The Council of Europe has pioneered European youth policy. Thus, the creation of the European Youth Centres and the European Youth Foundation as well as the establishment of a true system of partnership between youth organisations and governments reflect a twofold political awareness. On the one hand, the need to provide young people with a really creative place for participation in society was recognised
and on the other, there was an awareness that the new stages in the building of Europe required not only governments but society at large to participate. From the outset, participation has been central to the Council's youth policy: "working for and with young people".