In order to create a favourable environment for the work of AFS organisations in Europe and to effectively profile AFS as an expert in intercultural learning, pupil mobility and internationalisation of schools, and volunteer-based youth-work, EFIL is present in relevant decision-making bodies and platforms and builds strategic coalitions with like-minded organisations.
Where are we present?
In the past 6 years EFIL has been a member of the Advisory Council on Youth of the Council of Europe. Since 2021 EFIL also has the honour to be an observer in the Steering Committee for Education (CD-EDU) and the European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ). EFIL is also a member of the EU and the Council of Europe’s consultation bodies with civil society, the European Economic and Social Committee Liaison Group, and the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe. EFIL’s representatives also take part in the EU Youth Dialogue conducted by the EU Presidencies.
EFIL is a full member of the European Youth Forum (YFJ), the platform of international youth organisations and national youth councils in Europe, and the Lifelong Learning Platform, an umbrella organisation gathering 42 European organisations active in the field of education, training and youth. We are also involved in the European Platform on Learning Mobility (EPLM), which includes practitioners, researchers and policy makers from the youth field and is coordinated by the EU-Council of Europe youth partnership. Finally, in 2021 EFIL became a member of the Youth and Global Education Working Group of Global Education Network Europe (GENE).
In 2025, we joined the Global Education Network of the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe as an International Coordinator. As a member of the GEN, EFIL engages in key discussions and initiatives in the global education sector. We became also part of the Civil Society Alliance for Global Citizenship Education gathering ca. 25 civil society organisations (CSOs) across Europe that are dedicated to advancing Global Citizenship Education (GCE).
