The protocol was signed by the president of the Lisbon metropolitan council, Carlos Moedas, the first secretary, Emanuel Costa, and the president of the Portuguese Association of Youth Professionals, Hilário Matos. The objective is to support the creation and operation of regional youth participation structures, promoting policies of inclusion, territorial cooperation, and democratic participation.
This strategic agreement is of capital importance for the Lisbon metropolitan region, placing young people at the center of supramunicipal public policies and deepening participatory democracy on a broad scale. It aims to give voice and empower young people at the metropolitan level.
With this protocol, the entities commit to working in a coordinated manner to create an Intermunicipal Youth Commission, a permanent space for dialogue between municipalities and existing Municipal Youth Councils. It also aims to train and involve youth sector technicians and young people, facilitating their participation in public decision-making processes and the formulation of common interest strategies.
The project, which does not entail direct financial costs for the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, will be driven by Metropolitan Secretary Vasco Touguinha, with technical support from the Portuguese Association of Youth Professionals in methodological design, facilitation of working groups, and the provision of evaluation and monitoring tools.
By investing in this protocol, the Lisbon Metropolitan Area reinforces its commitment to investing in new generations, ensuring that their ideas, concerns, and contributions actively shape the metropolitan territory's public policies.
