European youth : opening up decision-making process to young people, follow-up to the White Paper

The committee adopted the own-initiative report drawn up by Lissy GRÖNER (PSE, DE) in response to the Commission's follow-up to its White Paper on a New Impetus for European Youth. It welcomed the Commission's plans for common objectives for participation and information as a new framework for European youth policy. MEPs also felt that the Commission's proposed open method of coordination was an appropriate way to achieve better cooperation at European level in the specific area of youth policy and repeated Parliament's request for an interinstitutional agreement to be concluded along these lines. The report recommended an independent follow-up programme for the 'Youth' action programme, with sufficient financial resources to meet the growing demands in the youth policy area. The committee stressed the need to involve young people from a wide range of countries and regions when preparing future action programmes and suggested the motto "overcoming exclusion'" for the future thematic framework for youth projects. MEPs called on the Commission to make a thorough assessment of the 'European Youth Week' initiative launched in 2003 and said that it should include an introductory "youth parliament day" to be held at the European Parliament. Finally, the committee welcomed the fact that the draft Constitution for Europe refers explicitly to the participation of young people in the democratic life of Europe under Article III-182 and to the creation of a European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps under Article III-223. �