The Barents Youth Cooperation Office (BYCO)

In May of 2001, a conference of ministers responsible for youth affairs in the Barents region was held in Tromsø, Norway. At the conference, a Plan of Action for the future Barents cooperation in the youth field was adopted. In this Plan it was stated that mechanisms for information and guidance for youth groups in the Barents region would be established.

The Barents Euro-Arctic Working Group on Youth Policy is responsible for the implementation of the Plan of Action. As a result of this, the Barents Youth Cooperation Office (BYCO) was established in Murmansk, Russia.

The overall objective for the establishment of such a service is a well functioning multilateral cooperation in the youth field, that contributes to an improved situation for young people in the Barents Region, as well as a sustainable development of the region.

BYCO provides information and guidance for youth groups, organisations and networks on:

•  national and international resources for funding of projects
• education in project planning, implementation and follow-up 
• possible cooperation partners nationally and internationally 
• planned and ongoing youth projects and meetings in the Barents Region

BYCO stays in close and regular contact with the regional and local administrations in the Barents Region and with other cooperation structures and organisations working with youth issues in the northern part of Europe.