| FOREWORD
The establishment of a Directorate for Youth inside the
Council of Europe has motivated the Advisory Committee of
the European Youth Centre and the European Youth Foundation
to think in depth about its role within the youth structure
of the Council of Europe. For many years already the interactive
process between youth organisations and the European Youth
Centre and Foundation has made it possible for youth organisations
to react quickly to new developments in society, mainly
thanks to the financial and educational support of the two
institutions.
The permanent exchange of knowledge and information which
exists between the youth organisations and the Council of
Europe, based on long experience and on the easy access
youth organisations have to these institutions, has provided
a multiplier effect of the actions undertaken by youth organisations
and of those coming from the Council of Europe.
According to the statutes of the EYC and EYF, the Advisory
Committee can propose opinions on any subject within the
competence of these bodies. During the 1991-1992 mandate
the Advisory Committee discussed in length its role. In
an attempt to leave some more permanent traces of its work
and ideas, in particular with regard to the functioning
of the new Directorate for Youth inside the Council of Europe,
the Advisory Committee decided to study more in depth this
important subject.
The aims of such a study are to obtain an overview of work
carried out to combat racism and xenophobia by the various
youth organisations cooperating with the Council of Europe1.
With this publication the Advisory Committee therefore aims
to give a concrete example of this interactive process that
takes place between youth organisations and the institutions
of the Council of Europe and to provide a stimulus to those
who wish to work for tolerance.
Anke van der Mei
Chairperson of the Advisory Committee EYC/EYF, March 1993
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