Congress Youth Delegates Programme 2027: Fellowship in Strasbourg

Congress Youth Delegates Programme 2027 - Apply Online

Facts checked: against the official notice at forms.cloud.microsoft on 14 November 2026.

Quick Summary

The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities will close applications for its Youth Delegates Programme 2027 on 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET. It is open to young people active in youth work at local and regional levels in Council of Europe member States, who can apply via the official application portal. Appointment is by a selection panel including the Congress Spokesperson on Youth, youth trainers and members of the Council of Europe Advisory Council on Youth, ensuring a balanced group on gender, cultural background and experience. Results will be announced on 15 February 2027.

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Youth Delegates Programme 2027: Overview

The Youth Delegates Programme 2027 is a fellowship run by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities that brings grassroots youth into the Congress’s 2027 work in Strasbourg.

As per the official notification, this is a participation-based fellowship, not a cash scholarship or recruitment exam. Selected delegates prepare grassroots projects at home, then attend both 2027 sessions in full. The overview table summarises the organiser, programme name, mode and audience, while the dates table sets the single closing point and the result point that every applicant must track.

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Youth Delegates Programme 2027 Fellowship Benefits

The fellowship covers participation costs rather than paying a monthly allowance, as per the official notification.

Travel and subsistence expenses are covered, and accommodation is provided and paid for by the organisers. Rooms are single or shared according to availability, and the organisers cannot pay for accommodation elsewhere.

The Congress provides no direct project funding for grassroots projects, but it can provide an introduction letter and materials to support delegates. There is no separate stipend figure in euros or rupees, so applicants should plan only around travel to Strasbourg and stay during the sessions.

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Youth Delegates Programme 2027 Eligibility Criteria

Only young people who meet the age, residence-passport, activity and availability conditions for the full 2027 cycle can apply.

• Aged between 18 and 30 years old on 31 December 2026
• Live in and hold passport of one of the 46 Council of Europe member States
• Active in youth work at local and regional levels
• Available to engage in whole activity including preparation of grassroots projects and full attendance at both 2027 sessions
• Interested in actively participating in policy-making at local and/or regional levels
• Good writing and public speaking skills and able to multiply information on return home
• Committed to working in intercultural team and speak English fluently
• Must not be an elected representative at local, regional, national or European level
• Must not have participated in the initiative previously

Residence and age test

The residence test has two limbs that must both be met: living in and holding the passport of one of the 46 Council of Europe member States. This means applicants in India can apply only if they satisfy that dual condition; Indian citizenship or residence alone does not meet it. The age test is fixed to 31 December 2026, with the permitted range set at 18-30 years old on that date.

Profile and exclusions

The Congress, as per the official notification, looks for people already active in youth work locally or regionally, interested in local or regional policy-making, with good writing and public speaking skills and able to multiply information on return home, committed to working in an intercultural team and fluent in English. Full availability for preparation, grassroots project work and full attendance at both sessions is also mandatory. Two exclusions are easy to miss: anyone holding elected office at local, regional, national or European level is not eligible, and anyone who has already taken part in this initiative cannot apply again.

Additional participants

Two cases are exempt from the passport rule. One delegate from Morocco is selected via the Moroccan delegation, and one delegate representing Belarusian democratic forces is selected via the email route and must live in a Council of Europe member State.

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Youth Delegates Programme 2027 Important Dates and Deadline

The timeline has one applicant deadline, one result date and then compulsory programme blocks.

• Last date to apply: 30 November 2026, 23:59 CET via the official form.
• Result: by 15 February 2027.
• First compulsory session block in Strasbourg: 20-25 March 2027, including the 52nd Congress session on 23-25 March 2027.
• Grassroots project period: April to mid-September 2027, with videoconferences from April to September 2027.
• Second compulsory session block in Strasbourg: 23-28 October 2027, including the 53rd Congress session on 26-28 October 2027.

Full availability for preparation, project work and both session blocks is mandatory, and the form portal records the CET cut-off.

How to Apply for Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Youth Delegates Programme 2027

Applications are made only through the online form linked by the Congress; there is no offline route.

1. Open the online application form.
2. Check that you meet the age, residence-passport and availability conditions before starting.
3. Complete the detailed questions on the form about your local or regional youth work, policy interest and motivation.
4. Record a supporting video of no more than 30 seconds that directly backs your written answers. Title the video with only your name and country, preferably record in English, and answer the question asked in the form rather than giving a general introduction.
5. Upload or paste the video link in the space provided in the form, and keep the link accessible until 28 February 2027.
6. Re-read every field for spelling of names, passport-country details and contact information.
7. Submit the form and save the confirmation shown on screen for your records.

The video is part of the form itself, not a separate email attachment, so a broken link or a video longer than the limit can weaken an otherwise strong application. Participation in only one session is not possible.

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Youth Delegates Programme 2027 Selection Process

Selection is by appointment on the basis of the online application, including the short video.

1. Submit online application form including short 30-second video
2. Appointment by selection panel including Congress Spokesperson on Youth, youth trainers and members of Council of Europe Advisory Council on Youth ensuring balanced group on gender, cultural background and experience

As per the official notification, a selection panel makes the appointments. It includes the Congress Spokesperson on Youth alongside youth trainers and members of the Council of Europe Advisory Council on Youth. The panel aims for a balanced group on gender, cultural background and experience, so applications are weighed as a set rather than ranked only on any single achievement. There is no written exam or interview stage listed separately.

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Youth Delegates Programme 2027 Important Links

There is a single official link for this fellowship, which covers the application.

Use the Apply Online – official form for all action. For queries, the source lists the contact email congress.youth@coe.int. The Congress has not listed a separate information brochure or helpline in the sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Youth Delegates Programme?

It is a fellowship of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities for young people active in youth work at local and regional levels. Delegates are appointed by a selection panel including the Congress Spokesperson on Youth to ensure a balanced group on gender, cultural background and experience.

What is the role of Youth Delegates in local government?

Youth Delegates take part in policy-making at local and regional levels and prepare grassroots projects during the programme. They use good writing and public speaking skills to share information on return home and work in an intercultural team.

What is the last date to apply for the Youth Delegates Programme 2027 and how to apply?

The last date to apply online is 30 November 2026 at 23:59 CET, with results on 15 February 2027. Applications are submitted through the online form with detailed questions and a short video link.

Who is eligible and what support is provided to selected delegates?

Applicants must be 18 to 30 on 31 December 2026, live in and hold a passport of one of the 46 Council of Europe member States, be active in youth work, speak English fluently and be available for the whole activity. They must not be elected representatives or previous participants, and selected delegates receive travel and subsistence coverage with accommodation provided and paid for by the organisers.

When will the 2027 Youth Delegates sessions take place?

The programme requires full attendance at both 2027 sessions, scheduled from 20 to 25 March and 23 to 28 October. Delegates must also complete preparatory work including grassroots projects.

What are the requirements for the application video?

The application must include a short video link of no more than 30 seconds, titled with your name and country and preferably in English. Videos submitted for the programme will be retained until 28 February 2027.

How can applicants from Morocco and Belarus apply or get more information?

Applicants from Morocco should apply via their delegation, while applicants from Belarus should apply by email. For further information contact congress.youth@coe.int.