Engage, Connect and Empower Local Youth Councils in Europe (ECE-LYCE) kick-off meeting in Setúbal, Portugal

DYPALL Network hosted the first Transnational Partners’ Meeting within the Engage, Connect and Empower Local Youth Councils in Europe (ECE-LYCE) project, from the 16th – 18th March 2026 in Setúbal, Portugal.

The project aims to strengthen Local Youth Councils (LYCs) across Europe by enhancing their quality, increasing their influence in decision-making processes, and fostering cooperation among them at the European level. Through this project, partners work towards:

• Supporting the quality development of LYCs by providing capacity building, resources, tools and strategies to strengthen their capacity to influence policy-making and effectiveness in engaging young people into their structures,
• Increase the influence of LYCs by advocating for their recognition at the local and European levels, as a fundamental space for young people’s democratic engagement and their empowerment,
• Establish a European Network of Local Youth Councils as a permanent platform for international cooperation, European-level advocacy and quality development of LYCs.

The meeting brought together partners from 7 countries across Europe and served as a starting point to align expectations, clarify roles, and plan the implementation of this two-year project. Throughout the sessions, participants shared experiences from their countries and explored the structure of the project, including its five Work Packages covering project management, research and capacity building, policy and advocacy, network development, and communication and dissemination.

The meeting also provided the opportunity to introduce the general structure of the activities, consisting of international trainings, macro-regional capacity-building activities, national bootcamps, Youth Policy Labs and Local Youth Policy Dialogues, which will contribute to developing the skills of LYC members, increasing the involvement of youth and fostering dialogue with decision-makers.

Another central element of the meeting was the development of a European Network of Local Youth Councils. Partners explored initial ideas for the creation of a stakeholder group, the launch of an online forum for exchange, and the organisation of the first European Network Conference, planned to take place in December 2026 in Lisbon. The conference will also introduce initiatives such as Youth Council Twinning Activities and Recognition Awards for LYCs.

The meeting was further enriched by insights into the local context of Setúbal, including the presentation of its Local Youth Council and youth participation structures. This provided a practical example of how youth engagement can be fostered at the local level and connected to broader European initiatives.

The project consortium is composed of DYPALL Network, the Union of Youth Councils in Finland (NUVA), the National Youth Council of Serbia (KOMS), the Danish Network of Youth Councils (Denmark), Klaipėda Youth Organisations Association “Apskritasis stalas” (Lithuania), Association Delta (Croatia), and the Romanian Youth Movement for Democracy (Romania). The partnership brings together diverse experiences and expertise in the field of youth participation, contributing to a shared vision of stronger and more inclusive Local Youth Councils across Europe.

The meeting was organised with the support of the Youth Department of Setúbal municipality, a member of DYPALL Network.