Youth for Europe: establishment of the 3rd European programme for the development of exchanges 1995-1999

The aim of the present Decision (95/818/EC) of the European Parliament and the Council was to adopt the third phase of the "Youth for Europe" programme for the period 1.01.1995 to 31.12.1999. The programme relates to political cooperation on the training and development of young people, including youth exchanges in the Community and with third countries. The objectives and actions set out in the "Youth for Europe III" programme were as follows: - to promote youth exchanges for young people aged 15 to 25; - to support innovative projects of Community or transnational interest set up by young people for young people; - to create the conditions needed to ensure that meetings organized in the context of the programme were of a high standard; - to support the training of youth leaders; - to step up cooperation among Member States and between them and the Commission (which would serve to keep young people better informed); - to promote exchanges with young people from non-member countries with which the Community has concluded cooperation agreements. Special attention was focused on disadvantaged young people (or those considered as such for cultural, social, economic, physical, mental or geographical reasons), in order that they might also participate in the exchanges ("positive action"). Support was provided for 5 main types of action: . Action A: intra-Community activities directly involving young people (1. youth exchanges and mobility, 2. youth initiatives and voluntary service); . Action B: youth workers' activities (1. Support for action A, 2. Support for European cooperation on training youth workers); . Action C: cooperation between Member States' structures which concern young people, . Action D: exchanges with non-member countries, . Action E: information for young people and youth research. Financial provisions: the programme was to be allocated a budget of ECU 126 million spread over 5 years, with funding to be provided annually in accordance with the current financial perspectives; Programme management: the Commission would be assisted in running the programme by a committee whose terms of reference would be based either on the management committee procedure or on the advisory committee procedure, depending on circumstances. Cooperation: the programme would be implemented in conjunction with other Community initiatives and programmes in the youth field and with initiatives emanating from the Council of Europe. It was to be open to the associated countries of central and eastern Europe, Cyprus and Malta. Date of entry into force: 1.01.1995. �