Advocacy

EFIL engages in advocacy at European, EU and regional levels to expand access to inclusive and high quality intercultural mobility.

While advocacy is an essential part of each activity, advocacy is also a strategic priority in itself for EFIL as an umbrella of AFS organisations, representing and bolstering their work and priorities. Under the Strategic Plan 2022-2025, EFIL focuses on three specific strategic objectives at European, EU and regional levels, with an overarching aim to contribute to expanding access to inclusive and high quality intercultural mobility.

Our advocacy pillars

EFIL aims at strengthening its advocacy efforts by conducting research on policies, practices, and new trends related to intercultural learning, mobility, and active citizenship, and providing recommendations for changes needed in those fields. Through dissemination of research findings, more active participation and strengthened advocacy in platforms at European, EU, and regional levels, EFIL aims at promoting the relevance and impact of the work of EFIL Member Organisations.

Advocacy Community of Practice

EFIL aims to support young people’s participation in democratic and civic life in Europe and invites volunteers to represent EFIL and AFS externally on a number of decision-making bodies, platforms, and at national and European level.

Advocacy platforms

EFIL is a member of several formal platforms at European level through which we put forward the added value of youth exchanges and the AFS volunteering reality.

European Youth Forum

The European Youth Forum (YFJ) is the platform of youth organisations in Europe, representing 100 youth organisations, both National Youth Councils and International Non-Governmental Youth Organisations

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Lifelong Learning Platform

The Lifelong Learning Platform is an umbrella that gathers 40 European organisations active in the field of education, training and youth. Currently these networks represent more than 50.000 educational institutions and associations covering all sectors of formal, non-formal and informal learning.

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Youth and Global Education Working Group of Global Education Network Europe (GENE)

GENE brings together Ministries and Agencies with national responsibility for funding, coordination, policy-making and support in the field of Global Education.

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INGO Conference of the Council of Europe

EFIL has participatory status to the Internation Non-Governmental Organisations (INGO) Conference of the Council of Europe.

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EU Youth Dialogue

The EU Youth Dialogue is a dialogue mechanism between young people and decision makers taking place in the framework of the EU Youth Strategy.

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EESC Liaison Group

EESC is the European Economic and Social Committee, a consultative body of the European Union, representing a wide range of national civil society organisations.

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Steering Committee on Youth of the Council of Europe

The European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ) brings together representatives of ministries or bodies responsible for youth matters from the 50 States Parties to the European Cultural Convention.

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Advisory Council of Youth of the Council of Europe

The Advisory Council on Youth (CCJ) is the non-governmental partner in the co-management structure which establishes the standards and work priorities of the Council of Europe’s youth sector and makes recommendations for future priorities, programmes and budgets.

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Steering Committee on Education of the Council of Europe

The Steering Committee for Education (CDEDU) oversees the Council of Europe’s programmes in the field of education and advises the Committee of Ministers on education issues.

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