Feulat 2009´s Presentation

‘The Euro-Latin-American Youth Forum' – FEULAT, as it is known today - is the result of a long Euro-Latin-American process, which began just before the very first edition of the Forum, with an exchange between European and Latin-American youth organisations.

Historically, FEULAT is an activity which was established by the Spanish Youth Institute (INJUVE), with young people from youth organisations included in the activity as participants. Within the context of the first FEULAT, held in 1997, the Spanish Youth Council (CJE) organised a course for European and Latin-American participants. At the time, the participation of youth organisations from youth platforms was limited and the continental youth platforms did not play a key role in the activity.

Meanwhile, Euro-Latin-American youth cooperation continued, through other global cooperation spaces, such as the GCCC (Global Cooperation Coordination Committee) and the organisation of the World Youth Festivals.

In order to strengthen further this cooperation, the creation of a cross cooperation project was suggested. The Spanish Youth Council, the Portuguese National Youth Council (CNJ), other youth councils from Northern Europe and FLAJ tried to establish spaces for closer cooperation between Latin-American and European youth organisations.

Although important, this space turned out to be insufficient; hence in 2002 FLAJ, the YFJ and CJE proposed to INJUVE that the platforms became actors in the planning and organisation process of FEULAT. Since the 6th edition of FEULAT, in 2003, FLAJ, the YFJ, CJE and INJUVE have worked together on the planning of the event.