Every year, the Council of Europe opens the doors of its European Youth Centre in Strasbourg to a small group of young advocates and trains them in the craft of defending democracy and human rights. The 2026 edition — the third of its kind — ran under the Youth Revitalising Democracy project, with up to 30 participants flown in from across the continent, all costs covered. One thing to know before you read further: applications for the 2026 edition closed on 14 August 2026, and the training itself runs from 27 September to 4 October 2026. This article is your complete playbook for what the course is, who it takes, and how to be ready for the next annual call.
In short: The Council of Europe's Youth Advocacy for Democracy and Human Rights Training Course 2026 was a fully funded 8-day residential training in Strasbourg, France, for youth leaders aged 18–30, covering travel, visa fees, accommodation, and meals. Applications closed 14 August 2026. This guide prepares you for the next edition.
Quick Overview
- Host Country: France
- Host Institution: Council of Europe, European Youth Centre Strasbourg
- Degree Level: Not a degree program — a professional training course
- Program Duration: 8 days (27 September – 4 October 2026, including arrival and departure)
- Funding Type: Fully Funded (travel, visa fees, accommodation, meals)
- Deadline: 14 August 2026, 14:00 Strasbourg time (closed — this is a preparation guide for the next edition)
Benefits of the Council of Europe Training Course 2026
Everything practical is covered, which is what makes this such a strong opportunity for young activists who couldn't otherwise afford an international training. The real value, though, is the access: you train during a plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
- Full travel coverage — International travel expenses are reimbursed according to Council of Europe rules, and visa fees are reimbursed too.
- Free accommodation at the European Youth Centre — Board and lodging for the residential seminar are provided and paid for by the Council of Europe, with participants accommodated in twin rooms at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg.
- All meals included — Meals are provided throughout the training course.
- Training alongside PACE — The course takes place in parallel with a plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, giving you the chance to engage with parliamentarians and attend relevant sessions.
- Expert learning — Hands-on sessions with experts from Council of Europe institutions and sectors, learning how to advocate on youth issues inside the institution and how to push Council of Europe standards at national and local level.
- Practical advocacy skills — You learn how to design and implement human-rights-based advocacy strategies, work with decision-makers, and build youth participation into democratic processes.
- A pan-European network — Up to 30 young leaders from youth councils, organisations, and civil society, all doing similar work in different countries. Those connections last well beyond the 8 days.
Eligibility Criteria for the Council of Europe Training Course 2026
The Council of Europe is looking for people who will actually use the training — young people already embedded in organisations, not just interested individuals. The profile is precise.
- Age 18–30 — The course is designed for participants between 18 and 30 years old, with exceptions possible if justified.
- Organisational representative — You should represent a national youth council, international youth organisation or network, local or regional youth council, youth branch of a political party, or other youth civil society group motivated to advocate toward and cooperate with the Council of Europe.
- Leadership role — You should hold a position in your organisation that lets you follow up the training with real advocacy campaigns or initiatives afterwards.
- Committed to the values — You should be genuinely committed to democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and youth participation, and interested in taking further action.
- Full availability — You must be motivated and able to attend the entire training course and be involved in the project follow-up.
- Working English — You must be able to work autonomously in the English language, since the course is run in English.
- Residency — You should be resident in one of the state parties to the European Cultural Convention (essentially Europe and several neighbouring states); exceptions can be made if justified.
How to Apply for the Council of Europe Training Course 2026
The 2026 application followed a two-part process. The next edition will very likely work the same way, so this is exactly how to prepare.
1. Complete the official online application form — When the next call opens (expect a similar summer call), fill in the Council of Europe's online form with your personal details, your organisation, your advocacy experience, and why you want to join. 2. Get a support letter from your organisation — Ask your sending organisation for a formal support letter confirming your role and their backing for your participation. 3. Email the support letter — Send the letter to the Council of Europe's Youth Department at youthdemocracy@coe.int with the subject line "TC ADVOCACY YOUR NAME SUPPORT LETTER". Both parts must be received before the deadline. 4. Meet the deadline — The 2026 deadline was 14 August 2026 at 14:00 Strasbourg time. Late or incomplete applications are not considered. 5. Wait for the selection result — The Council of Europe selects up to 30 participants, balancing genders, regions, experiences, and organisation types. In 2026, candidates were informed of acceptance, rejection, or waiting-list placement by 1 September 2026. 6. Prepare for arrival — Selected participants arrived on Sunday, 27 September 2026 and departed on Sunday, 4 October 2026, with travel reimbursed per Council of Europe rules.
Required Documents
Only two things were required — but both had to be complete.
- Completed online application form — All sections duly filled on the Council of Europe's application platform.
- Support letter from your sending organisation — Emailed separately to youthdemocracy@coe.int with the exact subject line "TC ADVOCACY YOUR NAME SUPPORT LETTER". Without it, the application is incomplete.
Council of Europe Training Course 2026 Deadline
The 2026 application deadline was 14 August 2026 at 14:00 Strasbourg time, and it has now passed. Selection results were communicated by 1 September 2026, and the training runs from 27 September to 4 October 2026. This was the third edition of the course, organised annually under the Youth Revitalising Democracy project, so a 2027 edition is very likely — watch the Council of Europe Youth Department's call-for-participants page from early summer 2027 for the next deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Council of Europe Training Course really fully funded?
Yes. The Council of Europe reimburses international travel per its own rules, reimburses visa fees, and provides board and lodging plus meals at the European Youth Centre Strasbourg. There is no participation fee.
Can I apply if I'm not part of a youth organisation?
Honestly, no — at least not successfully. The selection profile explicitly requires you to represent a youth council, organisation, or civil society group and to hold a leadership position in it. Individuals with no organisational link don't fit the course's purpose, which is building advocacy capacity inside civil society.
I'm 32. Can I still apply?
The target range is 18–30, but the Council of Europe says exceptions can be made if justified. If you're slightly above 30 with a strong youth-organisation role, you can still make your case — just explain it clearly in the application.
Do I need to be from a Council of Europe member state?
You should be resident in a state party to the European Cultural Convention, which covers all Council of Europe members plus several others. Exceptions are possible if justified, so don't self-reject if your situation is unusual.
What did the 2026 training actually cover?
Four objectives: familiarisation with the Council of Europe, its institutions, and its standards for democracy, human rights, and youth participation; building competences in human-rights-based advocacy; peer learning from real advocacy examples; and connecting participants with the Youth Department's ongoing work, especially the Youth Revitalising Democracy project.
How competitive is selection?
Up to 30 participants are chosen from applications across Europe, with deliberate balance across genders, regions, backgrounds, and organisation types. A complete, specific application — with a genuine support letter and a clear plan for what you'll do with the training back home — is what stands out.
Will there be a 2027 edition?
The 2026 course was the third edition, and it's organised under an ongoing Council of Europe project, so a 2027 edition is very likely. The pattern so far points to a summer call with a mid-August deadline. Keep checking the official call page.
Can I reapply if I was rejected before?
Nothing in the rules forbids it. If you were rejected, strengthen your application: deepen your organisational role, document your advocacy work, and get a stronger support letter. Many recurring Council of Europe activities accept reapplications.
Is the training conducted in English?
Yes. You must be able to work autonomously in English. This is a firm requirement since all sessions, materials, and exercises are in English.
What happens after the training?
Participants are expected to stay involved in the project follow-up — taking what they learned back into their organisations through advocacy campaigns and initiatives. The Council of Europe designs the course specifically to create this multiplier effect.
Final Words
This is one of the rare trainings that treats young activists as professionals: real expertise, real access to European institutions, and everything paid for. The 2026 round is gone, but the course's annual rhythm means your move is simple — build your profile now, get embedded in your organisation, and be ready the moment the 2027 call drops.
