Networks and Partnerships
EUCEN
EUCEN is the largest European multidisciplinary Association in University Lifelong Learning. It is an international non-governmental non-profit making organisation which gathers 163 members from 36 countries.
EPA
EPA gathers the parents associations in Europe which together represent more than 150 million parents. EPA works in partnership both to represent and give parents a powerful voice in the development of education policies and decisions at European level.
Lifelong Learning Platform
Lifelong Learning Platform is an umbrella that gathers 43 European organisations active in the field of education, training and youth. The Platform promotes a holistic vision of lifelong learning. The idea is that no one should be left out and that bridges are built across sectors to increase access to quality education for all. Learning is not limited to formal education: it also integrates non-formal and informal learning.
European Youth Forum
European Youth Forum (YFJ) is the platform of youth organisations in Europe. Representing more than 100 youth organisations, both National Youth Councils and International Non-Governmental Youth Organisations, YFJ believes youth organisations are the tool through which we can empower, encourage, involve, represent, reach out and support young people. YFJ brings together tens of millions of young people from all over Europe, organised in order to represent their common interests.
Global Student Forum
Global Student Forum (GSF) is the global umbrella organisation of the world’s major representative, independent and democratic student unions of school and university students. GSF brings together 5 regional unions, along with more than 190 national and international organisations, encompassing collectively more than 5900 local organisations, advocating and representing the educational, cultural, economic, and social interests of over 300 million learners worldwide.
European Students’ Union
European Students’ Union (ESU) is the umbrella organisation of 44 National Unions of Students (NUS) from 40 countries. The aim of ESU is to represent and promote the educational, social, economic and cultural interests of students at the European level towards all relevant bodies and in particular the European Union, Bologna Follow Up Group, Council of Europe and UNESCO. Through its members, ESU represents almost 20 million students in Europe.
European Apprentices Network
European Apprentices Network (EAN) was created in 2017, in cooperation between the European Youth Forum and OBESSU and with the support of DG Employment – European Commission. EAN is a network of apprentices at European level that strives to make sure that the voice of young apprentices is heard in discussions related to VET, in particular for apprenticeships.
European Alliance for Apprenticeships
European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA) unites governments and key stakeholders with the aim of strengthening the quality, supply and overall image of apprenticeships across Europe, while also promoting the mobility of apprentices. These aims are promoted through national commitments and voluntary pledges to strengthen apprenticeships across Europe.
Civil Society Alliance for Global Citizenship Education
The Civil Society Alliance for Global Citizenship Education brings together 25 civil society organisations (CSOs) across Europe that are dedicated to advancing Global Citizenship Education (GCE). Through campaigning, advocacy, awareness-raising, capacity building, and the development of learning materials, our members work to promote GCE from the perspectives of education policy, international cooperation, and sustainable development. Together, we strive to foster a more inclusive, just, and sustainable Europe.
Civil Society Europe
Civil Society Europe (CSE) brings together 22 European networks of civil society organisations (CSO) working towards regenerating the European project around the shared values of Equality, Solidarity, Inclusiveness and Democracy.
Generation Climate Europe
Generation Climate Europe (GCE) is the largest coalition of youth-led networks at the European level on climate and environmental issues, bringing together 381 national organisations across 46 countries in Europe – guided by the voices of over 20 million young Europeans. GCE aims to create a united voice to better advocate for the position of youth in European decision-making processes on climate and environmental issues, but also empower young people to become effective climate advocates.
Sirius Policy Network
SIRIUS – “Policy Network on Migrant Education” brings together key stakeholders in migration and education from around Europe, including policy makers, researchers, practitioners and representatives of migrant communities. SIRIUS, bringing together more than 40 member organisations spanning across 20+ countries, promotes the social inclusion of children and young people with migrant background by fostering their effective access to the universal right to education. SIRIUS encourages inclusive policymaking so that governments, authorities, schools and communities take action to promote and implement policies and measures aimed at reinforcing equity and social justice in education, improving educational opportunities, promoting social inclusion and fighting against discrimination.
100 Million
100 Million Campaign brings together young activists from 40 countries to generate change for the world’s most marginalised children. Working with representative youth organisations, teachers’ union, NGOs on every continent, “100 Million” provides resources and support to young people willing to mobilise to end violence against children, eradicate child labour, and ensure education, breaking the cycles of illiteracy, poverty and violence for good. “100 Million” expertise in the meaningful engagement of youth, students and survivor-advocates, alongside representation and democracy can be demostrated with a variety of initiatives, like the establishment and support of the first democratic constituency of youth- and student-led organisations within the governance of a global multilateral fund, Education Cannot Wait.
Steering Committee for Education (CDEDU)
Steering Committee for Education (CDEDU) oversees the Council of Europe’s programmes in the field of education and advises the Committee of Ministers on education issues. The overall aim of the Education Programme is to support member States in developing their policies, legislation and practice in view of promoting democratic, quality, inclusive and corruption-free education systems, and taking into account the Council of Europe Reference Framework for Democratic Culture. The CDEDU focuses on Council of Europe priority areas and cover all levels and strands of education.
OECD (Education and Skills)
The OECD Education and Skills Directorate facilitates cooperation between governments, providing comparative data and policy advice towards strengthening educational performance, creating effective practices, and generate solutions to improve education systems. OBESSU engages within the work of the Directorate, monitoring the work of the Education Policy Committee (EDPC) and represents the perspective of School Student Unions and learners within the Group of National Experts on School Resources (GNE-SR)’s ongoing work and relevant projects. Across our work with OECD, worth mentioning was our role as a member of the Schools+ Network.
European Climate Pact Community
European Climate Pact was launched by the European Commission, as part of the European Green Deal and is helping the EU to meet its goal to become climate-neutral by 2050. ECP brings individuals, communities and organisations together to fight climate change and adapt to its consequences. As part of the Pact, members of the community aim to help to build a more sustainable future.
Just Transition Platform (WG)
Just Transition Platform (JTP) provides a single access point to support and knowledge on Europe’s transition to a sustainable, climate-neutral economy. JTP has been managing several Working Groups, bringing together stakeholders from across Europe, with a common concern for the people and places affected by the transition to a climate-neutral economy. JTP currently has two Working Groups for the period 2024-2026, on stakeholder engagement and equal opportunities (including a Youth Taskforce).
MoU - Learning Mobility Programmes
OBESSU, Eurodesk Brussels Link, European Federation for Intercultural Learning (EFIL) and Erasmus Student Network (ESN) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focusing on further promoting learning mobility programmes in secondary schools across Europe
The MoU demonstrates the common commitment and the will of joining forces, cooperating at
- Local level, aimed to inform young people of their opportunities to go abroad;
- European level, aimed to ensure coordination in supporting policies addressing youth information related to learning mobilities in secondary schools.
Educational Leadership Network Europe (ELNE)
Educational Leadership Network Europe (ELNE) is a committed community of education stakeholders working to enhance collaborative school leadership in Europe. It has the ultimate goal of improving the learning outcomes for students and is founded on the conviction that quality education is at the heart of social progress.
This Europe-wide, ever-growing network is currently composed of more than 60 member organisations from 25 countries at the European, national, regional, and local levels. These ELNE members represent the voices of thousands of education employers, teachers, school heads, parents, students, researchers, policymakers…
The ELNE is a 4-year project set up under the Erasmus+ framework of the Directorate General for Education and Culture of the European Commission, which aims to provide its community with a platform to 1) showcase educational research, practices, and social programmes; 2) connect with other stakeholders and break the silos; and 3) get inspired and empowered to shape the future of education.
``EU Youth Test`` at the EESC
In September 2022, the EESC adopted the opinion The EU Youth Test, a tool designed to strengthen youth participation and youth mainstreaming in policy-making based on consultation, impact assessment and mitigation measures, becoming the first EU institution committing to its implementation. At the EESC, this means for example involving youth representatives in opinions. In April 2024, the EESC Bureau approved a methodology drafted by the EESC Youth Group for applying the ‘EU Youth Test’ at the EESC.
List of Youth Organisations can be accessed HERE.
EU Youth Stakeholders Group
EU Youth Stakeholders Group aims to engage European youth organisations, national youth councils, youth researchers, representatives of Member States and other EU institutions in the implementation of the legacy of the European Year of Youth 2022 and the 2019-2027 EU Youth Strategy, and to facilitate exchanges and youth consultations on forthcoming EU policy initiatives.
List of selected organisations can be accessed HERE.
List of Youth Organisations can be accessed HERE.
