On this page

1. Youth parliament

2. Youth councils and youth advisory boards

3. Higher education student union(s)

4. School student union(s)

5. Other bodies

Youth parliament

Structure

The National Assembly of Young People (Assemblée nationale des jeunes) is the Luxembourgish Youth Parliament established by the 2008 Youth Law. Originally, the idea was to constitute the parliament with delegates from youth organisations and NGOs working on behalf of young people, as well as individual young persons (2008 Youth Law, Art. 14). The National Youth Council was tasked with developing, implementing and evaluating a project proposal for the „Youth Parliament “. The original project plan stated that the National Youth Parliament should be accessible for all young people aged between14 and 24 and should not be limited by the membership of young people to a youth organisation or NGO. The National Youth Parliament is not part of the constitutional structure. It is politically independent, but funded by the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth.
A tripartite agreement between the Ministry in charge of youth policy, the National Youth Council and the executive committee of the Youth Parliament monitors the educational and political work accomplished by the Youth Parliament. It follows up on and supports the organisational development of the National Youth Parliament. Rules and regulations are defined by the Internal Regulation of the National Assembly of Young People.
According to this agreement, the Youth Parliament is composed of five bodies:

1. The plenary assembly
2. The executive committee 
3. The extended executive committee (bureau elargi)
4. The Five permanent commissions
5. A media group.

The National Youth Council is in charge of material, logistical and educational support of the Youth Parliament. Two part-time collaborators of the National Youth Council have been tasked with this responsibility.
Youth Information supports the National Youth Council by providing information on political issues. 

Composition

The number of participants is approximately 100 in the 2023/24 parliamentary term.

All young people between 14 and 24 years of age and living in Luxembourg are eligible. The members of the Assembly are not selected by election but may apply for membership, so that every young person interested can participate.
The parliamentary term starts on 1 October and finishes by 30 September. A plenary session is mandatory at least once a year. According to the Internal Regulation of the National Assembly of Young People, plenary sessions take place at least once a year. 

New participants are recruited each year through workshops organised in secondary schools, social media campaigns and word of mouth.

This promotion is an important activity facilitating larger inclusiveness and diversity.

Role and responsibilities

The main objective of the National Assembly of Young People is to give young people and youth organisations the opportunity to have their voice heard in political decision making processes at the national level. On the one hand, the Youth Parliament allows young people to have a say, discuss and present their opinions on political issues. On the other hand, it is also a citizen educational programme, which provides young people with knowledge and skills with regard to democratic processes and policy development.
The main outputs of the Youth Parliament’s work are the statements and resolutions, which have been drafted by commissions or individuals and are then voted on by the members of the National Youth Parliament during a plenary session and adopted by absolute majority (Internal Regulation of the National Assembly of Young People).
Adopted statements and resolutions represent the official position of the Youth Parliament. They are published on the Youth Parliament’s webpage and communicated to the media. Afterwards they are presented to the National Chamber of Deputies. The Youth Parliament does not have to be consulted in the legislation process by policy makers and thus has no direct influence on the legislative process. However, more and more frequently, the Youth Parliament gets invited by political decision makers and political parties to present their opinions and views on different political and societal issues.

The topics regularly dealt with by the National Assembly of Young People are reflected in 5 permanent commissions that deal with specific political issues. 

These commissions are:

1. Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, International Cooperation and Immigration (Affaires Étrangères et Européennes, de la Défense, de la Coopération et de l'Immigration)
2. Economy and Employment (Économie et Travail)
3. Education (Éducation)
4. Environment (Environnement)
5. Equal opportunities and Education (Égalité des Chances et Intégration).

(see: National Assembly of Young People - Commissions)

Funding

The Youth Parliament is funded through the annual funding convention between the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth and the National and the Youth Council. This funding convention also covers the cost of the equivalent of one full time collaborator (currently two part-time employees), which are employed by the National Youth Council.

Therefore, the National Youth Council which supports the Youth Parliament, is accountable to the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth.

Youth councils and youth advisory boards

a) Higher Youth Council (Conseil supérieur de la jeunesse)

The Higher Youth Council has been introduced by the 2008 Youth Law. It is established at national level and is not part of the Luxembourgish constitutional structure. It is supervised by the Ministry in charge of youth policy (Ministry of Education, Children and Youth).
It is composed of 22 representatives of several organisations and administrations concerned with youth issues (including 8 representatives of youth organisations, 4 representatives of youth services, 4 representatives of organisations that work on behalf of young people, 2 student representatives, 1 representative of Syvicol, 1 representative of the National Assembly of Young People, 1 representative of the Ministry in charge of youth policy and 1 representative of youth research) (2015 grand-ducal regulation on youth (règlement grand-ducal du 31 mai 2015 modifiant le règlement grand-ducal du 9 janvier 2009 sur la jeunesse), Art. 1).
Members are selected by the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth and nominated by the minister in charge of youth policy.
Meetings are called for by the minister, the president of the council or by written request of 1/3 of its members (Art. 25). The council does not meet on a regular basis. It may establish commissions or working groups that are assigned a permanent mission or analyse a particular issue (Art. 26). Decisions can only be made when a majority of members are present (Art. 28). The duration of the mandate is three years.
The Higher Youth Council is an advisory board studying youth-related issues, either of its own initiative or by request of the government. The council recommends reforms and innovations aiming at increasing the well-being of young people (2008 Youth Law, Art. 12).
In the past, the council drafted several statements dealing with issues such as the revision of the 2008 Youth Law or the participation of young people at the local level.
The Higher Youth Council receives funding from the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth and is accountable to it.

b) National Youth Council (Jugendrot)

The National Youth Council is an umbrella organisation and interest group of young people and youth organisations in Luxem­bourg. The council has a total number of 33 member organisations which are divided into four groups:

1. Political youth movements,
2. Trade union youth movements
3. Scouts and guides
4. Socio-cultural, socio-pedagogical and leisure associations for the young.

Applicants for a membership in the council have to fulfil certain conditions (members have to be mostly under 35 years of age, at least 25 members, the movement has a national character, promotes the interest of young people, organises activities in the framework of its social objectives).
The organisation is composed of an executive committee with a maximum of 20 members, distributed between the four types of member organisations. It determines which projects are implemented and is in charge of the further development of the council. Currently, 8 staff members work at the Youth Council. 

The council is funded by the state budget and further sources (Erasmus+, member fees) and is supervised by the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth.
The main objective of the Youth Council is to increase active participation of young people in society. The Council and its collaborators are in charge of the realisation of various projects. These include, inter alia, the support of the National Assembly of Young People (see: Youth parliament), the organisation of events such as the youth conventions, where young people have the opportunity to sit in parliament and meet deputies, or the city rally, where young people can explore both the capital city and different topics related to civic education.
The council is an important partner organisation in the framework of the European structured dialogue. The Activity Reports presented by the council provide a complete overview of projects and activities.

Higher education student union(s)

There are several bodies representing the interest of tertiary education students in Luxembourg. Since a large number of students study abroad, most members of the student unions are enrolled at universities in other European countries. With regard to legislation, there is neither a legal framework establishing the higher education student unions in Luxembourg nor are the unions a part of Luxembourg's constitutional structure.

a) Luxembourg National Union of Students (UNEL; Union Nationale des Étudiant(e)s du Luxembourg)

The Luxembourg National Union of Students is an interest group that represents students' interests at university level, but also in secondary education and vocational school. It fights for a more democratic university and school system and for a society based on justice and solidarity.
The coordinating group, composed of one spokesperson and 3 secretaries, is the administrative body of the Luxembourg National Union of Students.
This group mainly deals with the following issues:

1. Higher education and student life
2. Secondary education and students’ rights
3. Youth unemployment
4. Societal issues
5. Europe
6. Internship.

The topics and political issues are focused on by four working groups:

1. Higher education policies
2. Secondary education policy
3. International issues
4. Gender.

Most of the work takes place on digital platforms, which means that participants do not need to be present in Luxembourg to contribute and be part of the working groups.
There is no public funding. The UNEL is financed by membership fees.

b)  Association of Luxembourg Student Circles (ACEL; Association des Cercles d’Étudiants Luxembourgeois)

The Association of Luxembourg Student Circles represents 45 student circles (Luxembourgish student organisations located at universities abroad).
Its objectives are threefold:

1. Bringing together Luxembourgish students, living abroad and also in Luxembourg
2. Informing students and future students
3. Representing the students and fighting for their rights on national and international level.

The association is managed by a committee composed of 11 to 15 members. Mandates are for one year and can be renewed.
Board members have to fulfil certain conditions (e.g. Luxembourgish nationality or residence, enrolment in a post-secondary education institution, having no other mandate in a political party or student association).
The committee organises various events throughout the year, such as 'student for one day' or student proms. It drafts information leaflets (e.g. guides for students, information on student allowances, cookbook) and statements on political issues (e.g. increase of student allowances, free use of public transportation).
There is no public funding. The ACEL is financed by membership fees.

c) Luxembourg Association of Catholic University Students (ALUC; Association Luxembourgeoise des Universitaires Catholiques)

The Luxembourg Association of Catholic University Students advocates students' interests in dialogue with the appropriate authorities and other student unions. In order to express intellectual, religious, political and cultural values and become present in the public discourse, the ALUC hosts conferences and prepares informative publications. In accordance with its Christian orientation, the association supports its members in their search for values and purpose in life.
There is no public funding. The ALUC is financed by membership fees.

Besides these bodies representing the interests of students, the 2018 law on the organisation of the University of Luxembourg (loi du 27 juin 2018 ayant pour objet l'organisation de l'Université du Luxembourg) also defines the student council (délégation des étudiants) as a representation of students and their interests within the university.
According to this law, the president of the student council is member of the board of governors with an advisory function (Art. 6,4), six students are to be elected to the university council (Art. 13,1) and three students are to be elected to the faculty council (Art. 15,4).

School student union(s)

The National Pupil Conference of Luxembourg (CNEL; Conférence nationale des Élèves du Luxembourg) is the national body that represents the interests of secondary school students at national level. It is composed of 1 member and 1 alternate member of each student council (comité d'élèves) of secondary schools in Luxembourg.
Both the student councils of each secondary school and the National Pupil Conference of Luxembourg have a legal basis:

• 2001 grand-ducal regulation on the organisation of student councils
• 2015 grand-ducal regulation on the organisation of the National Pupil Conference of Luxembourg.

a) Student Council (comité d’élèves)

The student council is elected every second year by all the pupils enrolled in a secondary school; voting is compulsory.
The student council meets at least twice in a trimester. All pupils can stand as candidates and must submit their application to the school's principal.
Student councils are composed of 7 to 13 members who are normally between 12 and 19 years of age. Certain expenses can be paid by the school budget (after approval of the principal).
In each school, the most important priorities of the student council are:

1. To represent all students with respect to matters relating to the directorate, the teachers' committee, the parents' council, etc.
2. To inform pupils about their rights and duties, especially by means of the intermediate role of the class delegates
3. To organise cultural, social and sport activities
4. To draft propositions regarding academic life and students' work (CNEL, 2016).

The school's principal normally meets with the student council whenever a meeting is requested.
The student council delegates its representatives to the National Pupil Conference of Luxembourg and to the education council of the school. 1 candidate and 1 deputy member are selected by the student council of the secondary school.

b) National Pupil Conference of Luxembourg (Conférence nationale des Élèves du Luxembourg)

The National Pupil Conference of Luxembourg is an advisory committee of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth. Its task is to advise the Ministry on all issues concerning the pupils, in order to make it aware of existing problems and to propose solutions. In addition, the Ministry seeks the advice of the pupil conference when developing a new law or regulation that affects pupils directly or indirectly.
The National Pupil Conference of Luxembourg meets every 6 weeks. The age range of its members stretches from 12 to 19 years of age.
An executive board is in charge of the common tasks that arise between meetings. The members of the executive board are elected at the first meeting by the members of the conference by simple majority.
The National Pupil Conference of Luxembourg is supported by an administrative secretary of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth. The duration of the mandate is two years.
The National Pupil Conference of Luxembourg is represented in different committees on the national level such as the Higher Educational Council (Conseil supérieur de l'Éducation nationale), the Higher Youth Council (Conseil supérieur de la jeunesse) and the Vocational Training Committee (Comité à la formation professionnelle). Furthermore, it can designate representatives to working groups within the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth and other ministries (SNJ, 2008).
The National Pupil Conference of Luxembourg receives funding from the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth in the form of the financing of one full-time collaborator (employed by the National Youth Council).

Other bodies

The Luxembourgish labour unions have youth departments/sections where young people can be involved and represent their interests.
The following four labour unions have such youth departments:

1. Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation-youth (OGB-L-jeunes; Onofhängege Gewerkschaftsbond Lëtzebuerg-jeunes )
2. Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions-youth (LCGB-LCGJ-jeunes; Lëtzebuerger Chrëschtleche Gewerkschaftsbond - jeunes)
3. National Federation of Railroad Workers, Transport Workers, Civil Servants and Employees (FNCTTFEL; Fédération nationale des cheminots, travailleurs du transport, fonctionnaires et employés)
4. Syprolux - Federation of Transport Professions (Syprolux - Syndicats des professions du transport).