Draft:European Youth Information and Counselling Agency

The European Youth Information and Counselling Agency (ERYICA) is an independent non-governmental organisation in Europe, composed of national and regional youth information coordination entities and networks. Its aim is to strengthen European and worldwide cooperation in the field of youth information work and services. ERYICA establishes, reinforces, and advocates for quality generalist youth information policy and practice, while ensuring the implementation of the principles of the European Youth Information Charter at all levels to meet the information needs of young people.

ERYICA also defends the right of young people to have full and reliable information in order to make choices confidently, foster their autonomy, critical thinking skills, and ensure active participation in society.

History
The European Youth Information and Counselling Agency (ERYICA) was established on April 17, 1986, in Madrid, Spain, due to a recommendation adopted by the first European Colloquium of Youth Information Centres held in April 1985 in Marly-le-Roi, France. This colloquium, which brought together around 200 youth information and counselling professionals from 18 countries, was an initiative of the Paris Youth Information and Documentation Centre (CIDJ) and was supported by the French Ministry for Youth and Sport and the Commission of the European Communities.

ERYICA consists of national entities, both governmental and non-governmental, that work closely with various stakeholders at the local, regional, and national levels.

Vision
ERYICA aims to create an inclusive society that equips individuals with quality information, enabling them to live independently and actively in the modern world.

Mission
It aims to encourage, fortify and defend youth information and counselling within Europe and beyond.

Values
The values and principles that ERYICA stands for are laid out by the European Youth Information Charter. These are also considered the principles for generalist youth information work.

=== EUROPEAN YOUTH INFORMATION CHARTER === In 1993, the European Youth Information Charter was adopted by the ERYICA General Assembly. It is the basis for universally recognised professional principles in youth information and counselling.

This charter guarantees young people's right to full, reputable, and current information for all generalist youth information work. The principles establish a consistent and coordinated approach to youth information and counselling.

The charter was last updated in 2004. ERYICA has recently revised this set of principles and guidelines to define quality assessment mechanisms able to respond to a complex and changing reality. A revised core document for providing youth information was approved at the 29th ERYICA General Assembly in April 2018. The new charter has also updated and incorporated the Principles for Online Youth Information.

The charter was also further extended in 2009 with the Principles for Online Youth Information. This decision follows the idea that in a digitalised world, where online and offline lives are increasingly converging. Boundaries are becoming increasingly unclear; youth information workers and others working directly with young people must adhere to a human rights-based approach in their daily activities and ensure the development of ethical reflection towards media and information used and produced by young people.

90 organisations have subscribed to the European Youth Information Charter. It is currently available in 33 languages.

General Assembly
The General Assembly is the sovereign organ of the Agency. It comprises the Members of the Agency and takes place annually in the spring. The Governing Board convenes the Assembly and agrees on the agenda sent to Members in advance. One representative per organisation (Member, Affiliated Organisation, Co-operating Organisation) is invited to attend the event. Every third year there is a so-called big General Assembly (2013, 2016, 2019...), where up to 5 representatives per organisation can participate.

The General Assembly is an essential occasion for all ERYICA members to come together to be informed on the activities of the previous year at a European, national and local level, for Members to discuss best practices from their organisations, to comment on and plan ERYICA's work programme for the upcoming year, and to be involved in deciding possible initiatives and activities.

The operational processes of ERYICA, its staff, Governing Board, and its members are laid out in the organisation's Statutes and Standing Orders. The Statutes and the Standing Orders are agreed upon by the General Assembly, with the most recent amendments adopted by the 29th General Assembly in Cascais, Portugal, on 26 April 2018.

Governing Board
The Governing Board generally manages the affairs of ERYICA and collaborates closely with the Director. It monitors the day-to-day management of the Agency and reports on that to the General Assembly. Further, it arranges the representation of the Agency. It also assists and supervises the various activities of the Agency and the implementation of the annual Work Programme, including the projects (initiated by members) under the management of ERYICA. The Governing Board prepares the sessions of the General Assembly and executes its decisions in collaboration with the Director. It ensures that the decisions of the General Assembly and the commitments and obligations incurred by the Agency are respected. The Governing Board meets four times yearly, once in correspondence with the Agency's General Assembly.

Secretariat
The Secretariat of ERYICA has been based in Luxembourg since July 2007. They support the Governing Board in the daily tasks of the organisation and administration issues. The management of the Secretariat is entrusted to the Director, who manages and supervises the staff employed by the Agency.

Full members
Members and their complete network have access to all the services of the Agency free of charge, can propose people to participate in all the activities organised by the Agency, and can participate in the annual sessions of the General Assembly with the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in elections to the Governing Board and other posts.

Affiliated organisations
Affiliated Organisations also have access to the services of the Agency, although they are available for the organisation only. They can propose people to participate in all the activities organised by the ERYICA. They may be represented in the annual sessions of the General Assembly as observers, but do not have the right to vote or to stand as candidates in elections.

Co-operating organisations
Co-operating Organisations have access to a range of services and have the right to attend the General Assembly as observers on invitation. However, they do not have voting rights or the ability to influence the decision-making process.

European Union
ERYICA regularly cooperates with the Directorate-General for Education and Culture of the European Commission, and aims to support the implementation of the EU Youth Strategy. ERYICA benefits annually from a Civil Society Cooperation in the field of Youth operating grant.

Council of Europe
Since 1997, the Council of Europe and ERYICA have been cooperating in the framework of a Partnership Agreement in order to foster and develop European cooperation in Youth Information and counselling, especially by organising training activities for professionals in the field of youth information and counselling.

United Nations
ERYICA cooperates with the UNESCO Communication and Information Sector, mainly on the topic of Media and Information Literacy (MIL). It is part of the UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Alliance (UNESCO MIL Alliance), which aims to promote international cooperation to ensure that all citizens have access to media and information competencies and skills.

ERYICA has recently applied to acquire consultative status at the

United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
One of the six principal organs of the United Nations, responsible for coordinating the economic and social fields of the organisation.

TRAINING SERVICE
ERYICA is a leading actor in developing, supporting and promoting quality generalist youth information policy and practice at all levels. It hereby aims to maintain and further improve the high quality of youth information all across its network, as well as to aid its members in  reaching and maintaining a high level of professionalism.

ERYICA’s training system serves both of these aims, and it was developed with the needs of a diverse membership in mind. The system is continuously broadening, as well as existing modules are revised continually, keeping an eye on new trends of the youth information field and the different situations in member countries and contexts.

Currently, there are nine training courses aimed for youth information workers and youth. 4 of these courses are available also on the DOYIT e-learning platform.