The FIMCAP was founded in 1962 and is recognised as an official Catholic organization by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.

[2] Already in 1959, French, Belgian and Dutch youth organizations had been working on the project of an international pooling, adopting a joint proposal in Lucerne in October 1959 during the National Presidents' Conference of European Movements affiliated to the International Catholic Youth Federation (ICYF).

[4] Since its recognition through the Holy See in 1976, the FIMCAP is an "International Catholic Organization" (ICO) and registered at the Council of Laity in Rome.

[5] A previous organization had been set up in 1921 in Rome under the name of "International Secretariat of Catholic Youth".

FIMCAP sees sustainable and responsible planning and acting, fair social and economic chances, quality education, peace, charity, and solidarity as elementary requirements to achieve this.

The administration and management of the FIMCAP is being handled by the intercontinental presidium which consists of two presidents, a Praeses and a Secretary-General.

Beneath these globally working establishments, the FIMCAP is also structured into continental conferences, bureaus and presidiums.

The General Assembly of FIMCAP needs to confirm the membership of an applying member organization in a vote.

The presidium of FIMCAP Europe is elected by the delegates of the European member organizations at the EuroConference which takes place every three years.