Kazakhstan, Council of Europe eye prospects for youth cooperation

On International Youth Day, August 12, a round table was held dedicated to strengthening ties between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Council of Europe, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.

The event is aimed at discussing current issues of youth policy, exchanging experiences and finding joint solutions to improve the living conditions and development of young people in Kazakhstan and Europe.

The online presentations were given by the Chairman of the European Steering Committee on Youth of the Council of Europe, Jorge Orlando Queiroz, and the Director of the European Youth Card Association, Manel Sanchez.

The reports of the European representatives were devoted to the role of youth in the state. In particular, a proposal was made to introduce a youth card in Kazakhstan using the example of the European Youth Card, which provides youth with discounts on various services in Europe.

Particular attention was paid to rural youth. Speakers noted the need to empower rural youth, given their importance to all areas of society.

Also, Valikhan Bakhretdinov, Member of the Bureau of the European Steering Committee on Youth of the Council of Europe, spoke in an exclusive interview about the results of cooperation and future prospects.

Are there any specific programs within the framework of cooperation with the Council of Europe and could you briefly tell us about the results?

For 14 years, Kazakhstan has been participating in the European Cultural Convention, and our youth organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations, have the opportunity to apply and participate in Council of Europe projects. Unfortunately, this opportunity has not yet been fully realized. That is why today's round table is an important starting point in strengthening our cooperation with the Council of Europe in the field of youth policy.

What are the prospects for further development of cooperation?

Last year, I was elected as a member of the Bureau of the European Steering Committee on Youth of the Council of Europe. This gave Kazakhstanis the opportunity to implement their projects within the framework of the available opportunities and projects published by the Council of Europe. We are striving to deepen this cooperation.

Are there any new projects planned?

The Council of Europe has a number of ongoing programs, such as the Rural Youth program and the climate change program, which is linked to youth initiatives and volunteering. We see significant opportunities to engage in these areas.