Who are we?

The National Youth Council is the umbrella organization for youth organizations in Hungary, which supports Hungary’s youth with international knowledge, connections, and information capital and represents their interests to decision makers. Our mission is to develop youth affairs and to raise young people’s attention to public issues. We are the voice of the youth of our country not only at home but also in Europe. As members of numerous advocacy forums and councils, we represent the interests of young people at the table of the respective organizations, including our presence in the National Talent Coordination Forum and the National Council for Sustainable Development. As a youth organization, we maintain a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, the Ministry of Regional Development, and the Tempus Public Foundation, thus ensuring solid and effective advocacy.

Why are we?

  • We educate!
    Through training, we enhance young people’s problem-solving and communication skills, and their argumentative techniques. We increase their civic engagement.
  • We support!
    Through mentoring programs and leadership skills development programs, we support young people. We assist our member organizations in nearly 15 areas through our service portfolio.
  • We represent!
    We present everyday issues, proposed solutions to them, arguments, and interests of youth and youth-focused civil organizations to decision-makers.
  • We unite!
    Through our events, volunteer and mentorship programs, we forge communities together.
  • We encourage!
    We encourage entrepreneurial spirit among youth and the civil sector, supporting their innovative ideas.

Our mission

Since our establishment in 2012, our mission has been to represent young people and our member organizations, facilitate dialogue among stakeholders in the youth sector, make youth-related issues understandable and accessible, develop the youth sector, establish ongoing dialogue with decision-makers, promote the implementation of horizontal youth policy objectives, and through our member organizations, reach young people, identify their problems, and communicate them to decision-makers.

Our goal is to create professional communities among student leaders from Hungary and hungarian minority communities in Romania, Slovakia, supportive educators of student councils, and youth officers (from local municipalities). These communities will be capable of promoting various forms of youth participation within their institutions.

Organization Structure

The National Youth Council’s most important bodies include the General Assembly, the Presidency, General Assemblies organized on a regional basis, and the Supervisory Board. The General Assemblies are decision-making bodies organized on a territorial basis within NIT, with voting members consisting of member organizations operating in the respective territorial units (counties and the capital city).

The General Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the NIT, convening at least twice a year to decide on the organization’s most important issues, such as finances, personnel matters, action plans, and the admission of new members. The seven-member Presidency of the Council includes the President, two Vice Presidents, and four other members. They are elected by the General Assembly for a two-year term. The General Assembly of NIT elects a three-member Supervisory Board, which is responsible for participating in the Council’s meetings (General Assembly, Presidency meetings) and overseeing compliance with laws and internal regulations. The term of the Supervisory Board is three years.

Programs

International engagement. The National Youth Council (NIT) serves a crucial role in representing the interests of Hungarian youth effectively in the European Union’s (EU) youth programs and conferences, facilitating the exchange of best practices, and developing the organization’s international relationships. This involvement provides NIT with opportunities to promote democratic participation and shape EU youth policy.

NIT not only builds relationships with youth organizations from other countries through the European Youth Forum but also actively participates in the EU Youth Dialogue program. During Hungary’s EU presidency in 2024, NIT plays a strategic role in shaping youth policy, advocating for the representation of Hungarian youth opinions and interests in international youth events and conferences. Through these efforts, NIT contributes to shaping the future, strengthening Hungarian youth’s international connections and European identity.

European Union. Hungary’s membership in the European Union is integral to the daily life of the National Youth Council. Our organization actively participates not only in international conferences but also plays an active role in shaping EU-related matters at domestic events. We maintain relations with the European Parliament Liaison Office and have organized our own events, including participating in the „Conference on the Future of Europe”. These events are crucial for showcasing EU values.

Hungary’ s EU Presidency in 2024

The Hungarian Presidency of the EU in 2024 provides us with an opportunity to focus importantly on the European Union’s Youth Dialogue program throughout 2023 and 2024, and to be active internationally. Together with the Spanish and Belgian youth councils, we will support each other’s presidencies. We collaborate closely within the European Steering Group with the Tempus Public Foundation, the Deputy State Secretariat for Youth of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, and the Hungarian Permanent Representation in Brussels. <br><br>As part of the European Youth Strategy 2019–2027, the 10th cycle of the European Youth Dialogue Program was launched on July 1, 2023. Within this framework, European member states plan to present a proposal package to the Council of the European Union in November 2024, focusing on issues affecting young people. The 10th cycle, associated with the rotating EU presidency countries, is led by Spain, Belgium, and Hungary. In Hungary, the implementation of the EU program includes social participation research conducted at 11 locations in autumn 2023, involving youth sociologists from the National Youth Council. <br><br>The coordination of the program domestically is the responsibility of the National Working Group on Youth Dialogue (IPMCS). Composed with the principles of balance and inclusivity in mind, the National Working Group includes government officials (8 members), representatives from youth organizations (8 members), youth workers, and youth researchers. Among the civil society organizations represented are the National Conference of Student Governments (HÖOK), the National Association of Large Families (NOE), the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service, the National Association of Roma Residential Colleges, the Hungarian Youth Conference (MIK), and the Hungarian Scout Association.

Youth Dialogue

The Youth Dialogue is a European-level dialogue between young people and decision-makers, based on the EU Youth Strategy (2019-2027). The aim of this EU initiative is to better incorporate the opinions, views, and needs of young people and youth organizations when developing youth policy measures. Another objective is to encourage cooperation between member states in issues and areas affecting the youth age group. The European Youth Dialogue is the most important and well-developed mechanism for youth participation in political decision-making within the European Union. Its goal is to bridge the gap between young people and political decision-makers. It provides a unique opportunity for us to introduce to policymakers what truly matters to us. In addition to connecting youth representatives with decision-makers, the dialogue structure also channels representatives from civil society, researchers, and experts from various fields into the discussion.<br><br> Every European Youth Dialogue is structured within a Presidency Trio framework: three countries jointly preside over the Council of the European Union for an 18-month cycle. As a result of the sixth cycle, the „Youth Goals” were formulated, comprising 11 youth objectives. Since then, each cycle focuses on one of these youth goals. These countries alternately host the European Youth Conferences, where we meet to discuss the chosen themes of the European Youth Dialogue. The current cycle was opened by Spain, followed by Belgium, and Hungary will close with the final conference in September 2024. <br><br>The main focus of this trio is on the third youth goal, which is „Inclusive Societies”. National working groups and a European operational group called the „European Steering Group” are involved in coordinating the dialogue. During each cycle, we are consulted first as young Europeans, ensuring a wide spectrum of viewpoints are represented. Following this, we discuss the outcomes and formulate recommendations for the European Union and member states’ policies. Since these recommendations reach the highest levels of decision-making, it is critically important to engage as many young people as possible, with a particular emphasis on involving young people with fewer opportunities in the processes of the European Youth Dialogue. Youth organizations primarily share their opinions on research and policy proposals through the National Working Group on Youth Dialogue. As part of the Youth Dialogue, they also have the opportunity to organize „Consultation Events” where young people can express their views on the proposed recommendations and topics.

The European Youth Forum

The European Youth Forum (YFJ) is an organization based in Brussels that represents and supports the interests of young people across Europe. It serves as a network of youth organizations operating in the European Union and Council of Europe member states. The YFJ aims to promote youth participation and the rights of young people in European political, social, and economic decision-making processes. Currently, the National Youth Council (NIT) holds observer status within the organization. Our organization actively participates in the daily work of the YFJ, attends its assemblies, and collaborates with other member organizations.

EU Youth Delegate

The EU Youth Delegate program was initiated in the 2000s. This program provides an opportunity for communication between young people and decision-makers, aiming to actively involve those under thirty in shaping the future. Each member country’s youth councils select two delegates who represent their country’s youth in international projects over an eighteen-month cycle. At the national level, delegates implement their own projects and represent Hungarian youth at international youth conferences.

The Council of Europe and the Advisory Council on Youth

The Budapest European Youth Centre is the only Council of Europe center located outside Strasbourg, offering daily cooperation opportunities for NIT. In November 2023, the Budapest European Youth Centre and the National Youth Council jointly organized their third Roma Youth Conference. The event focused on promoting the participation of Roma youth and supporting youth organizations, including Roma youth organizations, at local, national, regional, and international levels. Similarly, close cooperation has developed between the NIT and the Council of Europe concerning issues affecting youth of national minorities. Our organization participated in reviewing related resolutions and contributed to the Hungarian Council of Europe Day in May 2023. During the conference, we participated in panel discussions on political participation opportunities for young people belonging to national minorities.<br><br>The Advisory Council on Youth is an important organization in the international arena. It is part of a co-management system where representatives of young people and ministries jointly decide on the program and budget of the Council of Europe’s Youth Department. Structurally, the Advisory Council includes 30 representatives from National Youth Councils (NYCs), International Non-Governmental Youth Organizations (INGYOs), and other youth networks, all of whom represent the voices of young people within the Council of Europe’s youth sector. Twenty of these representatives are elected by the European Youth Forum.<br><br>Az Advisory Council on Youth focuses on promoting meaningful youth participation, democracy, and inclusion.<br><br>The member organizations of the European Youth Forum nominate and elect delegates to the Advisory Council every two years. There are 13 representatives from international youth organizations and 7 representatives from national youth councils.

BICC – Benelux Islands Central Cooperation

BICC stands for „Benelux Island Central Cooperation” and is a regional grouping of several national youth councils within the European Youth Forum, of which the NIT is a member.<br><br>BICC members hold at least two meetings annually to prepare for the Youth Forum’s Council of Members and General Assemblies and to develop a unified stance on specific issues and proposals. Like many other regional cooperation groups, BICC also participates in various elected positions within the European Youth Forum. In April 2022, the NIT hosted a meeting of this group.<br><br>BICC not only serves its official functions but also provides an ideal venue for delegates to meet other European youth delegates, discuss European politics, and collaborate on various projects related to youth.

United Nations Youth Delegate Program

The implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is important for the National Youth Council. Our organization has been supporting the Hungarian United Nations Youth Delegate Program since its inception. We particularly assist in the delegate’s country visits and provide opportunities for their participation in international conferences.

Danube Youth Organisations Network (DYON)

The EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) has encouraged the establishment of the Danube Youth Organizations Network (DYON), of which the National Youth Council is a member since its inception. Our membership allows us to better understand the youth organizations in our region and participate in shaping the Danube Region Strategy.

PRIME

The aim of the PRIME program is also to launch accredited training courses primarily for mentor teachers working with student councils and municipal officials. These courses will focus on training and developing their skills. Additionally, a knowledge center and information portal will be established during the program, providing access to training materials, sample statutes, and legal documents. These resources will support the work of emerging student councils and help handle complaints from students and parents who have suffered harm.

PRIME

The aim of the „Promoting and Improving Existing Methods of Youth Participation” (abbreviated as PRIME) project is to enhance value-based development of youth participation methods within school and municipal frameworks in the Carpathian Basin (Hungary, Slovakia, Romania), addressing issues identified by today’s youth professionals (teachers, youth officers).

Project code: 2022-1-HU01-KA220-YOU-000089532

Contact us!

Do you find our projects interesting? Would you like to join us in implementing youth programmes together? Are you interested in joining us as a volunteer or helping us with your professional skills?

Contact us at titkar@ifjusagitanacs.hu or panna.antal-herhoff@ifjusagitanacs.hu and we will get back to you soon!