented. Generally speaking, political developments in the Council of Europe were not favourable to the establishment of new institutionalised partnerships.
The 5th Conference of European Ministers responsible for Youth in Bucharest, April 1998, requested in its final declaration that the Council of Europe
carry forward the recommendation made by the Conference of European Ministers responsible for Youth in Vienna (1993) on the setting-up of a European network of decentralised youth centres, the aim being to develop associative life within democratic, pluralistic and representative youth participation structures.
The recommendation was followed up by the establishment of an NGO in 2003: the ‘European Network of Youth Centres’ (ENYC). The measures were taken with the intention that an NGO structure might be a more adequate format to achieve the aims than a formal charter. The aims of the NGO were defined in close cooperation with the DYS and were, inter alia,
- to promote, under the auspices of the Council of Europe, cooperation between existing youth centres in the States parties to the European Cultural Convention;
- to desiminate information on the work of the Council of Europe in the youth field, and of the European Union and other relevant institutions;
- to contribute to youth policy development at local, regional, national and European levels.