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1. Cooperation with European countries

2. International cooperation

Institutional framework: multilateral and bilateral cooperation with European countries

Portugal’s international engagement in the youth sector focuses on both bilateral and multilateral cooperation, primarily within Europe (European Union and Council of Europe), Africa—particularly with the member states of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP)—and Ibero-America, notably through the International Youth Organisation for Ibero-America (OIJ).

Regarding multilateral cooperation, Portugal participates in international organisations through national representations led by governmental bodies, as stipulated by binding international conventions. One such example is the International Youth Organisation for Ibero-America (OIJ), whose accession and statutes have been ratified by the Assembly of the Republic, making participation statutory.

Additionally, Portugal engages with international organisations that are inherently non-governmental and non-profit, bringing together both governmental and non-governmental entities. A key example is the European Youth Information and Counselling Agency (ERYICA), where Portugal's participation is programmatic, reflecting a strategic commitment to youth information services.

Cooperation with European countries

European Union

Portugal actively engages in youth policy-related events and meetings within the framework of the Council of the European Union. This includes participation in the EU Youth Dialogue process and various expert groups dedicated to youth affairs.

European Youth Information and Counselling Agency (ERYICA)

Established in 1986, the European Youth Information and Counselling Agency (ERYICA) is a European organisation comprising national youth information networks.

The Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth has formally adopted the ERYICA European Youth Information Charter as a guiding document for its youth information services.

International cooperation

Council of Europe

Portugal is actively engaged in the statutory bodies of the youth sector within the Council of Europe (CoE). The Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ, I.P.) represents the country in the European Steering Committee on Youth (CDEJ) and the Programming Committee on Youth.

In 2015, the CoE awarded the Quality Label to the Lisbon Youth Centre, managed by IPDJ. This centre serves as a platform for young people and youth organisations to develop their ideas in alignment with the values of the CoE. The Quality Label was renewed for the period 2023 to 2027. 

Also, Braga Youth Centre (CJB) has been awarded the Council of Europe's Quality Label. The award ceremony took place on 11 April 2023. This recognition highlights the CJB as a space with unique characteristics for the development of actions in the field of non-formal education, youth work, information for young people, intercultural learning and international cooperation

CPLP-CMJD –Conference of Ministers of Youth and Sport of the Community of     Portuguese Speaking Countries

The Conference of Ministers of Youth and Sports of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CMJD-CPLP) is founded upon the Cooperation Agreement in the Field of Youth and Sports, signed between the CPLP member states.

The origins of the conference trace back to the first multilateral meeting of government officials in the sports sector in 1990, as well as to the establishment of the inaugural CPLP Summit of Youth Ministers in 1996. The CPLP is a political project aimed at reinforcing the special bonds of friendship among the peoples of countries where Portuguese is the official language. In 2007, in Mindelo, Cape Verde, a cooperation agreement was signed by governmental representatives responsible for youth and sports in their respective countries, formally establishing the Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth and Sports of the CPLP.

In collaboration with the CPLP Youth Forum, which brings together the National Youth Councils of the member states, several key documents have been developed to shape political cooperation in the youth sector, including:

• The CPLP Youth Charter;

• The Strategic Plan for Youth – 2015 and beyond.

Every two years, the conference organises the Bienal of Young Creators (Bienal de Jovens Criadores), an event hosted by different member states that brings together young creators and youth leaders, fostering cultural exchange and strengthening youth participation within the CPLP framework.

OIJ – Youth International Organization for Ibero-America

The OIJ is an intergovernmental organisation that brings together Youth Ministers from the Ibero-American Community, encompassing Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula. Its primary objective is to address the needs of young people in Ibero-America and enhance their potential as agents of social transformation towards more inclusive, supportive, and peaceful societies.

Portugal is a member of the OIJ and actively participates in initiatives aimed at developing youth policies within the Ibero-American region.

UN – United Nations

Since the adoption of International Youth Day by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1999—following a proposal by the World Youth Forum to the 1st World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, hosted by Portugal in collaboration with the United Nations in 1998—Portugal has played a leading role in youth-related initiatives at the international level. This initiative, co-sponsored by Moldova and Senegal, highlights Portugal’s ongoing commitment to youth policy development and international cooperation in the field.

Portugal actively promotes and participates in the biennial drafting and adoption of the UNGA Resolution on Youth, ensuring the inclusion of young people’s representatives in this process. The country is fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), approved by the UNGA in 2015, and developed a national strategy that integrates young people and youth organisations in its design and implementation.

In 2019, twenty-one years after the inaugural World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, Lisbon once again hosted this global event alongside the Youth Forum. The World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth and the Lisbon+21 Youth Forum was supported by key international organisations, including the Office of the Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Youth, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).

A significant outcome of this event was the adoption, by acclamation, of the Lisbon+21 Declaration on 23 June 2019. This document updates the 1998 Lisbon Declaration and reaffirms global commitments to the promotion, protection, and fulfilment of young people’s human rights and fundamental freedoms. It represents a substantial step forward in mainstreaming youth perspectives into policy frameworks and programmes, reinforcing the role of young people as key agents in achieving the SDGs.

Bilateral Cooperation

Portugal, through the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ), has established bilateral agreements in the youth sector with several countries, including Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Brazil, Cape Verde, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe, and East Timor. These agreements aim to foster the development of joint initiatives, facilitate direct interaction among young people, and strengthen cooperation between youth organisations and policymakers.

Additionally, there is significant cross-border cooperation between Portugal and Spain, particularly at the regional level, enhancing youth engagement and collaboration in border areas.