The Youth Metropolitan Strategic Group (GEMJ) is an advisory body of the Porto Metropolitan Area (AMP) established by the Metropolitan Council (CM), endowed with technical autonomy, with the mission of issuing opinions and supporting and advising the decision-making process of the AMP’s bodies regarding the design and development of inter-municipal youth policies, or other cross-cutting policies, namely Education, Health and Social Care.

It acts in the functional dependence of the Metropolitan Executive Committee and the Metropolitan Council of the AMP, being responsible for issuing acts of opinion and/or instrumental content (preparatory and instructive acts of decision-making processes).

Among the various objectives of this structure, we highlight the involvement of young people in the processes of auscultation and decision-making of metropolitan scope in the aforementioned areas; the involvement of youth representative structures; sharing information, knowledge and opportunities; be an advisory body and strengthen the youth metropolitan identity.

The GEMJ was approved by the Metropolitan Council of Youth Councillors of the AMP, integrating 34 young people from the territory, 2 per municipality, the Youth Councillors of the 17 municipalities, the youth professionals of the AMP’s Youth Technical Working Group and the youth representative entities invited.  In June 2024, it was officially constituted, through the inauguration of all its constituent elements, in a ceremony that took place at the headquarters of the AMP.

The GEMJ has already been heard on the National Strategy to Fight Poverty, and has made important contributions to it, whether in guaranteeing children's rights, mental health or culture and art.

Youth Challenges in the AMP

The AMP recognises urgent challenges such as:

• Access to decent and valued employment.

• Affordable housing.

• Mental health and social inclusion.

• Sustainable mobility.

• Reduction of territorial asymmetries.

Young people are seen as essential human capital for metropolitan development.

The AMP continues to invest in building a strong, participatory youth ecosystem that is aligned with the challenges of the territory.