Implementation of Youth programme

By adopting by 423 votes to 11, with 9 abstentions, the report by Mrs Lissy Gröner (PSE, D) on the implementation of the Youth programme, the European Parliament has expressed its overwhelming support for the position adopted by its lead committee (see the summary for 22 January 2002). Like the committee, the House emphasised the lack of coordination between the national agencies, procedural complexity, significant regional differences in the implementation of the programme, lengthy delays - up to four months - in authorising decentralised projects organised by the European Voluntary Service (EVS) and the role assigned to the organisations sending volunteers abroad, which had not been fully developed. Parliament also expressed concern at the insufficient numbers of disadvantaged young people participating in the programme and at the delay in involving the applicant countries in the programme.