Youth policy: Youth in action programme for 2007-2013
PURPOSE: to establish a programme “Youth in Action” - 2007-2013.
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision 1719/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the “Youth in Action” programme for the period 2007-2013.
BACKGROUND: within the framework of the new financial perspectives, 2007 -2013a series of new financial programmes in the field of education, life-long learning, youth and culture have been adopted. They are:
- Culture 2007;
- MEDIA 2007;
In order to simplify and rationalise the EU’s youth objectives it has been decided to merge a number of budget lines under the one “Youth in Action” programme. Previous programmes and initiatives, which have now been repealed or abandoned include:
- Decision No 1031/2000/EC establishing the “Youth” programme 2000 -2006 (see: COD/1998/0197); and
- Decision No 790/2004/EC establishing a programme to promote bodies active at European level in the field of youth.
The “Youth in Action” programme will be closely aligned to the programme on lifelong learning.
CONTENT: this Decision establishes the “Youth in Action Programme” 2007 -2013 the aim of which is to develop youth co-operation across the EU. The programme will benefit from a EUR 885 000 000 budget.
The general objectives of the programme are:
- to promote young people’s active citizenship, in general, and their European citizenship, in particular;
- to develop solidarity and promote tolerance among young people;
- to foster mutual understanding between young people from different countries;
- to develop the quality of support systems for youth activities; and
- to promote European co-operation in the youth field.
The specific objectives of the programme include, inter alia,:
- to give young people and youth organisation the opportunity to take part in social developments;
- to encourage the participation of young people in Europe’s democratic life;
- to foster mobility amongst the youth;
- to develop intercultural learning;
- to promote fundamental values: respect for human dignity; equality; respect; tolerance; non-discrimination;
- to include those with disabilities in the programme;
- to ensure the principle of equality between men and women;
- to provided non-formal and informal learning opportunities with a European dimension;
- to encourage structured dialogue between policy-makers and young people; and
- to contribute to the co-operation between various national and international youth voluntary activities.
Five types of actions are foreseen and are described in detail in Annex to the Decision. The actions implementing the general and specific objectives of the programme support small-scale projects that promote the active participation of young people, while ensuring the European visibility of all projects. The programme encourages initiatives that foster enterprise and creativity amongst young people. Particular attention is to be given to young people with few opportunities including those with disabilities. Participation in the actions is possible on condition that an appropriate insurance coverage is available to ensure the protection of young people during the programme’s implementation.
The five actions, in summary, are as follows:
- Youth for Europe. To support youth exchanges and to increase youth mobility. To support youth initiatives in democratic life. Youth exchanges will allow one or more groups of young people to be hosted by a group from another country. They will be available, in principle, to those aged between 13 and 25. Projects that encourage young people’s participation in democratic life covers local, regional, national and international politics. It is open, in principle to those aged between 13 and 30.
The minimum amount to be allocated to this action is 30% of the total.
- European Voluntary Service: To support young people’s participation in various forms of voluntary activities, both within and outside the EU. The aim of the Voluntary Service is to develop solidarity and to promote active citizenship among the young. It allows young people to take part in a non-profit making, unpaid, activity.
The minimum amount to be allocated to this action is 23% of the total.
- Youth in the World: To support projects with partner countries and to support initiatives that reinforce young people’s mutual understanding of other cultures, sense of solidarity and tolerance. The purpose of this action is to develop mutual understanding between peoples in a spirit of openness, whilst also contributing to the development of quality systems that support the activities of young people in the countries concerned. It is open to the programme’s partner countries.
The minimum amount to be allocated to this action is 6 % of the total.
- Youth Support systems: To support bodies active at a European level in the field of youth such as youth NGO’s. The purpose of this action is to develop the quality of youth support structures, to support the role of those active in youth work and youth organisation, to develop the quality of the programme and to promote the civil participation of young people at a European level.
The minimum amount to be allocated to this action is 15 % of the total.
- Support for European cooperation in the youth field: To organise structured dialogue; to support youth seminars; to contribute to the development of policy co-operation and to facilitate the development of networks to help understand youth concerns. The aim of this action is to promote European co-operation in the youth field.
The minimum amount to be allocated to this action is 4 % of the total.
The programme is open to the following participating countries: the Member States; the EFTA States that are party to the EEA Agreement; the candidate countries benefiting from a pre-accession strategy; the countries of the western Balkans and Switzerland. “Partner Countries”, (here meaning those that have signed an Agreement with the EU, which include youth elements), may participate in Action 2: European Voluntary Service and Action 3: Youth in the World. Further, the programme will be open to co-operation with authorities in the field of youth and in particular the Council of Europe.
In terms of who may access the programme, the Decision states the programme is intended for not-for-profit projects involving young people, those active in youth work and other partners working in the field of youth. The group targeted are those aged between 15-28 although certain actions are open to those as young as 13 or up to the age of 30.
The Commission has been given responsibility for implementing the programme, although it will also be the responsibility of the participating countries to: ensure that the programme runs smoothly at a national level; appoint and monitor national agencies to implement the programme’s measures; assume responsibility for the sound management of the national agencies; and take the necessary audit measures.
APPLY FROM: 1 January 2007
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 14 December 2006.