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The Council of Europe is a European organization which sought, from the outset, to closely associate NGOs to its activities. By means of a consultative status created in 1954, the latter could actively participate in the drafting process of the Council of Europe’s legal instruments. In 2003, the new participative status was a worldwide invention: NGOs could take part in meetings of the Council’s statutory institutions. Progressively, the role and means of participation for NGOs have thus been increased. In structures such as the European Youth Center, they have a seat in the decisional bodies at the same level as the governmental representatives from the Member States.