COUNCIL DECISION of 29 July 1991 adopting the 'Youth for Europe' programme (second phase) (91/395/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas the Member States, when they signed the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, declared themselves determined to lay the foundations of an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe;
Whereas, in order to achieve that objective, the Treaty provides for powers to take action to ensure freedom of movement for employed and self-employed persons and those receiving services;
Whereas specific measures should be taken to assist young people to develop their sense of initiative and to foster an awareness in them of their abilities and responsibilities;
Whereas, when they met on 13 December 1976 (4) and 12 July 1982 (5), the Council and the Ministers for Education, meeting within the Council, were resolved on the need adequately to prepare young people for adult and working life, and adopted action programmes relating thereto;
Whereas the European Council, meeting on 28 and 29 June 1985, adopted the conclusions of the ad hoc Committee on a People's Europe, which called for the promotion of youth exchanges within the Community and for an effective network of exchanges within and between Member States;
Whereas the European Parliament, in its resolutions of 12 March 1981 on youth activities (6), of 7 June 1983 on a European Communities programme to promote youth exchanges (7) and of 16 December 1983 on a European voluntary service scheme for young people (8), advocated strengthening Community activities in this field;
Whereas youth exchanges are an appropriate method of enabling young people to understand more about the European Community and its Member States and of promoting social cohesion within the Community; whereas they thus contribute to the training and preparation of young people for adult and working life and to the development of a greater awareness of their abilities and responsibilities;
Whereas, since substantial improvement in the quality and quantity of youth exchanges and mobility can be achieved by a series of support measures at Community level complementing the measures taken by the Member States and taking into account the experience and the current contribution of bodies already working in this field;
Whereas on 16 June 1988 the Council adopted Decision 88/348/EEC establishing the 'Youth for Europe' action programme (9) to promote youth exchanges in the Community; whereas it is now expedient to extend that programme;
Whereas a programme lasting three years is called for;
Whereas an amount of ECU 25 million is estimated as necessary to implement this multiannual programme; whereas, for the year 1992, in the framework of the current financial perspective, the funds estimated as necessary are ECU 10 million;
Whereas the amounts to be committed for the financing of the programme for the period after the budget year 1992 will have to fall within the Community financial framework in force;
Whereas the Treaty does not provide, for the adoption of this Decision, powers of action other than those of Article 235,
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
The second phase of the 'Youth for Europe' programme, hereinafter referred to as 'the programme', to promote youth exchanges and mobility in the Community is hereby adopted for the period 1 January 1992 to 31 December 1994.
Article 2
The Community financial resources estimated as necessary for implementation of the programme amount to ECU 25 million, of which ECU 10 million are for the year 1992 in the framework of the 1988 to 1992 financial perspective.
For the subsequent period of implementation of the programme, the amount shall fall within the Community financial framework in force.
The budget authority shall determine the appropriations available for each financial year, taking into account the principles of sound management referred to in Article 2 of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.
Article 3
In its second phase, the programme shall comprise a range of measures, set out in the Annex, directly linked to the development of youth exchanges and mobility in the Community. The measures are directed at young people (from 15 to 25 years of age), as well as at bodies active in promoting youth exchanges or mobility. The programme's objectives shall be as set out in the Annex.
Article 4
1. The Commission shall implement the second phase of the 'Youth for Europe' programme in conformity with this Decision.
2. In performing this task, the Commission shall be assisted by a committee of an advisory nature, composed of two representatives from each Member State, and chaired by the Commission representative. Members of the committee may be assisted by experts or advisers. The secretariat of the committee shall be provided by the Commission. A representative of the Council of Europe and a representative of the Youth Forum of the European Communities shall be invited to participate in the work of the committee as observers.
3. The Committee may examine all questions concerning the implementation and evaluation of the programme. The Commission shall consult the committee on:
- the approach concerning the measures provided for by the programme, its operation and its evaluation,
- questions of general balance concerning the exchanges between Member States and concerning the various types of action.
4. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the committee a draft of the measures to be taken. The committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft, within a time limit which the chairman may lay down according to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote. The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition, each Member State shall have the right to ask to have its position recorded in the minutes.
5. The Commission shall take the utmost account of the opinion delivered by the committee. It shall inform the committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account.
Article 5
The Commission is invited to see that there is consistency and complementarity between this programme and other activities of the Member States and of the Community affecting young people, in particular youth exchanges envisaged under the Tempus programme. In this connection, account shall be taken of the activities of the Council of Europe, inter alia in the field of information and training for youth workers. The Commission shall also maintain regular contacts with international organizations working in the field of youth exchanges and mobility.
Article 6
1. Member States shall lend their support to achieving the objectives of the programme as set out in the Annex by taking appropriate measures to that end.
2. Each Member State shall:
(a) designate an existing body or set up one or more competent bodies responsible for coordinating the implementation of the programme at national level, although this may not necessarily be the only task assigned to such body or bodies. These bodies shall cooperate in the continuous evaluation of the programme;
(b) endeavour, as far as possible, to adopt the measures necessary to ensure that young people who have participated in exchanges under the programme do not lose their entitlements, particularly those linked to social security.
Article 7
The Commission shall take the necessary measures for the continuous evaluation of the programme on the basis of statistical and other information provided by the bodies designated pursuant to Article 6 (2) (a) and of other independently collected information and analyses. This evaluation shall cover the operation of the programme and its impact on young people. On the basis of this evaluation, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a report on the implementation of the programme after the first year of the second phase, taking into account the results of the programme since 1 July 1988. The Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, shall take a position on a review of this Decision before the programme expires. Done at Brussels, 29 July 1991.