Strasbourg, October 19-21, 2026 – The European Youth Centre Strasbourg hosted the 78th meeting of the European Steering Committee for Youth and the 55th meeting of the Joint Council on Youth, organised by the Council of Europe’s Youth Department. Kazakhstan was represented by Valikhan Bakhretdinov, President of Kazakhstan–EU Gateway.
During the meetings, V.Bakhretdinov presented recent developments and new initiatives in Kazakhstan’s national youth policy. These included the implementation of the National Youth Policy Concept for 2023-2029, efforts to expand young people’s participation in public life and decision-making, and measures to strengthen youth resource centres.
V.Bakhretdinov highlighted the significance of this provision for the development of volunteering and youth-led social initiatives. The importance of the rights to education and participation in public affairs for enabling young people to fulfil their potential was also emphasised.
The exchange also addressed young people’s involvement in climate action, support for rural youth, and youth cooperation between Europe and Central Asia. Joint educational and volunteering initiatives, alongside exchanges between youth organisations, were considered promising areas for further cooperation.
