Valletta, Malta – 9 October 2025. The President of Kazakhstan–EU Gateway, Mr. Valikhan Bakhretdinov, took part in the 10th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth, held on 8–9 October 2025 in Valletta under the theme “Young People for Democracy: Youth Perspectives in Action.” The event brought together ministers, senior officials, and youth representatives from across 48 member states of the Council of Europe, alongside leaders of international youth organizations and institutions.
Mr. Bakhretdinov participated as a member of the Bureau of the European Steering Committee for Youth (CDEJ), representing Kazakhstan within the intergovernmental youth cooperation framework of the Council of Europe. The Kazakh delegation also included Ms. Anel Bakhytbekkyzy, Consul General of Kazakhstan in Strasbourg, who delivered a keynote address outlining Kazakhstan’s strategic approach to youth policy and democratic participation. The conference served as a platform to discuss the integration of a youth perspective into policymaking and the revision of the European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life.
During the side events, the Kazakhstan–EU Gateway President held several bilateral meetings with representatives of European youth organizations and institutions to explore new avenues of cooperation. The discussions focused on promoting youth mobility, digital literacy, and civic engagement, as well as advancing Kazakhstan’s collaboration with the European Youth Card Association (EYCA) under the Partial Agreement on Youth Mobility. These exchanges also highlighted opportunities for joint youth innovation programs and cross-cultural initiatives under the EU–Kazakhstan partnership framework.
Kazakhstan–EU Gateway’s participation underscored its commitment to fostering inclusive youth dialogue, supporting policy innovation, and strengthening people-to-people connections between Kazakhstan and Europe. By engaging with key European stakeholders, the organization reaffirmed its mission to act as a bridge for cooperation, promoting mutual understanding and empowering young people to contribute to a more democratic and sustainable future.