Youth policy: Youth in action programme for 2007-2013
The committee adopted the report by Lissy GRÖNER (PES, DE ) amending the proposal under the 1st reading of the codecision procedure:
- the specific aims of the programme should be extended to include "encouraging the participation of young people in the democratic life of
- to help reinforce social cohesion, the programme should also aim to "promote tolerance among young people in response to diversity";
- young people with disabilities should be expressly mentioned and encouraged to participate in the youth programme;
- new provisions were introduced requiring the Commission and participating countries to involve young people, youth organisations and the European Parliament in the definition of the programme's aims and in its evaluation;
- the committee deleted the requirement that participating bodies should have "sufficient financial guarantees (preferably from a public authority)", arguing that this concept was too vague and would reduce the number of potential participants;
- the EUR 915 million budget proposed by the Commission should be increased to EUR 1.128 billion;
- the committee wanted to see a slightly different weighting of budget funds for the various actions and therefore proposed an indicative financial endowment of 30% (of the total costs for all five actions, for the period 2007-2013) for Action 1, 23% for Action 2, 4% for Action 3, 15% for Action 4 and 4% for Action 5;
- funding for projects should be paid by the Commission no later than three months after approval has been granted;
- the minimum annual funding for the European Youth Forum should be EUR 2.2 million rather than EUR 2 million as proposed by the Commission;
- lastly, in view of the success of European Youth Week, this event should become an established part of EU youth policy and should be incorporated into Action 5.