The Franco-German Youth Office (FGYO) is an international organization that relies on the commitment and involvement of its large Franco-German network.
As an international autonomous organization, FGYO was founded in 1963 as a part of the Elysée Treaty by the French and German governments with aims to foster Franco-German friendship and cooperation. Working to support intensive international exchanges in the youth and education sectors, more than a hundred people actively contribute to this goal. Meet them and learn more about FGYO’s structure and operations!
The Board of Governors, presided over by Jean-Michel Blanquer, French Minister of Education, and Franziska Giffey, the Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth in Germany, lead the FGYO.
As the executive body of the Board of Governors, the General Secretariat is responsible for overseeing and managing the FGYO. It is made up of two General Secretaries, one from France and one from Germany, who are appointed in agreement by both governments. The duration of a term is six years each, can be renewed once, and begins time-displaced by three years. Since 2018, the FGYO is led by Béatrice Angrand and N.N.
The General Secretaries are jointly responsible to manage and represent the FGYO, as well as to coordinate partner organizations in France and Germany.
They organize meetings between the Board of Governors and the Steering Committee and assist in advisory capacities. They also prepare reports and ensure proper budget management. Additionally, they are responsible for staffing and personnel management.
As part of their representation and leadership roles, the General Secretaries are the FGYO’s spokespeople not only in France and Germany, but also in Europe and throughout the world. With representation comes the commitment to the development of an international dialogue in the youth work and education fields. They introduce initiatives on current issues to highlight the benefits of youth involvement and to improve and even create the political and social framework for Franco-German partnership and international cooperation. To this end, the cooperation and consultations with non-profit and institutional partners are also of great importance to this work.