Mr President, I would like to thank all of you for holding out for so long. I welcome the compromise we have reached on the Community action programme “Youth” and the outcome of the conciliation procedure. Although some prayers remained unanswered, the parliamentary delegation could be satisfied with EUR 520 million for the seven year term, with a review clause on the accession of the candidate countries in Central and Eastern Europe. I would like to thank all those who took part for their cooperation, particularly Commissioner Reding and her offices, the Portuguese President-in-Office of the Council, Mr Fontes, who certainly did not have an easy time of it at the hands of the Finance Ministers, and I would also like to thank the youth forum for its input. The negotiations for the Youth programme have dragged on for around one and three quarter years. We have drastically amended the original proposal by the Commission, which envisaged combining the existing programmes “Youth for Europe” and the European Voluntary Service in one five year programme. The Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport tabled 61 amendments at first reading, aimed at achieving a balanced weighting of the various parts of the programme and using the distinctly larger budget to enable more young people than the 500 000 or so that had already benefited hitherto, to enjoy the experience of an exchange programme. We wanted to simplify administrative structures and do more to develop disadvantaged young people. The Commission adopted a raft of amendments put forward by Parliament, however the Council was unable to reach agreement on a common position concerning EUR 350 million for a five-year programme. At second reading, the European Parliament concentrated on 13 Amendments, focusing largely on the Budget, on a seven-year term following the example of Socrates and Leonardo, and on a flexible age limit and social protection in matters of comitology. Immediately after second reading, I entered into informal negotiations with the Finnish Presidency, so as not to lose any time and so as to ensure the programme makes a seamless transition at the beginning of the new millennium. We have the Council to thank for the fact that the conciliation procedure was not opened until the Portuguese Presidency took office. The Council accepted neither our budget proposal of EUR 980 million nor the well-founded compromise from the Commission of EUR 765 million. At the second meeting of the conciliation committee we were able, following difficult negotiations, to reach agreement on all issues. The seven-year term with a budget of EUR 520 million and the review clause following the accession of central and eastern European countries was a coup on the part of the European Parliament delegation. The fact that we secured social protection for the young participants from their home country, and sickness insurance cover in the host country was another coup, likewise the fact that age limits are to be kept flexible and not rigid. But, as rapporteur, I welcome the fact that the Youth programme is enabling us to send out a signal that the programme really is open to all young people. Both boys and girls are participating in the programme, and we have opened it to students, the unemployed, young people from the Member States, candidate countries or third countries. We have made it possible to hear more about young people’s needs and ideas over the Internet, and to engage in active dialogue with them. Who could imagine a better opportunity and better advertisement for the European core values? Provided we make intelligent use of it, the Youth Programme could help to overcome Europe fatigue, and optimist that I am, I believe it could generate enthusiasm for Europe. Therefore my advice to you all is to make use of the opportunities that the new youth programme has to offer. I would recommend that you vote in favour of the joint text on the introduction of the Community action programme “Youth”. (Applause)

Political group: PSE