OPINION OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 251(2) (c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing the "Youth" Community action programme AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

Article 251(2)(c) of the EC Treaty lays down that the Commission shall deliver an opinion on the amendments proposed by the European Parliament at second reading.

The Commission sets out its opinion below on the 13 amendments proposed by Parliament. It also includes, under the terms of Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty, an amended proposal incorporating the 13 amendments by Parliament which the Commission accepted wholly or in part.

1. Background

a) On 28 August 1998, the Commission forwarded to the Council and to the European Parliament its proposal for a decision (COM(1998)331 final - COD 1998/0197 of 27 May 1998.

b) The Economic and Social Committee delivered a favourable opinion on 15 October 1998.

c) The Committee of the Regions delivered a favourable opinion on 19 November 1998.

d) On 5 November 1998, Parliament adopted at first reading a favourable resolution including 61 amendments to the Commission proposal.

e) On 2 December 1998 the Commission adopted, pursuant to Article 250(2) of the Treaty, an amended proposal for a decision incorporating wholly or in part 36 of the 61 amendments proposed by Parliament (COM(1998)695 final - COD 1998/0197 of 27.11.98.

f) The Council adopted its common position on 28 June 1999.

g) On 27 October 1999, the Parliament European adopted at second reading a favourable resolution including 13 amendments to the common position.

2. Purpose of the proposal

Based on Article 149 of the EC Treaty, the proposal for a decision on "Youth" establishes a new integrated and coherent framework for Community actions for young people, which have been an ongoing success. The new programme integrates actions laid down in the "Youth for Europe" and "European voluntary service for young people" programmes. The "Opportunity for Youth" action will make it possible to give extra support to initiatives intended to assist young people in establishing self-employment. Finally, the proposal for a decision represents an important rationalisation of accompanying measures aimed at leaders and players in the youth field. The programme incorporates lessons learnt from the implementation of preceding programmes. Thus it maintains the acquis communautaire in terms of decentralisation and extends it by strengthening cooperation with the competent national authorities.

3. Opinion of the Commission on the amendments by the European Parliament

3.1. Amendments retained by the Commission

* Amendments 2 and 6 seek to reinforce the invitation to the Member States to remove the legal or administrative obstacles to transnational mobility for young people and to ensure the preservation of rights, particularly in the field of social protection and access thereto and to medical care. These two amendments echo the Commission's concerns on this subject in so far as it is a crucial aspect for the development of the programme.

* Amendment 3 sets the duration of the programme at seven years. This amendment is based on the decisions taken for the Socrates and Leonardo programmes, where a duration of seven years appeared to be more effective than a shorter programme. The Youth programme is one of the three programmes proposed by the Commission in the fields of education (Socrates), training (Leonardo) and youth, and provides for joint actions with these two other programmes. Maintaining Youth as a five-year programme therefore risked compromising efforts towards consistency and complementarity in Community action in these different fields as well as efforts towards rationalisation and consistency in the management and implementation of these programmes (including at external assistance level). Since the first reading, the financial perspectives have also been adopted for a duration of seven years, laying down budgets for each of the three programmes for this length of time.

* Amendment 9 makes a number of modifications to Article 8 concerning the financial provisions. The section of the amendment concerning the distribution of appropriations between the different actions of the programme on the basis of an annual report presented to Parliament under the annual budget procedure is useful and pertinent and ties in with the statement by the Commission in the minutes of the Council meeting of 27 May 1999 concerning the budgetary breakdown (first reading). The Commission accepts the spirit of this amendment, which it wishes to supplement in order to take the concerns of the Council into account as well.

* Amendment 10 relates to the introduction of a revision clause in Article 12 (Monitoring and evaluation) which would enable the Commission to submit, three years after the start of the programme, a report on the results achieved, accompanied by any proposals it deems appropriate, including with regard to the financial framework set out in Article 8. As the Commission can accept amendment 3, which extends the duration of the programme to seven years (instead of the five years initially proposed by the Commission), the clause introduced by Parliament will enable the programme to adapt flexibly to any new requirements which may arise in the future.

* Amendment 13 asks the Commission to establish a structure based on deriving the maximum benefit from projects for young people, information, documentation on youth and dialogue with all young people. This amendment was accepted at first reading by the Commission and was therefore integrated in its amended proposal of 2 December 1998. [1] This amendment will make it possible to strengthen proximity with citizens and dialogue with young people and to respond effectively and appropriately to their requests and requirements. The Commission wishes to make some minor modifications to take account of concerns expressed by the Member States during the first reading, and considers it more logical to include the reworded amendment under action 5.3.2 (Support measures) in the new paragraph 3.

[1] COM(1998)695 final-1998/0197 (COD).

A number of other amendments are intended to clarify and reinforce certain aspects of the common position and may therefore by retained either as they are or in spirit. More particularly, this applies to amendments Nos 1, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12 (part 1) which relate to the following aspects:

* the importance of adequate information to make it possible to reach all young people and to encourage greater accessibility to the programme;

* promotion of European citizenship and the involvement of young people in the development of the Union;

* a degree of flexibility concerning the age category;

* taking into account, when evaluating the programme, compliance with the principle of equal access as laid down in Article 4(2) and (3);

* taking into account, in the context of studies, the impact of other policies on the world of youth and the need to provide a clearer and more global image of the needs of young people and the conditions in which they live.

Amendments 7 and 8 concerning the programme committee may be accepted in principle by means of a wording in accordance with the wording of the provisions relating to committee procedure in the basic instruments.

3.2. Amendments not accepted by the Commission

Amendment 9 (section 3), relating to a flexibility clause which would make it possible to review the total amount of the budget in the context of annual budgetary cooperation, cannot be accepted. This section of the amendment departs from the interinstitutional declaration of 6 March 1995 on the incorporation of financial provisions into legislative acts (OJ 96/C 102/03).

With regard to the funding of the programme (amendment 9, part 1), it should be borne in mind that the Commission's initial proposal, pursuant to the priorities laid down in Agenda 2000, provides for a budget of EUR600 million over five years. The same priority criteria applied to a seven-year period (as proposed by the European Parliament) would lead to an amount less than that proposed by the amendment, which lays down a budget of 980 million euro.

Amendment 12 (part 2), which specifies the type of studies to be carried out in the context of action 5.2 ("Information for young people and studies concerning youth"), comes under the heading of implementation and, in particular, of the annual work programme submitted to the Committee. The concerns addressed in this amendment will be taken into account when drawing up these work plans.

1998/0197 (COD)

Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing the "Youth" Community action programme AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and in particular Article 149 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission [2],

[2] OJ C 311, 10.10.1998, p. 6.

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee [3],

[3] Opinion delivered on 15 October 1998 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions [4],

[4] Opinion delivered on 19 November 1998 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty [5],

[5] Opinion of the European Parliament of 5 November 1998 (not yet published in the Official Journal), Council Common Position of ... (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Decision of the European Parliament of ... (not yet published in the Official Journal).

(1) Whereas the Treaty establishing the European Community provides that the latter's action shall, inter alia, contribute to the development of quality education and training; whereas this was resolutely reiterated by the Treaty of Amsterdam signed on 2 October 1997 which states that the Community is also to promote the development of the highest possible level of knowledge for its peoples through a wide access to education and through a continuous updating of knowledge;

(2) Whereas, by their Decision No 818/95/EC of 14 March 1995 adopting the third phase of the "Youth for Europe" programme [6], the European Parliament and the Council set up an action programme regarding cooperation in the field of youth; whereas it is appropriate to pursue and strengthen cooperation and Community action in that field on the basis of the experience acquired from that programme;

[6] OJ L 87, 20.4.1995, p. 1.

(3) Whereas the extraordinary European Council on Employment held in Luxembourg on 20 and 21 November 1997 adopted a coordinated employment strategy in which life-long education and training have a fundamental role to play in implementing the guidelines set out in the Council Resolution of 15 December 1997 [7] for the Member States' employment policies in order to enhance employability, adaptability and the culture of entrepreneurship and to promote equal opportunities;

[7] OJ C 30, 28.1.1998, p. 1.

(4) Whereas the Commission in its communication "Towards a Europe of knowledge" set out guidelines on the creation of an open and dynamic European education area capable of achieving the objective of life-long education and training;

(5) Whereas, in its White Paper "Teaching and learning - Towards the learning society", the Commission stated that the emergence of the learning society entails encouraging the acquisition of new knowledge and to this end providing motivation to learn at every opportunity; whereas, in its Green Paper "Education, training, research: the obstacles to transnational mobility", the Commission highlighted the advantages of mobility for people and competitiveness in the European Union;

(6) Whereas there is a need to promote active citizenship, to strengthen the links between measures pursued under this programme and to step up the fight for respect for human rights and against exclusion in all its forms, including racism and xenophobia; whereas special attention should be focused on removing discrimination and on promoting equal opportunities for women and men;

(7) Whereas the Commission and Member States, in wishing to reach young people in general and not only those who are involved in youth organisations, consider it essential, therefore, to ensure a suitable information flow and an adequate distribution of the actions of the programme;

(8) Whereas this Decision establishes a Community framework to assist in the development of transnational voluntary service activities; whereas the Member States should endeavour to adopt appropriate and coordinated measures to remove the legal and administrative obstacles in order to further improve access to the programme for young people and facilitate recognition of the specific nature of voluntary service for young people;

(9) Whereas youth exchanges in particular contribute to mutual trust, the strengthening of democracy, tolerance, a willingness to cooperate and solidarity between young people, and whereas they are therefore crucial for the cohesion and further development of the Union;

(10) Whereas the participation of young people in voluntary service activities is a type of informal education leading to the acquisition of additional knowledge, whose quality should be largely based on appropriate preparatory measures, including those of a linguistic and cultural nature; whereas it helps to determine the future direction of their lives, to broaden their horizons and to develop their social skills, active citizenship and balanced integration into society from the economic, social and cultural points of view, including preparation for working life, and promotes awareness of true European citizenship;

(11) Whereas, in its Resolution of 14 May 1998 on the information and communication policy in the European Union [8], the European Parliament stated that, with regard to support and action programmes, the selection of projects should be more transparent and the reasons for the choice should be clearer to those who submit the projects;

[8] OJ C 167, 1.6.1998, p. 230.

(12) Whereas the Commission and Member States should seek to guarantee complementarity between European Voluntary Service activities and the various similar national schemes;

(13) Whereas the European Parliament and the Council, in their Decision No ......./1999/EC on education, and the Council, in Decision No ........./1999/EC of 26 April 1999 on training, have established Community action programmes for the education and training fields respectively, which contribute together with the Youth programme to a Europe of knowledge;

)(14) Whereas the policy of cooperation in the youth field contributes to the promotion of informal education, and therefore to life-long learning, and whereas this policy needs to be further developed;

(15) Whereas the integration of young people into the world of work is an essential part of their integration into society, and whereas this also calls for all their skills and competence acquired as part of their experience of informal education to be recognised and for a high premium to be put on their importance;

(16) Whereas it is necessary in order to reinforce the added value of Community action that the Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, should ensure coherence and complementarity at all levels between the actions implemented within the framework of this Decision and other relevant policies, instruments and actions;

(17) Whereas it is important that the Youth programme committee should consult, on the basis of arrangements to be defined, with the committees responsible for the implementation of the Community vocational training and educational programmes (Leonardo da Vinci and Socrates); whereas it is important that the Youth programme committee be kept regularly informed about Community initiatives taken in the fields of education, vocational training and youth;

(18) Whereas the European Councils of Essen (9 and 10 December 1994) and Cannes (26 and 27 June 1995) stressed the need for further action to enhance the social and vocational integration of young people in Europe; whereas the conclusions of the European Council of Florence (21 and 22 June 1996) emphasised the importance of making it easier for young people to enter the labour force; whereas the European Council meeting in Amsterdam (15-17 June 1997) expressed its support for non-profit-making activities; whereas the European Parliament and Council adopted Decision No 1686/98/EC on 20 July 1998 establishing the Community action programme "European Voluntary Service for Young People" [9];

[9] OJ L 214, 31.7.1998, p. 1.

(19) Whereas European Voluntary Service activities are not a substitute for military service, for the alternative service formulae provided in particular for conscientious objectors or for the compulsory civilian service existing in several Member States, and should not restrict or be a substitute for potential or existing paid employment;

(20) Whereas the grant of residence permits and any visas required falls within the competence of the authorities in the Member States, and whereas the concept of legal resident is defined by national law;

(21) Whereas the European Parliament adopted a Resolution on 2 July 1998 on promoting the role of voluntary organisations and foundations in Europe [10]; whereas the voluntary sector should also play an important role in enabling all young people, particularly those with the greatest difficulties, to participate in these programmes;

[10] OJ C 226, 20.7.1998, p. 66.

(22) Whereas the Commission and the Member States are to ensure that they foster cooperation with non-governmental organisations active in the youth and social fields, as well as in the areas of the environment, culture, sport and combating the various forms of exclusion;

(23) Whereas the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA Agreement) provides for greater cooperation in the field of education, training and youth between the European Community and its Member States, on the one hand, and the States of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) participating in the European Economic Area, on the other; whereas the EEA Agreement lays down procedures for the participation of the EFTA States participating in the EEA in Community programmes in the field of education, training and youth;

(24) Whereas provision should be made to open up this programme to participation of the associated Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) in accordance with the conditions established in the Europe Agreements, in their additional protocols and in the decisions of the respective Association Councils, of Cyprus, funded by additional appropriations in accordance with the procedures to be agreed with that country, as well as of Malta and Turkey, funded by additional appropriations, in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty;

(25) Whereas this programme should be monitored and continually evaluated in cooperation between the Commission and the Member States in order to allow for readjustments, particularly in the priorities for implementing the measures;

(26) Whereas, in accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality as defined in Article 5 of the Treaty, since the objectives of the proposed action concerning the development and strengthening of a cooperation policy in the youth field, including European Voluntary Service and youth exchanges both within the Community and with third countries, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States because of the complexity and diversity of the youth field, they can therefore be better achieved by the Community owing to the transnational dimension of Community actions and measures; whereas this Decision does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve those objectives;

(27) Whereas this Decision lays down, for the entire duration of the programme, a financial framework constituting the principal point of reference, within the meaning of point 33 of the Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6 May 1999 [11], on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure;

[11] OJ C ... 1999.

(28) ; Whereas, in accordance with Article 2 of Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission, the measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision should be adopted, depending on the nature of these measures, in accordance with the advisory procedure laid down in Article 3 or the management procedure laid down in Article 4 of that Decision,

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1 Establishment of the programme

1. This decision establishes the "Youth" Community action programme, hereinafter referred to as "this programme", concerning cooperation policy in the youth field, including European Voluntary Service and youth exchanges both within the Community and with third countries.

2. This programme shall be implemented over the period starting on 1 January 2000 and ending on 31 December 2006.

3. This programme shall contribute to the promotion of a Europe of knowledge by developing a European area of cooperation in the field of youth policy, based on informal education and training. It shall promote life-long learning and the building up of the knowledge, skills and competence likely to foster active citizenship and employability.

4. This programme shall support and supplement action taken by and in the Member States while fully respecting their cultural and linguistic diversity.

Article 2 Objectives of the programme

1. In order to allow young people to acquire knowledge, skills and competence which may be one of the foundations of their future development, and to exercise responsible citizenship so as to become an active part of society and bearing in mind the importance of promoting equal opportunities, the objectives of this programme are as follows:

a) to promote an active contribution by young people to the building of Europe through their participation in transnational exchanges within the Community or with third countries so as to develop understanding of the cultural diversity of Europe and its fundamental common values, thus helping to promote respect for human rights and to combat racism, anti-semitism and xenophobia;

b) to strengthen their sense of solidarity through more extensive participation by young people in transnational community service activities within the Community or with third countries, in particular those with which the Community has concluded cooperation agreements;

c) to encourage young people's initiative, enterprise and creativity so that they may take an active role in society and, at the same time, to stimulate recognition of the value of informal education acquired within a European context;

d) reinforce cooperation in the field of youth by fostering the exchange of good practice, the training of youth workers/leaders and the development of innovative actions at Community level.

2. This programme shall also contribute to attaining the objectives of other relevant areas of Community policy.

Article 3 Community actions

1. The objectives of this programme as set out in Article 2 shall be pursued by means of the following actions, the operational content and the application procedures of which are described in the Annex:

- Youth for Europe;

- European Voluntary Service;

- youth initiatives;

- joint actions;

- support measures.

2. These actions shall be implemented through the following types of measures, which may, where appropriate, be combined:

a) support for the transnational mobility of young people;

b) support for the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the youth field;

c) support for the development of cooperation networks at the European level permitting mutual exchange of experience and good practice;

d) support for transnational projects intended to promote citizenship of the European Union and participation by young people in the development of the Union;

e) promotion of language skills and understanding of different cultures;

f) support for pilot projects based on transnational partnerships designed to develop innovation and quality in the youth field;

g) development, at a European level, of methods of analysis and follow-up of youth policies and their evolution (e.g. data bases, key figures, mutual knowledge of "systems") and of methods of disseminating good practice.

Article 4 Access to the programme

1. This programme is aimed at young people - in principle between the ages of 15 and 25 - as well as those involved in youth work, who are legal residents of a Member State. The age limits may be adapted to some degree, taking into account the specific conditions of each project.

Within the framework of Actions 1.2, 2.2 and 5 set out in the Annex, this programme may also be aimed at young people - in principle aged from 15 to 25 - and those involved in youth work who reside in third countries, without prejudice to the competences of the Member States.

2. Particular attention should be paid to ensuring that all young people, without discrimination, have access to the activities of this programme.

3. The Commission and the Member States should endeavour to adopt appropriate measures so that the beneficiaries of the programme may have access to social protection and medical care.

4. The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that special efforts are made to assist young people who, for cultural, social, physical, mental, economic or geographical reasons, find it more difficult to participate in relevant action programmes at Community, national, regional or local level, as well as to assist small local groups. The Commission shall accordingly take account of the difficulties faced by these target groups, thus contributing to combating exclusion.

Article 5 Implementation of the programme and cooperation with the Member States

1. The Commission shall ensure the implementation of the Community actions covered by this programme in accordance with the Annex.

2. The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall take the steps described in the Annex (Action 5) in order to make the best use of what has been achieved through Community cooperative action in the youth field.

3. The Commission and Member States shall take appropriate action to develop structures established at Community and national level to achieve the objectives of the programme, in a user-friendly way, so as to facilitate access to the programme for young people and other partners at local level, to evaluate and monitor actions called for under the programme and to apply transparent consultation and selection arrangements.

The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that they take measures to facilitate young people's access to transnational mobility through measures designed adequately to inform them and raise their awareness of this subject. The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that appropriate information and publicity is provided about actions supported by the programme.

4. The Member States shall take the necessary steps to ensure the efficient running of the programme; they shall also endeavour, as far as possible, to adopt such measures as they deem necessary and desirable to remove legal and administrative obstacles to access to this programme.

5. The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall ensure the transition between those actions carried out within the framework of the previous Community programmes in the youth field (Youth for Europe III and European Voluntary Service) and the actions to be implemented under this programme.

Article 6 Joint actions

As part of the process of building up a Europe of knowledge, the measures of this programme may be implemented in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 7 as joint actions with related Community programmes and actions in the area of youth, education and vocational training.

Article 6a Implementation measures

1. The Commission shall determine, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7(2), the following measures:

a) the arrangements for implementing this programme, including the annual plan of work for the implementation of the programme's actions;

b) the general balance between the different actions of the programme;

c) the criteria applicable for establishing an indicative breakdown of funds among the Member States for the purpose of the actions to be managed on a decentralised basis;

d) the arrangements for implementing joint actions;

e) the arrangements for evaluating the programme;

f) the arrangements for attesting to the participation of young volunteers.

2. The Commission shall determine the other measures in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7(3).

Article 7 Committee

1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee composed of representatives from the Member States and chaired by the representative of the Commission.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, the management procedure laid down in Article 4 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, in compliance with the provisions of Article 7 3 and Article 8 thereof. The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at two months.

3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, the advisory procedure laid down in Article 3 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, in compliance with the provisions of Article 7 3 and Article 8 thereof.

4. The Committee shall draw up its own rules of procedure.

Article 8 Funding

1. The financial framework for the implementation of this programme for the period specified in Article 1 is hereby set at EUR 765( million.

The overall balance between the different actions of the programme shall be determined by the programme committee in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 6a(1)(b), in line with its objectives and on the basis of an annual report presented to the European Parliament and to the Council.

2. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective.

Article 9 Consistency and complementarity

1. The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States and without prejudice to the individual character and specificity of each programme, shall ensure overall consistency and complementarity with other relevant Community policies, instruments and actions. Particular attention shall be paid to the promotion of equality and to equal opportunities for women and men.

2. The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall ensure consistency between the implementation of this programme and the other Community activities relating to youth, in particular in the area of culture and the audio-visual sector, the completion of the internal market, the information society, environment, consumer protection, SMEs, social policy, employment, and public health.

3. The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that the measures of this programme have regard to the employment guidelines adopted by the Council as part of a coordinated strategy for employment.

4. The Commission shall ensure an efficient link-up between this programme and the programmes and actions in the youth field undertaken as part of the Community's external relations.

Article 10 Participation of the EFTA/EEA countries, the associated Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC), Cyprus, Malta and Turkey

This programme shall be open to the participation of:

- the EFTA/EEA countries in accordance with the conditions established in the EEA agreement;

- the associated Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) in accordance with the conditions established in the Europe agreements, in their additional protocols and in the decisions of the respective Association Councils;

- Cyprus, funded by additional appropriations in accordance with the procedures to be agreed with that country;

- Malta and Turkey, funded by additional appropriations in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.

Article 11 International cooperation

Under this programme, the Commission, acting in accordance with the procedures laid down in Articles 6a and 7, shall strengthen its cooperation with non-Community countries and relevant international organisations, in particular the Council of Europe.

Article 12 Monitoring and evaluation

1. The Commission shall regularly monitor this programme in cooperation with the Member States.

This monitoring shall include the reports referred to in paragraph 3 and specific activities.

2. This programme shall be evaluated regularly by the Commission in cooperation with the Member States. This evaluation is intended to increase the effectiveness of actions implemented with regard to the objectives referred to in Article 2 and to ensure equal access to the programme as set out in Article 4(2) and (4).

This evaluation will also examine the complementarity between actions under this programme and those pursued under other relevant Community policies, instruments and actions.

In accordance with criteria established using the procedure described in Article 6a(1), there will be regular external evaluations of the results of the Community actions.

3. Member States shall submit to the Commission by 31 December 2004 and 30 June 2007, respectively, reports on the implementation and the impact of this programme.

4. The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions a report on the results achieved by the programme, accompanied by such proposals as it deems appropriate, including with regard to the budget laid down in Article 8. The European Parliament and the Council shall take a decision on these proposals as soon as possible:

- an interim report on the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the implementation of this programme by 30 June 2005;

- a final report on the implementation of this programme by 31 December 2007.

Article 13 Entry into force

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Done at Brussels,

For the European Parliament For the Council

The President The President

ANNEX

Funding approved under the programme is to observe the principles of co-financing and additionality. In accordance with Article 4(3) of the Decision, efforts must be made to facilitate access to the programme for young people who face difficulties of a cultural, social, physical, mental, economic or geographical nature, as well as for small local groups. The committee referred to in Article 7 of the Decision is to lay down the specific form these efforts should take. Community funding is to be distributed in such a way as to take account of the need to ensure balance between the mobility actions undertaken and an equal opportunity of participation for the young people of every Member State; that is to say, Article 4(3) is to be taken into account.

Initiatives designed to encourage tolerance and the acceptance of differences, as well as measures combating all forms of exclusion, should be given specific encouragement and stimulation. The Community will be receptive to activities giving a prominent position to culture and sport in the context of informal education for young people.

In order to achieve the objectives of the programme, five categories of action are to be implemented on the basis of the measures described in Article 3 of the Decision:

* Youth for Europe;

* European Voluntary Service;

* Youth initiatives;

* Joint actions;

* Support measures.

ACTION 1 - YOUTH FOR EUROPE

Action 1.1: Intra-Community exchanges for young people

The Community will support mobility activities for young people provided that the activities in question last at least one week, are carried out on the basis of joint projects within the Community and involve groups of young people aged in principle between 15 and 25 years and legally resident in a Member State. The age limits may be adapted to some degree, taking into account the specific conditions of each project.

These activities, based on transnational partnerships between groups of young people, are to involve their active participation and be designed to make it possible for them to discover and become aware of different social and cultural realities and to encourage them to participate in, or initiate, other activities at European level. Particular attention is to be paid to participation by young people for whom it is their first European activity and to small-scale or local groups without experience at European level.

In order to move towards a better balance between bilateral and multilateral activities, Community support will be progressively focused on multilateral group-mobility activities. Bilateral group mobility will receive funding if this is justified in terms of the target groups or a specific pedagogical approach.

Activities designed to strengthen the active involvement of young people in group mobility projects may receive funding under this action, particularly in the form of activities to provide the young people in question with linguistic and intercultural preparation.

Action 1.2: Exchanges of young people with third countries

The Community will support mobility activities for young people provided that the activities in question last at least one week, are carried out on the basis of joint projects and involve groups of young people aged in principle between 15 and 25 years and legally resident in a Member State or in a third country. These mobility activities are to involve at least two Member States. The age limits may be adapted to some degree, taking into account the specific conditions of each project.

These activities, based on transnational partnerships between groups of young people, are to involve their active participation and be designed to make it possible for them to discover and become aware of different social and cultural realities and to encourage them to participate in, or initiate, other activities at European level. Moreover, these projects are to make it possible for partners in the third countries to gain experience of this kind of activity in the field of informal education and to contribute to the development of youth work and associations in those countries.

Activities designed to strengthen the active involvement of young people in group mobility projects may receive funding, particularly in the form of activities to provide the young people in question with linguistic and intercultural preparation before their departure.

ACTION 2 - EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE

For the purposes of this programme, "young volunteer" is taken to be a person aged in principle between 18 and 25 years and legally resident in a Member State. The age limits may be adapted to some degree, taking into account the specific conditions of each project.

Young volunteers will undertake, as active citizens, to carry out an activity which gives tangible form to solidarity, with the view to acquiring social and personal abilities and skills thus laying the foundations for their future development, while at the same time contributing to society. To this end, young volunteers will participate, in a Member State other than the one in which they reside, or in a third country, in a non-profit-making and unpaid activity of importance to the community and of a limited duration (12 months maximum) in the context of a project recognised by the Member State and the Community, in compliance with the aims of this programme set out in Article 2. In particular it should not result in job substitution. Full board and lodging as well as mentoring will be provided. The voluntary service project will ensure that young volunteers are covered by health and appropriate insurance. Young volunteers will receive an allowance/pocket money.

European Voluntary Service is based on a partnership and shared responsibilities between the young volunteers, the sending organisation and the host organisation.

In accordance with the provisions relating to the programme committee referred to in Article 7, a document, issued by the Commission, will attest to the participation of the young volunteers in European Voluntary Service and to the experience and skills that they have acquired during the relevant period.

Action 2.1: Intra-Community European Voluntary Service

The Community will support transnational projects (for a limited period ranging in principle from three weeks to one year) which involve young people, actively and personally, in activities designed to help meet the needs of society in a wide range of fields (social, socio-cultural, environmental, cultural, etc.) which constitute at the same time an experience of informal education with a view to acquiring social and cultural skills. These projects are designed to bring young people into contact with other cultures and other languages and to experience new ideas and projects in a multicultural civil society.

The Community may support schemes, particularly those with a linguistic or intercultural element, which aim at preparing young volunteers for their departure and easing their social integration during those activities as well as when they have completed their period of European Voluntary Service. Particular attention is to be paid to pedagogical support and mentoring.

Action 2.2: European Voluntary Service with third countries

The Community will support transnational projects with third countries (for a limited period ranging in principle from three weeks to one year) which involve young people, actively and personally, in activities designed to help meet the needs of society in a wide range of fields (social, socio-cultural, environmental, cultural, etc.) which constitute at the same time an experience of informal education with a view to acquiring social and cultural skills. These projects are designed to bring young people into contact with other cultures and other languages and to experience new ideas and projects in a multicultural civil society.

Support may be given to action laying or consolidating the necessary foundations for developing transnational European voluntary service projects with third countries.

The Community may support schemes, particularly those with a linguistic or intercultural element, which aim at preparing young volunteers for their departure and easing their social integration during those activities as well as when they have completed their period of European Voluntary Service. Particular attention is to be paid to pedagogical support and mentoring.

ACTION 3 - YOUTH INITIATIVES

In order to encourage initiative and creativity among young people, the Community will support projects in which young people actively and directly participate in innovative and creative schemes and in schemes which focus on the social commitment of young people at local, regional, national or European level. These projects will allow young people to develop their initiative and to put into practice activities of their own devising in which they play the key roles.

The Community will support initiatives designed to help young volunteers to make the best possible use of the experience they have gained during their period of voluntary service and to encourage their active integration into society. Those initiatives taken by young people after completing their European Voluntary Service will allow them to launch and promote activities of a social, cultural, socio-cultural and economic nature and/or aim at their personal development. Priority access will be given to those young people most in need.

Support will aim at encouraging extension of these projects to include similar initiatives conducted in other Member States in order to strengthen their transnational nature and greatly expand exchanges of experience and cooperation between young people. This aid may include organising meetings of young promoters of Europe-wide initiatives. Financial aid may be granted towards the effective establishment of stable, transnational partnerships between such projects.

ACTION 4 - JOINT ACTIONS

Having regard to the need for a flexible and creative approach as a precondition for cooperation between sectors, Community aid may be granted for the actions referred to in Article 6 of the Decision and for activities to be undertaken jointly with other Community schemes relating to the Europe of knowledge, in particular Community programmes in the field of education and vocational training.

The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, will aim at developing a common system of information, observation and dissemination concerning good practice in the field of knowledge and life-long learning, alongside joint actions with regard to multimedia for educational and training purposes. Those projects will cover a range of schemes from a number of different sectors including youth. They may be funded in a complementary manner by a number of different Community programmes, and may be implemented by means of calls for joint projects.

Appropriate measures may be adopted to promote, at regional and local level, contact and interaction between those participating in this programme and in programmes dealing with vocational training and education. In this context, activities increasing awareness of the opportunities provided by the Community to young people may be supported.

ACTION 5 - SUPPORT MEASURES

Action 5.1: Training and cooperation in relation to those involved in youth policy

Funding shall be granted to:

1. activities designed to give further training to persons involved in youth work - particularly European Voluntary Service instructors, youth workers/leaders, those running European projects and youth initiative counsellors - who take part in schemes directly involving young people, of the kind described in Actions 1, 2 and 3 of the programme, the aim being to ensure that such schemes are of an appropriately high quality. Particular attention is to be paid to activities seeking to encourage the participation of those young people who find it most difficult to participate in Community actions;

2. activities designed to develop European modules fulfilling the requirements for transnational cooperation;

3. activities - such as study visits, feasibility studies, seminars and work experience - which focus particularly on exchanges of experience and good practice in relation to joint actions or issues of common interest or which are designed to facilitate and promote the establishment of sustainable transnational partnerships and/or multilateral networks between those active in the field of youth work;

4. experimental activities which comprise a source of innovation and enrichment of youth policy through the implementation of new approaches and new forms of cooperation, as well as through the shared efforts of participants from differing backgrounds;

5. Community support may also be given to conferences and seminars which seek to promote cooperation and the exchange of good practice in the field of youth, as well as to other promotion and dissemination measures regarding the results of the projects and activities supported within the framework of Community actions related to youth.

Activities associated with these measures may be solely intra-Community in nature or involve non-member countries. Particular attention is to be paid to those who work with youth at a regional or local level and who have little or no experience of, or scope for, contacts at European level, as well as to activities in which young people play the key roles.

Action 5.2: Information for young people and youth studies

1. In line with the objectives of the programme, and in particular to improve access for all young people and to enhance their initiative and their active participation in society, the Commission will encourage those active in the field of youth work to become involved in informing young people at European level, as well as boosting cooperation between the information and communication systems for young people established in the Member States and at Community level. In this context, particular stress is to be laid on broadening cooperation to include the fields of education and training, as well as on the dialogue both between and with young people.

2. Accordingly, funding is to be provided for initiatives involving:

- the acquisition of the necessary experience and skills to carry out youth information projects based on transnational cooperation and projects which provide information and, in particular, advisory services for young people;

- cooperative projects focusing on information dissemination, enhancing the awareness among young people of the field covered by the programme and giving young people access to all necessary information to achieve the objectives of the programme;

- the implementation, as part of transnational cooperation projects, of mechanisms permitting dialogue both between and with young people, particularly through the use of youth-oriented media and new technologies.

3. With regard to the youth studies associated with the programme objectives, the Commission will support studies focusing, among other subjects, on the impact of measures taken on behalf of young people and, in particular, measures that seek to promote cooperation in this field. This research may take the form of case studies. These studies will analyse, as much as possible, the impact of other policies on the world of youth and will aim to provide a clearer and more global image of the needs of young people and the conditions in which they live.

Action 5.3: Support measures

1. National agencies

Community assistance may be provided to support the activities of the structures set up by Member States, in accordance with Article 5 of the Decision.

2. Technical assistance and operational support

In carrying out the programme the Commission may have recourse to technical assistance organisations, the financing of which may be provided for within the overall financial framework for the programme. It may have recourse to experts under the same conditions. Furthermore, the Commission will be able to undertake evaluation studies and organise such seminars, colloquia or other meetings of experts as are likely to facilitate the implementation of the programme, including application of Article 11 of the Decision. The Commission may also undertake information, publication and dissemination actions.

3. The Commission will take the necessary steps to, inter alia, draw benefits from youth projects, collect information and documentary resources on youth, assembling publications, specific studies, programmes and/or measures in the youth field emanating from both the Community Institutions, and the Member States and from other bodies and associations and, in particular, the Council of Europe. It will aim to increase the visibility of the actions aimed at young people at community level and in the Member States, in many different fields. It should, moreover, use all the means of communication, and particularly Internet sites, in order to facilitate a dialogue with young people.