Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL Creating the "YOUTH IN ACTION" programme for the period 2007-2013 [SEC(2004)960] {SEC(2004)960}

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

PROPOSAL FOR A DECISION ON THE 'YOUTH IN ACTION' [1] PROGRAMME

[1] Provisional name

1. background

In its Communication of 10 February entitled "Building our common Future: Policy challenges and budgetary means of the enlarged Union 2007-2013", the Commission proposes to make the development of European citizenship an essential priority for EU action.

The Commission presented on 9 March a Communication [2] entitled "Making citizenship Work: fostering European culture and diversity through programmes for Youth, Culture, Audiovisual and Civic Participation", which outlined the main thrusts of the new programme in the field of youth.

[2] COM (2004) 154 final, 9.03.2004

In this context, it is necessary to 'make citizenship work' by fostering European culture and diversity in areas involving European citizens directly in the integration process, in particular the area of youth.

The YOUTH programme will come to an end in 2006 and, in the light of the above Communications and the results of the public consultation, the interim evaluation report [3], and the ex-ante evaluation of the future instrument, the Commission is presenting this legislative proposal with a view to the adoption of a new generation of the programme for the period 2007-2013.

[3] COM (2004) 158 final, 8.3.2004

1.1. Starting situation

The objectives of the YOUTH programme, established by Decision No 1031/2000/EC, are based on the second paragraph of Article 149 of the EC Treaty, which states that Community action shall be aimed at "encouraging the development of youth exchanges and of exchanges of socio-educational instructors".

The interim evaluation of the YOUTH programme demonstrated its popularity and showed that it has a real impact. The evaluation also included a number of recommendations to be implemented in order to take into account, in particular, changing trends in youth, the expectations created by this type of programme and requests for simplification.

In order to fulfil its Treaty obligations, and taking into consideration the positive results of the interim evaluation of the programme, the Commission proposes continuing the activities in the youth field.

1.2. The need for a new phase

Since the adoption by the Commission in November 2001 of the White Paper "A new impetus for European youth", the development of cooperation in the youth field has really taken off.

The White Paper proposed, in particular, the establishment of an open method of coordination to foster the development of cooperation between the Member States with regard to the four priority themes: participation, information, voluntary activities and better knowledge of youth. The European Parliament, in its opinion of May 2002, supported the Commission's proposals.

The Council, which warmly welcomed the proposals in the White Paper, established a European cooperation framework in the field of youth in June 2002. In November 2003, the Council established common objectives for the participation and information of young people, which are also taken into account in the proposed programme.

Other Community policy developments that have inspired and legitimised the content of the proposal include:

* the conclusions of the Council of Ministers of May 2003, confirmed by those of May 2004, which called for the continuity of the current programme to be guaranteed, whilst preserving its specific nature and taking into account policy cooperation developments in this area

* the Laeken European Council, which called for young people to be brought closer to the European design and the European institutions

* the new Constitutional Treaty which introduces new dimensions into this field, in particular the participation of young people in democratic life and the setting up of a voluntary corps of young people in order to establish a framework for joint contributions from young Europeans to actions of solidarity of the European Union.

* the report from the European Parliament of February 2004, which calls on the Commission to create its own programme to follow the current programme, endowed with a budget allowing it to satisfy the growing needs in the area of youth policy

* the conclusions of the Council of June 2003 which, as a response to the Commission communication on the Wider Europe neighbourhood, mention as possible action lines for the EU the stepping up of cultural cooperation, mutual understanding and cooperation in the area of education and training.

All the above demonstrate that the programme should contribute to young people's active citizenship and feeling of belonging to Europe. It should also contribute to young people's education, in the broad sense, thus pursuing the objectives of the Lisbon process, and develop their sense of solidarity and mutual understanding, contributing to social cohesion in the Union and to peace.

1.3. The objectives of the new programme

The proposed objectives are the following:

- promoting young people's active citizenship in general and their European citizenship in particular

- developing young people's solidarity, in particular in order to reinforce social cohesion in the European Union

- fostering mutual understanding between peoples through young people

- contributing to developing the quality of support systems for youth activities and the capabilities of civil society organisations in the youth field

- promoting European cooperation in youth policy.

These objectives are consistent with the cooperation priorities in the field of youth and with recent developments in the area of citizenship.

2. Outcome of the public consultation with interested parties and of the impact assessment

The Commission's proposal was developed in accordance with the governance principle. The major players in the world of youth were able to submit their contributions on the future generation of the programme (the European Youth Forum, NGOs and youth workers, the YOUTH programme's National Agencies, etc.).

2.1. Public consultations

The joint public consultation in the fields of education, training and youth, launched by the Commission in December 2002, and the contributions coming directly from the YOUTH programme's beneficiaries showed that those working in the field of youth and the national administrations all agree on the need to:

1. Keep a specific programme for youth, with cross-overs with other areas that concern young people

2. Guarantee continuity with the YOUTH programme in terms of activities and access to the programme

3. Develop young people's European identity and active citizenship

4. Take into account the policy priorities established in the Commission White Paper on Youth

5. Support policy cooperation initiatives implemented under the open method of coordination

6. Contribute to the development of youth organisations and support youth workers

7. Open the programme up more to third countries and make its activities more visible

8. Contribute to the recognition of the programme activities and, more generally, the contribution of youth workers to the informal and non-formal education and training of young people

9. Suggest mechanisms that are simple and flexible, taking into account the target audience.

2.2. Interim evaluation of the programme

The Commission also took on board the results of the interim evaluation of the current YOUTH programme.

The evaluation report was drafted by the Commission on the basis of the impact studies presented by the participating countries and seminars organised by the Commission with the National Agencies, the beneficiaries and independent experts.

Its conclusions are useful and consistent. On the one hand, the Youth programme is very much appreciated. On the other hand, in the light of changing trends in the field of youth, policy cooperation in this field and the difficulties inherent in this type of programme, the evaluation included a number of recommendations:

1. Better tailor the programme to its audience, i.e. all young people, particularly those with less opportunities

2. Improve assistance for beneficiaries and projects, in all phases, through effective local measures

3. Simplify procedures and make them as flexible as possible, bearing in mind the target audience

4. Increase transparency and coherence in the implementation of the programme, particularly at decentralised level

5. Increase the quality of the work through project evaluation with feedback to the beneficiaries and recognition of the activities carried out

6. Develop voluntary activities in both qualitative and quantitative terms

7. Open up the programme more to third countries

8. Anticipate developments through the implementation of innovative projects and by carrying out the necessary studies

9. Give the programme and each of its actions more visibility and exploit the results obtained.

2.3. Ex-ante evaluation

The ex-ante evaluation report presents the results of the consultation to back up the proposal.

It underlines the need to respond to young people's needs at European level, from adolescence to adulthood, and to respond to the political calls made by the European institutions, in particular the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.

It shows how the proposal reflects recent developments in European-level policy cooperation in the field of youth and the implementation of the priorities established under the associated open method of coordination.

3. Legal Aspects of the Proposal

3.1. Legal basis

The proposed programme is based on Article 149 of the Treaty, which relates to education, training and youth, in particular paragraph 2 which states that the Community action shall be aimed at "encouraging the development of youth exchanges and of exchanges of socio-educational instructors".

3.2. Programme actions

The proposed programme has five actions:

"Youth for Europe" is mainly geared to reinforcing the active commitment of young people by supporting exchanges, mobility and initiatives for young people and their projects for participating in democratic life.

The "European Voluntary Service" is geared to developing young people's solidarity, active engagement and mutual understanding. It can take the form of either individual or collective projects to enable young people to express their personal commitments but also to involve them in the Union's solidarity actions. Furthermore, it also enables cooperation between voluntary civil services to be fostered.

"Youth of the world" contributes to developing young people's mutual understanding and active engagement through an open-minded approach to the world. It opens up the programme to projects with the neighbouring countries of the enlarged Europe and to cooperation in the youth field with other third countries.

"Youth workers and support systems" aims to develop the quality of support structures for young people. This action helps to support youth organisations active at European level, in particular the European Youth Forum. It promotes the development of exchange, training and information schemes for youth workers, projects to stimulate innovation and quality, partnerships with regional or local entities and measures to enhance and support the programme's structures.

"Support for policy cooperation" is aimed at promoting cooperation on youth policy, supporting structured dialogue between young people and those responsible for youth policy, cooperation with international organisations and measures aimed at gaining better knowledge of youth.

3.3. Subsidiarity and proportionality

The programme will act mainly where the Member States cannot operate effectively.

It complements national and regional action. The proposal suggests ways of contributing to it.

The European added value is directly linked to the nature of the action. Member States would not be able to organise individually youth exchanges across Europe or with partner countries, multilateral exchanges, a European voluntary service, the networking of projects, European training for youth workers or support for European youth NGOs.

The European added value is also demonstrated by a leverage effect with regard to national policies, by showing the way ahead (giving priority to young people with less opportunities, initiative projects, participative democracy projects, etc.) and by supporting policy cooperation (structured dialogue with young people, cooperation between the national civic services, research, etc.).

The programme's multiplier effect is considerable, as the beneficiaries gain a European outlook which they can then transmit to their peers.

The implementation of the programme in the field of youth will be accompanied by promotional measures in order to significantly increase the visibility of the Union's action in this area.

3.4. Choice of instrument

The Commission wants to simplify the design and implementation of Community instruments. In this context, several options were envisaged for the new programme.

The option of merging all the programmes associated with citizenship in a single framework programme was rejected as this would not represent a simplification. In fact, the various fields that come under citizenship, in particular culture and youth, are covered by different articles of the Treaty, are governed by specific decision-making and administrative rules and often target different audiences.

The idea of a merger with the education programmes was also considered. However, this option was rejected as activities in the field of education and training are directed mainly at education systems, whilst those in the field of youth target all young people and are implemented by much more flexible structures. Moreover, the fields of education and of youth evolve in different legislative and administrative environments.

The option which best meets the need for simplification and flexibility is the presentation of an autonomous programme in the field of youth allowing for cross-overs with other Community programmes.

3.5. Simplification

The future programme is simpler than the current situation. The new legal basis covers all the activities which are currently implemented through two different legal bases (the YOUTH programme and the Community action programme to promote bodies active at European level in the field of youth). The four existing budget headings are replaced by one.

Moreover, as the new programme has to facilitate cooperation in the field of youth, the general structure of the legal basis is open and provides for a flexibility clause so that the programme can be adapted to any new priorities that may emerge.

To a large extent, it will be managed decentrally. Centralised projects will be managed by an executive agency. These management methods are described in more detail in the financial statement.

In order to facilitate the administrative management of the programme, the proposal for a legal basis incorporates the derogations authorised by Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 and its implementing measures.

4. Budgetary implications

The cost of the programme for the period 2007-2013 is EUR 915 million (EUR 880.6 million for the programme activities and EUR 34.4 million for technical assistance).

5. Conclusion

The new legal basis includes all the main existing elements of the YOUTH programme 2000-06, adapting them to the recommendations in the interim evaluation, the public consultation and the innovations in the White Paper.

It is designed so that the programme can adapt to future policy guidelines in the field of youth.

2004/0152 (COD)

Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL Creating the "YOUTH IN ACTION" programme for the period 2007-2013

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community and in particular Article 149(4) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission [4],

[4] OJ C [...], [...], p. [...].

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee [5],

[5] OJ C [...], [...], p. [...].

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions [6],

[6] OJ C [...], [...], p. [...].

Acting in accordance with the procedure in Article 251 of the Treaty [7],

[7] OJ C [...], [...], p. [...].

Whereas:

(1) The Treaty establishes citizenship of the Union and provides that Community action in the field of education, vocational training and youth shall be aimed, primarily, at encouraging the development of youth exchanges, exchanges of socio-educational instructors and quality education.

(2) The Treaty on European Union is based on the principles of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the promotion of young people's active citizenship should contribute to the development of these values.

(3) Decision No 1031/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 April 2000 established the "Youth" Community action programme [8]. It is appropriate to pursue and strengthen cooperation and EU action in that field on the basis of the experience acquired from that programme.

[8] OJ L 117 of 18.5.2000, p. 1

(4) Decision No 790/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 established a programme of Community action to promote bodies active at European level in the field of youth [9].

[9] OJ L 138 of 30.4.2004, p. 24.

(5) The extraordinary European Council held in Lisbon on 23 and 24 March 2000 established a strategic objective for the Union including an active employment policy giving greater priority to lifelong learning, complemented by the sustainable development strategy of the Gothenburg European Council of 15 and 16 June 2001.

(6) The Laeken Declaration annexed to the conclusions of the European Council of 14 and 15 December 2001 asserts that one of the basic challenges to be resolved by the European Union is how to bring citizens, and primarily young people, closer to the European design and the European institutions.

(7) The Commission adopted a White Paper on "A new impetus for European youth" on 21 November 2001, which proposes a cooperation framework in the field of youth to focus on participation, information, voluntary activities and a greater understanding of young people. The European Parliament adopted these proposals in its opinion of 14 May 2002.

(8) The Resolution of the Council and of the representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council of 27 June 2002 [10] establishes, in particular, an open method of coordination covering the priorities, participation, information, voluntary activities among young people and greater understanding of youth; this should be taken into account in the implementation of this programme.

[10] OJ C 168 of 13.7.2002, p. 2.

(9) The Council, in its conclusions of 5 May 2003 [11], stresses the need to maintain and develop the existing Community instruments specifically addressed to young people, as they are essential for the development of Member States' cooperation in the field of youth, and, moreover, that the priorities and objectives of this programme should be aligned with the Framework of European Cooperation in the field of Youth.

[11] OJ C 115 13.5.2003, p. 1.

(10) The Community's action includes a contribution to high quality education and training and must seek to eliminate inequalities and promote equality between men and women, pursuant to Article 3 of the Treaty.

(11) The special needs of people with disabilities should be addressed.

(12) There is a need to promote active citizenship and to step up the fight against exclusion in all its forms, including racism and xenophobia.

(13) The candidate countries and those EFTA countries which are parties to the EEA Agreement are recognised as potential participants in Community programmes, in accordance with the agreements made with them.

(14) The Thessaloniki European Council of 19 and 20 June 2003 adopted the "Thessaloniki Agenda for the Western Balkans: moving towards European integration", which provides that Community programmes should be open to countries forming part of the Stabilisation and Association process, on the basis of framework agreements to be signed between the Community and these countries.

(15) Steps should be taken with a view to opening up the programme to Switzerland.

(16) The Barcelona Declaration adopted at the Euro-Mediterranean conference in 1995 states that youth exchanges should be the means to prepare future generations for closer cooperation between the Euro-Mediterranean partners.

(17) The Council, in its conclusions of 16 June 2003, on the basis of the Commission communication entitled "Wider Europe - Neighbourhood: A New Framework for Relations with our Eastern and Southern Neighbours", sets out as action lines for the EU the stepping up of cultural cooperation, mutual understanding and cooperation in the area of education and training with the neighbouring countries.

(18) The interim evaluation reports of the existing Youth programme and the public consultation on the future of Community activity in education, training and youth reveal a strong and in some respects growing need for continuing cooperation and mobility in the youth field at European level, and press for a simpler, more user-friendly and more flexible approach to implementing such action.

(19) The programme should be regularly monitored and evaluated in cooperation between the Commission and the Member States in order to allow for readjustments, particularly in the priorities for implementing the measures.

(20) It is necessary to provide sufficient flexibility in the formulation of the legal base for the programme to allow for appropriate adjustments in the actions to respond to changing needs during the period 2007 to 2013, and to avoid the excessively detailed provisions of previous programmes, so the Decision is deliberately limited to generic definitions of actions and their essential accompanying administrative and financial provisions.

(21) It is necessary to provide for specific arrangements for the application of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 [12] and its implementing measures, as well as for the derogations from these texts necessitated by the features of the beneficiaries and the nature of the actions.

[12] OJ L 248 of 16.9.2002, p. 1.

(22) Appropriate measures must be implemented to prevent irregularities and fraud and to recover funds lost or incorrectly paid or used.

(23) The Decision establishes a budget for the entire duration of the programme which is, for the budgetary authority, the principal point of reference, within the meaning of point 33 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure [13].

[13] OJ C 172 of 18.6.1999, p. 1.

(24) Given that the programme's objectives cannot be adequately achieved by the Member States acting individually since multilateral partnerships, transnational mobility measures and an exchange of information at European level are required, and that, therefore, because of the transnational and multilateral dimension of the programme's actions and measures, they can best be achieved at Community level, the Community may take measures in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity enshrined in Article 5 of the EC Treaty. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in the above-mentioned Article, the Decision does not exceed what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.

(25) The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission.

(26) Provisional measures to monitor actions started before 31 December 2006 should be adopted, pursuant to Decision No 1031/2000/EC and Decision No 790/2004/EC of 21 April 2004.

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

[Establishment of the programme]

1. This decision establishes the YOUTH IN ACTION programme of Community action, hereinafter referred to as "the programme", the aim of which is to develop cooperation in the field of youth in the European Union.

2. This programme shall start on 1 January 2007 and end on 31 December 2013.

Article 2

[General objectives of the programme]

1. The general objectives of the programme are:

a) to promote young people's active citizenship in general and their European citizenship in particular;

b) to develop solidarity among young people, in particular in order to reinforce social cohesion in the European Union;

c) to foster mutual understanding between peoples through youth;

d) to contribute to developing the quality of support systems for youth activities and the capabilities of civil society organisations in the youth field;

e) to promote European cooperation in youth policies.

2. The general objectives of the programme complement the objectives pursued in other areas of the European Union's action, in particular in the field of education and vocational training in the context of a Europe of knowledge and of lifelong learning as well in in the fields of culture and sport.

3. The general objectives of the programme shall contribute to the development of the Union's policies, in particular with regard to the recognition of cultural and multicultural diversity in Europe, to combating all discrimination based on sex, race or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, and with regard to sustainable development.

Article 3

[Specific aims of the programme]

The specific objectives are as follows:

1. In the context of the general objective to promote young people's active citizenship in general and their European citizenship in particular:

a) giving young people, and the organisations that represent them, the opportunity to take part in the development of society in general and the European Union in particular;

b) developing young people's sense of belonging to the European Union;

c) fostering the mobility of young people in Europe;

d) developing intercultural learning within the youth field;

e) promoting the fundamental values of the Union to young people;

f) encouraging initiative, enterprise and creativity;

g) facilitating participation in the programme by young people with the least opportunities;

h) ensuring that the principle of equality for men and women is respected in participation in the programme and that gender equality is fostered in the actions.

2. In the context of the general objective to develop solidarity among young people, in particular in order to reinforce social cohesion in the Union:a) giving young people the opportunity to express their personal commitment through voluntary activities at European and international level;

b) involving young people in the European Union's solidarity actions;

c) contributing to the cooperation between the civil and voluntary services involving young people at national level.

3. In the context of the general objective to foster mutual understanding between peoples through young people:

a) developing exchanges and intercultural dialogue between young Europeans and young people in the neighbouring countries;

b) contributing to the development in these countries of the quality of support structures for young people and of the role of youth workers;

c) developing with the other countries thematic cooperation projects involving young people and youth workers.

4. In the context of the general objective to contribute to developing the quality of support systems for youth activities and the capabilities of civil society organisations in the youth field:a) contributing to the networking of the organisations concerned;

b) developing the training of and collaboration between youth workers;

c) promoting innovation in the development of activities for young people;

d) contributing to the improvement of information for young people;

e) working for the recognition of young people's non-formal education.

5. In the context of the general objective to promote European cooperation in youth policies:

a) encouraging the exchange of good practices and cooperation between administrations and policymakers;

b) encouraging structured dialogue between policymakers and young people;

c) improving knowledge and understanding of youth.

Article 4

[Actions]

The specific and general objectives are pursued through the actions below, details of which can be found in the Annex.

1) Youth for Europe

The aim of this action is to support exchanges of young people in order to increase their mobility, to support youth initiatives and projects and activities concerning participation in democratic life, in order to develop young people's citizenship and mutual understanding.

2) European Voluntary Service

The aim of this action is to step up young people's participation in various forms of voluntary activities, both within and outside the European Union.

3) Youth of the World

The aim of this action is to support projects with the partner countries mentioned in Article 5 below, in particular exchanges of young people and youth workers, and to support initiatives that reinforce young people's mutual understanding, sense of solidarity and the development of cooperation in the field of youth and civil society in these countries.

4) Youth workers and support systems

The aim of this action is to support bodies active at European level in the field of youth, in particular the operation of youth NGOs, their networking, the exchange, training and networking of youth workers, encouraging innovation and quality, providing young people with information and developing the structures and activities needed for the programme to meet these goals.

5) Support for policy cooperation

The aim of this action is to organise dialogue between the various actors in the field of youth, in particular the young people themselves, youth workers and policymakers, to contribute to the development of policy cooperation in the youth field and to take the necessary steps and establish the networks necessary to better understand youth.

Article 5

[Participation in the programme]

1. The programme is open to the participation of the following countries, hereinafter known as the "participating countries":

a) the Member States;

b) the EFTA States that are party to the EEA Agreement, in accordance with the provisions of that Agreement;

c) Turkey and the candidate countries of central and eastern Europe benefiting from a pre-accession strategy, pursuant to the general principles and the general conditions and arrangements for the participation of these countries in Community programmes laid down in the framework agreement and the decisions of the Association Councils respectively;

d) the countries of the western Balkans, in accordance with the arrangements to be established with these countries following the framework agreements to be established for their participation in Community programmes;

e) Switzerland, subject to the conclusion of a bilateral agreement with that country.

2. The actions in points 2.1, 2.2 and 3 of the Annex are open to cooperation with countries that have signed association or cooperation agreements with the European Community, hereinafter known as "partner countries".

This cooperation shall be based, where relevant, on additional appropriations to be made available in accordance with procedures to be agreed with these partner countries.

Article 6

[Access to the programme]

1. The programme is intended for young people, groups of young people, youth workers, youth organisations and other partners working in the field of youth.

2. Without prejudice to the arrangements in the Annex for the implementation of actions, the programme is intended for young people aged between 13 and 30.

3. Beneficiaries must be legal residents of a country participating in the programme or, depending on the nature of the action, a partner country.

4. All young people, without discrimination, must be able to have access to the activities of the programme, subject to the provisions of the Annex. The Commission and the partner countries will ensure that particular efforts are made with regard to young people who, for educational, social, physical, psychological, economic, cultural or geographical reasons, have particular difficulties taking part in the programme.

5. The participating countries shall take appropriate measures to remove obstacles to the mobility of participants, so that the latter have access to health care, retain their social protection and are able to travel and reside in the host country. This applies in particular to the rights of entry, residence and free movement. Countries participating in the programme shall, if necessary, take appropriate measures to ensure that beneficiaries from third countries are admitted to their territory.

Article 7

[International cooperation]

The programme is also open to cooperation with international organisations with authority in the field of youth, in particular the Council of Europe.

Article 8

[Implementation of the programme]

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

2. The Commission and the participating countries shall take appropriate measures to develop structures at European, national and, if necessary, regional or local level to achieve the objectives of the programme and to derive the greatest benefit from the actions of the programme.

3. The Commission and the participating countries shall take appropriate measures in order to promote the recognition of non-formal and informal education for young people, in particular via the issue of a national or European-level document or certificate recognising, in particular, the experience gained by the beneficiaries and attesting to the direct participation of the young people or youth workers in an action under the programme.

4. The Commission and the participating countries shall protect the financial interests of the Union by taking effective, proportionate and dissuasive measures.

5. The Commission and the participating countries shall ensure that the actions supported under the programme are properly publicised.

6. The participating countries must:

a) take the necessary measures to ensure that the programme runs smoothly at their level, involving the parties concerned with the various aspects of youth in accordance with national practice;

b) create/appoint and monitor the national agencies in the implementation of the programme actions at national level, pursuant to Article 54(2)(c) of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002. The following criteria must be respected:

i) the body created or appointed as the national agency must have legal status (and be governed by the law of the participating country). It is not possible to appoint a ministry as the national agency;

ii) it must have sufficient staff with the appropriate professional and linguistic skills to work in an international cooperation environment;

iii) it must have an appropriate infrastructure available, in particular with regard to ICT equipment and means of communication;

iv) it must work in an administrative environment allowing it to implement its tasks properly and avoid any conflict of interests;

v) it must be able to apply the fund management rules and the contractual conditions laid down at Community level;

vi) it must have sufficient financial guarantees (preferably from a public authority) and an administrative capacity in line with the volume of Community funds that it will have to manage.

c) assume responsibility for the sound management by the national agencies referred to in b) above of the appropriations transferred to them to be awarded to projects. In particular, they are responsible for ensuring that the national agencies comply with the principles of transparency, equal treatment and non-cumulation vis-à-vis other Community funds, and for the obligation to recover any funds due from the beneficiaries;

d) take the necessary measures to audit and monitor the finances of the national agencies referred to in b) above, and in particular:

i) provide the Commission, before the national agency starts work, with the necessary assurances regarding the existence, relevance and operation in the national agency, in accordance with the rules of sound financial management, of suitable procedures, monitoring systems, accounting systems and procedures for the award of contracts and grants;

ii) assure the Commission, at the end of each financial year, of the reliability of the national agencies' financial systems and procedures and the accuracy of their accounts.

e) assume responsibility for any funds not recovered in the event of any irregularity, negligence or fraud on the part of the national agency referred to in b) above which leads the Commission to seek recovery of funds from the national agency.

7. As part of the procedure mentioned in Article 9(1), the Commission may draw up guidelines for each of the actions in the Annex in order to adapt the programme to any changes of priority in European cooperation in the field of youth.

Article 9

[Implementation measures]

1. The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision relating to the following matters are adopted in accordance with the management procedure referred to in Article 10(2):

a) the arrangements for the implementation of the programme, including the annual work plan;

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

c) with regard to the funding, the criteria (e.g. youth population, GDP and geographical distance between countries) applicable for establishing the 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 evaluating the programme;

e) the arrangements for certifying the participation of the young people concerned;

f) the arrangements for adapting the actions of the programme mentioned in Article 8(7).

2. The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision relating to all other matters shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 10(3).

Article 10

[Committee]

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

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply.

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, Articles 3 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the provisions of Article 8 thereof.

4. The committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.

Article 11

[Complementarity with other Community actions]

1. The Commission shall ensure the complementarity between this programme and other areas of Community action, especially education, vocational training, culture, sport, languages, social inclusion, gender equality, combating discrimination, research, enterprise and the Union's external action.

2. The programme may share resources with other Community instruments in order to implement actions meeting the objectives of both this programme and these instruments.

3. The Commission and the Member States of the European Union shall highlight the actions of the programme that contribute to the development of the objectives of other fields of Community action, such as education, training, culture and sport.

Article 12

[Complementarity with national policies and instruments]

1. The participating countries may be awarded a European label for national or regional actions similar to those in Article 4.

2. A participating country may make national funding available to beneficiaries to be managed in accordance with the rules of the programme and, to this end, use the decentralised structures of the programme, as long as it ensures the complementary pro rata funding of these structures.

Article 13

[General financial provisions]

1. The budget for the implementation of this programme for the period referred to in Article 1 is hereby set at EUR 915 million.

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

Article 14

[Financial provisions concerning the beneficiaries]

1. Pursuant to Article 114(1) of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 [14], natural persons may receive grants under the programme.

[14] OJ L 248, 16.09.2002, p.1.

2. Pursuant to Article 176(2) of Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 [15], the Commission may decide, depending on the characteristics of the beneficiaries and the nature of the actions, to exempt them from the verification of professional competences and qualifications for completing the action or work programme.

[15] OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 1.

3. Depending on the nature of the action, the financial support may take the form of subsidies or scholarships. The Commission may also award prizes for actions or projects implemented under the programme. Pursuant to Article 181 of Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002, and depending on the nature of the action, flat-rate financing and/or the application of scales of unit costs may be authorised.

4. Operating grants awarded under this programme to organisations active at European level, as defined in Article 162 of Commission Regulation No 2342/2002, are not automatically decreased in accordance with Article 113(2) of Council Regulation No 1605/2002 in the event of renewal.

5. Pursuant to Article 54(2)(c) of Regulation 1605/2002, the Commission may entrust tasks of public authority and, in particular, budget implementation tasks to the structures referred to in Article 8(2).

6. Pursuant to Article 38(1) of Regulation No 2342/2002, the option in paragraph 5 above also applies to structures in the participating countries that are not governed by the law of the Member States or States of the European Economic Area (EEA) or the candidate countries.

Article 15

[Monitoring and Evaluation]

1. The Commission shall ensure that this programme is regularly monitored. This monitoring shall include the reports referred to in paragraph 3 below and specific activities.

2. The Commission shall ensure the regular, independent, external evaluation of the programme.

3. Participating countries shall submit to the Commission a report on the implementation of the programme by 30 June 2010 at the latest and a report on the impact of the programme by 30 June 2015 at the latest.

4. The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions:

a) an interim evaluation report on the results obtained and the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the implementation of this programme no later than 31 March 2011;

b) a Communication on the continuation of this programme no later than 31 December 2011;

c) an ex post evaluation report no later than 31 March 2016.

Article 16

[Temporary provision]

Actions started before 31 December 2006 pursuant to Decision No 1031/2000/EC and Decision No 790/2004/EC of 21 April 2004 shall continue to be governed, until their completion, by these Decisions. The committee provided for in Article 8 of Decision No 1031/2000/EC shall be replaced by the one provided for in Article 10 of this Decision.

Article 17

[Entry into force]

This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply from 1 January 2007.

Done at Brussels,

For the European Parliament For the Council

The President The President

ANNEX

The actions implementing the general and specific objectives of the programme support small-scale projects promoting the active participation of young people.

The participation of young people in the programme is not subject to any specific prior experience or qualifications, except in certain cases specified in the actions.

The actions can be broken down into the following measures:

Action 1 - Youth for Europe

The objective of this action is to reinforce the active citizenship of young people and mutual understanding between them through the following measures.

1.1. Youth exchanges

Youth exchanges allow one or more groups of young people to be hosted by a group from another country in order to participate together in a joint programme of activities. They are available, in principle, to young people aged between 13 and 25.

These activities, based on transnational partnerships between the various actors in a project, involve the active participation of young people and are designed to allow them to discover and become aware of different social and cultural realities, to learn from each other and reinforce their feeling of being European citizens. The support focuses on multilateral group mobility activities.

Bilateral group exchanges are justified especially where it is their first European activity or the participants are small-scale or local groups without experience at European level. Exchanges for young people with less opportunities are also welcome, in order to step up their participation in the programme.

This measure also supports preparation activities, with the aim of reinforcing young people's active participation in the projects, in particular those activities intended to help the young people at a linguistic and intercultural level, as well as international meetings between young people wishing to debate subjects of importance for their future and the future of Europe.

1.2. Support for young people's initiatives

This measure supports projects where young people participate actively and directly in activities of their own devising in which they play the key roles, in order to develop their initiative, enterprise and creativity. In principle, it is for young people aged between 18 and 30, although certain initiatives may admit young people from the age of 16, as long as appropriate supervision is provided.

This measure supports group projects designed at local, regional and national level and the networking of similar projects in different countries, in order to strengthen their European aspect and to enhance cooperation and exchanges of experiences between young people.

Particular attention is paid to young people with less opportunities.

1.3. Participative democracy projects

This measure supports young people's participation in democratic life. These projects and activities encourage the active participation of young people in the life of their local, regional or national community.

It is open, in principle, to young people aged between 13 and 30.

These activities or projects are based on international partnerships, allowing the pooling, at European level, of ideas, experiences and good practices from projects or activities at local or regional level, in order to improve young people's participation at different levels. They may include organising consultation projects with young people to find out their needs and wishes, with a view to developing new approaches to their active participation in a democratic Europe.

Action 2 - European Voluntary Service

The aim of the Voluntary Service is to develop solidarity and promote active citizenship and mutual understanding among young people through the following measures.

2.1. European Voluntary Service (individual)

The young volunteer takes part in a non-profit-making unpaid activity to the benefit of the general public in a country other than his or her country of residence. The European Voluntary Service must not have an adverse effect on potential or existing paid employment or be seen as a substitute for it.

The service lasts for several months, and may last up to twelve months. In duly justified cases, in particular to facilitate the participation of young people with less opportunities, shorter periods may be allowed.

While, in principle, the measure is for young people aged between 18 and 30, certain activities may admit young people aged 16 and over, as long as appropriate supervision is provided.

The measure covers all or part of the volunteer's expenses, insurance, subsistence and travel, plus an additional allowance for young people with less opportunities where appropriate.

It also supports activities for the training of young volunteers, especially before their departure, and coordination activities for the various partners. It ensures the follow-up of initiatives based on experiences gained during European voluntary service.

The Member States and the Commission shall make sure that certain quality standards are respected: the voluntary work must include a non-formal education dimension demonstrated by pedagogical activities to prepare young people at a personal, intercultural and technical level, as well as ongoing personal support. Partnership between the various actors involved in the project and risk prevention are considered particularly important.

2.2. European voluntary service (groups)

This measure supports volunteer projects with the same characteristics as those described in point 2.1 above which allow groups of young people to take part collectively in European-level or international-level activities in the fields of culture, sport, civil protection, the environment, development aid, etc.

In principle, it is open to young people aged between 18 and 30.

Depending on the tasks to be implemented and the situation in which the volunteers are deployed, certain types of project may call for the selection of candidates with specific skills.

2.3. Cooperation between civil or volunteer services

This measure supports cooperation between national and international youth volunteer services. Reinforcing synergies and creating compatibility between the various forms of civil volunteer service at European and national level are two aspects which may be supported by the programme, in order to strengthen the European dimension.

Action 3 - Youth of the World

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.

3.1. Cooperation with the neighbouring countries of the enlarged Europe

This measure supports projects with the programme partner countries adjacent to the countries of the enlarged Europe [16].

[16] Without prejudice to future developments, the neighbouring countries considered are Belarus, Moldova, the Russian Federation and the Ukraine, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, Syria and Tunisia.

It supports youth exchanges, mainly multilateral ones, which allow several groups of young people from participating countries and neighbouring countries to meet and take part together in a programme of activities. It is available, in principle, to young people aged between 13 and 25. These activities, based on transnational partnerships between the various actors in a project, involve the prior training of supervisory staff and the active participation of young people, to allow them to discover and become aware of different social and cultural realities. Activities to enhance the participation of young people in the projects, particularly those intended to help them at a linguistic and intercultural level, may be eligible for funding.

As long as adequate national management structures are created in the neighbouring countries, individual or group initiatives at local, regional or national level in these countries can be supported where they are carried out in conjunction with similar initiatives in countries participating in the programme. These are activities designed by the young people themselves, in which they are the key players. In principle, the activity is for young people aged between 18 and 30, although certain initiatives may admit young people from age 16, as long as appropriate supervision is provided.

This measure supports activities designed to network and enhance the capacity of NGOs in the field of youth, recognising the important role that they can play in the development of civil society in the neighbouring countries. It covers the training of youth workers and exchanges of experience, expertise and good practices between them. It supports activities which may lead to the establishment of long-lasting, high quality projects and partnerships.

This measure also supports projects to stimulate innovation and quality, aiming at introducing, implementing and promoting innovative approaches in the youth field.

Financial support may be awarded to information activities for young people and youth workers.

This measure also supports activities promoting cooperation in the field of youth with the neighbouring countries, e.g. promoting cooperation and the exchange of ideas and good practices in the field of youth, as well as other promotion and dissemination measures regarding the results of the projects and activities supported in the countries concerned in the field of youth.

3.2. Cooperation with other countries

This measure supports cooperation activities in the field of youth, in particular the exchange of good practices with the other partner countries.

It encourages exchanges between and the training of youth workers and the development of partnerships and networks of youth organisations.

Multilateral exchanges of young people between these countries and the countries participating in the programme may be implemented on a thematic basis.

Funding is awarded to activities that demonstrate their potential multiplier effect.

In the context of cooperation with industrialised countries, this measure funds only European beneficiaries of projects.

Action 4 - Youth workers and support systems

The aim of this action is to develop the quality of youth support structures, to support the role of youth workers, to develop the quality of the programme and promote the civil participation of young people at European level by supporting bodies active at European level in the field of youth.

4.1. Support for bodies active at European level in the field of youth

This measure supports the operation of NGOs active at European level in the field of youth that pursue a goal of general European interest. Their activities must contribute to young people's participation in public life and society and the development and implementation of European cooperation activities in the field of youth in the broad sense.

To be eligible for an operating grant, a body must satisfy the following requirements:

- it must have been legally established for at least one year

- it must be non-profit-making

- it must be established in one of the participating countries, in accordance with Article 5(1), or in one of certain eastern European countries [17]

[17] Belarus, Moldova, Russian Federation, Ukraine.

- it must operate at European level, alone or in coordination with other associations, and its structure and activities must cover at least eight participating countries; it may be a European network representing bodies active in the field of youth

- its activities must be in accordance with the principles underlying the Community activity in the field of youth

- it may be a body whose activities are solely for the benefit of young people or a body with wider aims, some of the activities of which are for the benefit of young people

- it must involve the young people in managing the activities conducted for their benefit.

Beneficiaries are selected on the basis of calls for proposals. Multiannual partnership framework agreements may be concluded with the bodies selected. However, such framework agreements do not exclude the possibility of launching annual calls for proposals for additional beneficiaries.

The main activities of the youth organisations that are likely to contribute to the strengthening and effectiveness of Community action are:

- representing the views and interests of young people in their diversity at European level

- youth exchanges and voluntary services

- informal and non-formal learning and youth activity programmes

- promoting intercultural learning and understanding

- debates on European issues, the policies of the European Union or youth policies

- dissemination of information on Community action

- actions promoting young people's participation and initiative

Under this measure, the only costs to be taken into account in determining the operating grant are those necessary for the proper conduct of the normal activities of the body selected, in particular personnel costs, overheads (rental and property charges, equipment, office supplies, telecommunications, postal charges, etc.), costs of internal meetings, and publications, information and dissemination costs.

The grant is awarded with due respect for the body's independence in the selection of its members and its autonomy in the detailed definition of its activities.

At least 20% of the budgets of the bodies concerned must be covered by non-Community sources.

4.2. Support for the European Youth Forum

Grants may be awarded under this measure to support the ongoing activities of the European Youth Forum, an organisation pursuing a goal of general European interest, with due respect for the following principles:

- the Forum's independence in the selection of its members, ensuring the broadest possible representation of different kinds of youth organisations

- its autonomy in the detailed specification of its activities

- the broadest possible involvement in the European Youth Forum's activities of non-member youth organisations and young people who do not belong to organisations

- the active contribution by the European Youth Forum to the political processes relevant to youth at European level, in particular by responding to the European institutions when they consult civil society and explaining the positions adopted by these institutions to its members.

The eligible expenditure of the European Youth Forum comprises operating costs and expenses for carrying out its actions. In view of the need to ensure the continuity of the European Youth Forum, the programme resources shall be allocated in accordance with the following guideline: the annual resources allocated to the European Youth Forum shall not be less than EUR 2 million.

Grants may be awarded to the European Youth Forum upon receipt of an appropriate work plan and budget. Grants may be awarded on an annual basis or on a renewable basis within a framework partnership agreement with the Commission.

At least 20% of the Forum's budget must be covered by non-Community sources.

The main activities of the European Youth Forum are as follows:

- representing young people vis-à-vis the European Union

- coordinating the positions of its members vis-à-vis the European Union

- relaying information on youth vis-à-vis the European institutions

- relaying information from the European Union to the national youth councils and non-governmental organisations

- promoting and preparing the participation of young people in democratic life

- contributing to the new cooperation framework in the youth field established at the level of the European Union

- contributing to the development of youth policies, youth work and educational opportunities, and to relaying information concerning young people and developing representative structures for young people throughout Europe

- engaging in discussion and reflection on youth in Europe and in other parts of the world and on the European Union's action for young people.

4.3. Training and networking of youth workers

This measure supports the training of youth workers in this field, in particular youth workers, project leaders, youth advisers and supervisors in these projects. It also supports the exchange of experiences, expertise and good practices between these youth workers, as well as activities which may lead to the establishment of long-lasting, high quality projects and partnerships. Particular attention is to be paid to activities fostering the participation of those young people who find it most difficult to participate in Community actions.

4.4. Projects encouraging innovation and quality

This measure supports projects aimed at introducing, implementing and promoting innovative approaches in the youth field. These innovative aspects may relate to the content and objectives, in line with the development of the European co-operation framework in the youth field, the involvement of partners from different backgrounds or the dissemination of information.

4.5. Information activities for young people and youth workers

This measure supports information and communication targeting young people by improving their access to relevant information and communication services in order to increase their participation in public life and facilitate the realisation of their potential as active, responsible citizens. To this end, support is given to activities at European and national level which improve young people's access to information and communication services and increase the provision of quality information and the participation of young people in the preparation and dissemination of information.

This measure contributes in particular to the development of European, national, regional and local youth portals for the dissemination of specific information for young people through all kinds of information channels, particularly those most frequently used by young people. It can also support measures which promote the involvement by young people in the preparation and dissemination of understandable, user-friendly and targeted information products and advice, so as to improve the quality of the information and access for all young people.

4.6. Partnerships

This measure is for the funding of partnerships with regional or local bodies, in order to develop over the long term projects which combine various measures in the programme. The funding focuses on projects and coordination activities.

4.7 Support for the structures of the programme

This measure funds the structures provided for in Article 8(2), in particular the National Agencies. The funding may be provided in the form of an operating grant covering no more than 50% of the total eligible expenditure adopted in the agency's work programme. The measure also provides funding for assimilated bodies, such as the national coordinators, the resource centres, the EURODESK network, the Euro-Mediterranean Youth Platform and the associations of young European volunteers, acting as implementation bodies at national level, in full compliance with Article 54(2)(c) and (3) of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002. 4.8 Adding to the value of the programme

The Commission may organise seminars, colloquia or meetings to facilitate the implementation of the programme and undertake appropriate information, publication and dissemination actions as well as programme monitoring and evaluation. These activities may be financed by means of grants, purchased by means of procurement procedures or organised and funded directly by the Commission.

Action 5 - Support for policy cooperation

The aim of this action is to promote European cooperation in youth policy.

5.1 Meetings of young people and those responsible for youth policy

This measure supports policy cooperation and structured dialogue between young people and their organisations and those responsible for youth policy. The activities include, in particular, promoting cooperation and the exchange of ideas and good practices in the field of youth, conferences organised by the Presidencies of the Union and other measures to exploit and disseminate the results of the projects and the results of the European Union's activities in the field of youth.

5.2. Support for activities to bring about better understanding and knowledge of the field of youth

This measure supports specific projects for the identification of existing knowledge relating to the priorities for the field of youth established under the open method of coordination and projects intended to complement and update them or facilitate access to them.

It is also designed to support the development of methods for analysing and comparing the results of studies and guaranteeing their quality.

The programme may also support the networking of the various actors in the youth field.

5.3. Co-operation with international organisations;

This action can be used to support the European Union's cooperation with international organisations working in the youth field, in particular the Council of Europe, the United Nations or its specialised institutions.

6. MANAGEMENT OF THE PROGRAMME

The programme budget may also cover expenditure associated with the preparation, follow-up, monitoring, auditing and evaluation activities directly necessary for the management of the programme and the realisation of its objectives, in particular studies, meetings, information and publication activities, expenditure associated with the IT networks for the exchange of information and any other administrative and technical support expenditure on which the Commission may decide for the management of the programme.

7. CHECKS AND AUDITS

A system of spot checks has been created for projects selected in accordance with the procedure in Article 13(2) of this Decision.

Grant beneficiaries must keep for the Commission supporting documents for all expenditure for a period of five years from the date of the last payment. They must ensure that, where applicable, supporting documents in the possession of partners or members be made available to the Commission.

The Commission may have an audit of the use made of the grant carried out either directly by its own staff or by any other qualified outside body of its choice. These audits may be carried out throughout the lifetime of the contract and for a period of five years from the date of payment of the balance of the grant. Where appropriate, the audit findings may lead the Commission to seek recovery of sums paid.

Commission staff and outside persons authorised by the Commission must be granted appropriate access to the offices of the beneficiary and to all the information, including information in electronic format, needed in order to conduct such audits.

The Court of Auditors and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) shall enjoy the same rights, especially of access, as the Commission.

The Commission's decisions taken under Article 10, the contracts with the National Agencies, the agreements with the participating third countries and the associated contracts and agreements shall provide, in particular, for the Commission or its authorised representative, OLAF and the Court of Auditors to undertake inspections and financial audits, in situ if necessary. The National Agencies or, if necessary, the grant beneficiaries may be inspected.

The Commission may also undertake in situ inspections pursuant to Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2185/96.

For the Community actions referred to in this Decision, the term 'irregularity' referred to in Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 shall mean any infringement of a provision of Community law or any non-performance of a contractual obligation resulting from an act or omission by a party, which has, or would have, because of an unjustified item of expenditure, the effect of prejudicing the general budget of the European Union or budgets managed by it.

FICHE FINANCIÈRE LÉGISLATIVE

PROGRAMME "JEUNESSE EN ACTION"

Domaine(s) politique(s): EDUCATION CULTURE

Activité(s): JEUNESSE

Dénomination de l'action: Proposition de programme "JEUNESSE EN ACTION"

1. LIGNE(S) BUDGÉTAIRE(S) + INTITULÉ(S)

Ligne 15.07.02 JEUNESSE

Ligne 15.01.04.04 JEUNESSE dépenses d'appui

Ligne 15.01.04.30 Agence exécutive Education et Culture

2. DONNÉES CHIFFRÉES GLOBALES

2.1 Enveloppe totale de l'action : 915.000.000 euros

2.2 Période d'application: 2007-2013

2.3 Estimation globale pluriannuelle des dépenses:

a) Echéancier des crédits d'engagement / crédits de paiement (intervention financière) (cf. point 6.1.1)

Millions d'euros (à la 3e décimale)

>TABLE POSITION>

NB : cette programmation ne tient pas compte d'un éventuel financement des structures sur une période de deux ans.

b) Assistance technique et administrative (ATA) et dépenses d'appui (DDA) (cf. point 6.1.2)

>TABLE POSITION>

>TABLE POSITION>

c) Incidence financière globale des ressources humaines et autres dépenses de fonctionnement (cf. points 7.2 et 7.3)

>TABLE POSITION>

>TABLE POSITION>

2.4 Compatibilité avec la programmation financière et les perspectives financières

[X] Proposition compatible avec la communication de la Commission du 10 février 2004 « construire notre avenir commun - Défis politiques et moyens budgétaires de l'Union élargie - 2007-2013 ».

Cette proposition nécessite une reprogrammation de la rubrique concernée des perspectives financières,

y compris, le cas échéant, un recours aux dispositions de l'accord interinstitutionnel.

2.5 Incidence financière sur les recettes [18]

[18] Pour plus de précisions, voir la note explicative séparée.

[X] Aucune implication financière (concerne des aspects techniques relatifs à la mise en oeuvre d'une mesure).

OU

Incidence financière - L'effet sur les recettes est le suivant: NEANT

3. CARACTÉRISTIQUES BUDGÉTAIRES

>TABLE POSITION>

4. BASE LÉGALE

Article 149 du traité

5. DESCRIPTION ET JUSTIFICATION

5.1 Nécessité d'une intervention communautaire

5.1.1 Description des besoins

* Evolution de la jeunesse en Europe

Il y a 50 millions de jeunes entre 15 et 25 ans dans les 15 Etats membres, 60 millions si l'on compte les dix pays qui vont rejoindre l'Union en 2004 et 75 millions avec tous les pays candidats.

Le Livre Blanc a montré que, dans ses contours sociologiques, économiques et culturels, la jeunesse a fortement évolué sous l'effet des changements démographiques, mais aussi des modifications de l'environnement social, des comportements individuels et collectifs, des rapports familiaux et des conditions du marché du travail.

Les démographes observent que sous la pression des facteurs économiques et des facteurs socioculturels, les jeunes sont plus âgés quand ils franchissent certaines étapes de la vie: fin des études, accès à l'emploi, constitution d'une famille, etc. De plus les itinéraires de vie ne sont pas linéaires, les jeunes peuvent à la fois être étudiant, chargé de famille, travailleur, ou à la recherche d'un emploi, vivre chez les parents. Les allers et retours entre les différents statuts sont devenus de plus en plus fréquents.

En ce qui concerne l'implication des jeunes dans la vie publique, on constate que les jeunes s'investissent moins que par le passé dans les structures traditionnelles de l'action politique et sociale (partis, syndicats), leur participation aux consultations démocratiques est faible, ainsi que leur engagement dans des organisations de jeunesse. Cela ne signifie nullement que les jeunes se désintéressent de la vie publique. La plupart démontrent une volonté de participer et d'influencer les choix de société, mais selon des formes d'engagement plus individuel et plus ponctuel notamment en dehors du cadre participatif classique.

Il incombe aux autorités publiques de combler le fossé existant entre la volonté d'expression des jeunes et les modalités et structures offertes à cet effet par nos sociétés, sous peine d'alimenter le déficit citoyen. L'Europe a un rôle à jouer à la fois parce que certaines de ces modalités se situent d'emblée au niveau européen, comme les échanges de jeunes ou d'animateurs socio-éducatifs, mais également parce que le cadre européen peut s'avérer optimum pour l'expérimentation et l'échange de bonnes pratiques dans ce domaine.

Les jeunes expriment également des doutes sur les institutions internationales qui leur semblent difficilement accessibles et peu à l'écoute de leurs préoccupations. Ce rapport pour le moins contrasté entre les jeunes et la mondialisation est un signe de malaise et ne peut être ignoré.

En ce qui concerne plus précisément l'intégration européenne, l'Europe constitue pour les jeunes un espace de liberté où ils peuvent vivre, travailler, étudier ou voyager. Cependant les institutions qui gèrent l'Union européenne sont pour nombre de jeunes considérées comme lointaines. Dans la poursuite du projet communautaire et notamment dans la perspective de l'élargissement et du rapprochement avec les pays voisins, beaucoup dépend de l'adhésion des jeunes générations au projet européen.

Finalement, les jeunes européens vivent dans des sociétés ouvertes aux influences culturelles et économiques extérieures. La lutte contre les discriminations, en particulier contre le racisme et la xénophobie, l'attachement au caractère multiculturel de nos sociétés, les questions liées à l'immigration et au dialogue interculturel trouvent au sein de la jeunesse un terrain particulièrement propice, capable de la mobiliser.

* Enjeu politique

L'ensemble des défis décrits ci-dessus représentent un enjeu très vaste et s'inscrivent dans les priorités actuelles de la Commission : la citoyenneté, la croissance et la paix.

En matière de citoyenneté, il convient de créer les conditions pour que les jeunes européens puissent davantage s'affirmer comme citoyens solidaires, responsables, actifs et tolérants dans une société plurielle. L'implication accrue des jeunes à la vie de la communauté locale, régionale, nationale et européenne et l'émergence d'une citoyenneté active constituent des enjeux majeurs, pour le présent, mais également pour le futur de nos sociétés. Ces défis sont des défis qui sont communs aux Etats membres. A ceci s'ajoute la nécessité de développer auprès des jeunes leur conscience d'appartenir à l'Europe, leur adhésion aux valeurs prônées par l'Union et leur citoyenneté européenne.

Mais il convient également de répondre aux aspirations des jeunes en leur donnant la possibilité de renforcer leur éducation et leur formation, sur un plan moins formel que ce qui est réalisé dans les systèmes éducatifs académiques ou dans le cadre de la formation professionnelle. Ces activités d'éducation non formelle méritent d'être soutenues et reconnues au niveau européen car elles contribuent, pour leur part, au processus de Lisbonne et, à leur manière, à la croissance en Europe.

Enfin la volonté des jeunes de construire de nouvelles relations entre jeunes Européens et jeunes du monde entier, leur souci de compréhension mutuelle, d'esprit de tolérance et d'ouverture est le meilleur atout pour la paix dans le monde. Pour ne prendre que l'exemple des relations euro-méditerranéennes, le rapport des sages [19] remis à la Commission établit que la jeunesse a une importance fondamentale pour le succès du dialogue entre les Peuples et les Cultures dans cette région d'autant plus que 50% de la population dans les pays arabes a moins de 20 ans. Le « dialogue rénové » dont parle ce rapport est en ligne avec les priorités du domaine de la jeunesse qui sont développées dans le cadre du partenariat euro-méditerranéen. En outre le rapport des sages préconise un renforcement du volontariat en « incitant la jeunesse des deux rives à un "engagement civil commun au service de la région euro-méditerranéenne".

[19] Rapport du Groupe des Sages créé à l'initiative du Président de la Commission « Le Dialogue entre les Peuples et les Cultures dans l'Espace euro-méditerranéen » http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/ index_fr.htm

* Réponse aux défis

La méthode ouverte de coordination dans le domaine de la jeunesse est la procédure politique qui a été adoptée pour trouver en commun des réponses à ces défis et le nouveau programme européen pour la jeunesse doit accompagner et soutenir cette démarche politique.

Dans ce contexte, il y a lieu d'intervenir à deux niveaux:

- Les jeunes

Les jeunes sont les premiers acteurs du programme. Celui-ci doit permettre aux jeunes, aux groupes de jeunes ou aux organisations de jeunes de mettre en oeuvre notamment, à leur initiative, des projets d'échanges, de mobilité, de solidarité, ou de participation. Ces activités favorisent la prise de conscience européenne chez les jeunes ainsi que leur inclusion sociale dans le monde adulte.

L'aspect le plus marquant du programme est son universalité en ce sens qu'il est le seul programme européen a être accessible à tous les jeunes et notamment les jeunes avec le moins d'opportunités, car ce programme est mis en oeuvre en dehors du cadre scolaire.

Le programme est ouvert aux jeunes de 13 à 30 ans. L'élargissement de la tranche d'âge par rapport au programme actuel (15-25 ans) se justifie par le fait que, d'une part les jeunes adolescents atteignent plus tôt la maturité que leurs aînés et d'autre part, les jeunes sont plus âgés quand ils franchissent les étapes de la vie qui les conduisent à l'autonomie.

La participation active des jeunes, leurs expériences, leur éducation informelle et non-formelle ainsi que leur employabilité sont des éléments qui ont un impact positif et contribuent aux objectifs des politiques de la famille, de l'éducation et de l'emploi, de l'égalité des genres et de l'inclusion sociale.

Afin de répondre à la demande des jeunes qui veulent se rendre utiles dans un souci de solidarité et afin d'accroître leur sentiment d'appartenance à une communauté de valeurs qu'est l'Europe, le Service Volontaire Européen sera étendu afin de mettre à disposition de l'Union une force d'intervention en soutien des actions de solidarité de l'Union, internes ou externes.

- Les systèmes qui soutiennent les activités des jeunes

Il ne serait pas réaliste de couvrir l'ensemble des besoins de tous les jeunes Européens, ce qui ne serait d'ailleurs pas conforme à l'esprit de subsidiarité de ce programme et à la nécessité de se concentrer sur les actions avec une valeur ajoutée européenne.

C'est pourquoi, par souci d'efficience, le programme propose également de soutenir les activités d'autres acteurs du domaine de la jeunesse et en premier lieu les animateurs socio-éducatifs, le Forum européen de la Jeunesse [20], les organisations non gouvernementales de jeunesse actives au niveau européen et les Agences Nationales du programme. Ceux-ci forment les bases sur lesquelles s'appuient les jeunes pour établir leurs projets et par lesquelles les projets sont mis en oeuvre. Le programme prévoit donc les moyens pour permettre le développement de ces éléments structurants qui ont un important effet multiplicateur.

[20] Le Forum européen de la Jeunesse est une organisation internationale composée de conseils nationaux de jeunesse et organisations internationales non-gouvernementales de jeunesse représentant les intérêts des jeunes de l'ensemble de l'Europe. Il s'agit de la seule plate-forme en Europe qui représente les organisations de jeunesse auprès de l'Union européenne.

Une autre proposition qui vise l'efficience par un effet structurant et multiplicateur est le soutien à la coopération des politiques nationales de jeunesse. Le programme peut ainsi être utilisé comme levier vis-à-vis de ces politiques, dans le respect de la subsidiarité.

Le programme est ouvert aux Etats membres de l'UE, aux pays candidats, aux pays de l'AELE membres de l'EEE, ainsi qu'à la Confédération Helvétique, et aux pays des Balkans occidentaux. Des projets peuvent également être réalisés en partenariat avec d'autres pays, en premier lieu avec les pays concernés par la Communication de la Commission "l'Europe élargie - voisinage: un nouveau cadre pour les relations avec nos voisins de l'Est et du Sud" [21].

[21] COM (2003) 104 final du 11.3.2003

5.1.2 Objectifs du programme

Dans ce contexte, les objectifs généraux du programme sont:

a) Promouvoir la citoyenneté active des jeunes, en général, et leur citoyenneté européenne en particulier;

b) Développer la solidarité des jeunes, notamment afin de renforcer la cohésion sociale de l'Union européenne;

c) Favoriser la compréhension mutuelle des peuples à travers les jeunes;

d) Contribuer au développement de systèmes de qualité en soutien aux activités des jeunes et à celui de la capacité des organisations de la société civile dans le domaine de la jeunesse;

e) Favoriser la coopération européenne en matière de politiques de jeunesse.

Les objectifs proposés dans le programme sont cohérents, d'une part avec les priorités en matière de coopération dans le domaine de la jeunesse, d'autre part avec les développements récents en matière de citoyenneté. Ceux-ci assurent également la continuité du programme "JEUNESSE" actuel, ainsi que du programme d'action communautaire pour la promotion des organismes actifs au niveau européen dans le domaine de la jeunesse (ONG de jeunesse) qui vient d'être adopté prochainement par le Conseil et le Parlement européen.

5.1.3 Valeur ajoutée européenne

Bien que le programme ne soit pas le seul instrument qui touche les jeunes et que celui-ci soit complémentaire d'instruments au niveau national et européen, sa valeur ajoutée est néanmoins importante, compte tenu de la spécificité de ses objectifs.

L'évaluation intermédiaire du programme JEUNESSE 2000-2006 a mis en évidence que la plupart des projets financés n'auraient jamais eu une dimension européenne sans un appui européen. Le programme est dans certains Etats membres complémentaire d'actions nationales ou régionales, lorsqu'il n'est pas tout simplement la seule activité structurée en faveur de la jeunesse en attendant que des actions se mettent en place au niveau des autorités nationales.

L'évaluation intermédiaire met également en valeur l'impact du programme sur les politiques des administrations publiques nationales qui tendent à s'orienter vers les priorités du programme.

En ce qui concerne les projets qui visent les jeunes et les animateurs socio-éducatifs directement, la valeur ajoutée européenne est souvent directement liée à la nature de l'action : mobilité des jeunes à travers l'Europe ou avec des pays partenaires, service volontaire européen, mise en réseau de projets, formation européenne d'animateurs socio-éducatifs, soutien aux ONG de jeunesse qui poursuivent des objectifs d'intérêt général européen. Les Etats membres ne seraient tout simplement pas en mesure d'organiser individuellement de telles actions.

La valeur ajoutée européenne se traduit également par un effet de levier vis-à-vis des politiques nationales, soit en montrant la voie à suivre (priorité aux jeunes avec moins d'opportunités, projets d'initiative locale, projets de démocratie participative), soit en stimulant l'innovation, la recherche et la coopération.

L'effet multiplicateur du programme peut être considéré comme important car aujourd'hui les activités liées à la jeunesse cherchent de façon plus systématique à acquérir une dimension transnationale.

Afin de favoriser les synergies avec d'autres interventions, le programme prévoit la mise en oeuvre de systèmes de labelisation avec des actions similaires réalisés dans les pays participants au programme, ainsi qui la mise en valeur des actions du programme qui contribuent au développement d'autres politiques dans les domaines notamment de l'éducation, de la formation, de la culture et du sport.

La mise en oeuvre d'un programme européen dans le domaine de la jeunesse est un élément essentiel pour contribuer à l'émergence chez les tous les jeunes d'une citoyenneté européenne.

5.1.4 Dispositions prises relevant de l'évaluation ex ante

a) Evaluation ex-ante

Un rapport d'évaluation ex-ante accompagne le projet de base légal pour le programme. Ce rapport a été préparé par les services de la Commission. Le rapport d'évaluation ex-ante prend en compte les contributions résultant de la consultation de la société civile:

- Le rapport de la consultation publique

- La position du Forum européen de la Jeunesse

- L'avis des agences nationales du programme actuel

- Les travaux du groupe de travail sur les nouveaux instruments

- Les résultants d'un séminaire des chercheurs sur les nouveaux instruments

Le rapport d'évaluation ex-ante prend également en compte les enseignements apportés par l'évaluation intermédiaire du programme JEUNESSE qui s'est basée notamment sur:

- les études d'impacts des actions 1, 2, 3 et 5, élaborées sous la responsabilité des autorités nationales par des experts externes ou avec le support des Agences nationales ont suivi le guide méthodologique proposé par la Commission (v. 5.1.3).

- Une série de séminaires qui ont permis notamment "l'évaluation des procédures" du programme JEUNESSE et l'évaluation des actions 3 et 5, et des actions des pays tiers

- Une évaluation externe du partenariat entre le Conseil de l'Europe et la Commission en matière de formation dans le domaine de la jeunesse

- Une évaluation externe des actions avec les pays tiers

Finalement ce rapport prend également en compte les derniers développements politiques dans le domaine de la jeunesse, en particulier:

- les conclusions du Conseil du mai 2003 concernant la nouvelle génération de programme pour la jeunesse, confirmées par le Conseil de mai 2004

- Les conclusions de la Conférence européenne sur le service civique et la jeunesse qui s'est tenue à Rome sous présidence italienne en novembre 2003

- Le rapport des sages sur les relations euro-méditerranéennes de novembre 2003

b) constatations et enseignements tirés de l'évaluation ex ante

Les principaux éléments avancés par l'évaluation ex-ante sont:

1. Préserver un programme spécifique au domaine de la jeunesse avec des passerelles avec les autres domaines qui concernent les jeunes.

2. Garantir la continuité avec le programme JEUNESSE en termes d'actions (échanges de jeunes, Service volontaire Européen, projets d'initiatives et mesures de soutien) et d'accès au programme (ouverture à tous les jeunes, en particulier à ceux avec le moins d'opportunités, soutient à des projets organisés par des ONG et les organisations locales qui s'occupent des jeunes sur le terrain, dans une approche décentralisée)

3. Développer l'identité européenne des jeunes et leur citoyenneté active dans la société.

4. Prendre en compte les priorités politiques définies dans le Livre Blanc de la Commission sur la jeunesse, en développant les projets de participation démocratique, en améliorant l'information des jeunes, en étendant les possibilités de volontariat en en soutenant les actions nécessaires à une meilleure connaissance du domaine de la jeunesse.

5. Soutenir les initiatives prises dans le cadre de la coopération politique mise en oeuvre par la méthode ouverte de coordination (échanges de bonnes pratiques, complémentarités...).

6. Contribuer au développement des organisations de jeunesse et soutenir le travail des animateurs de jeunesse.

7. Ouvrir davantage le programme vers les pays tiers et donner à ces activités plus de visibilité.

8. Contribuer à la reconnaissance des activités du programme et plus généralement du travail des animateurs de jeunesse qui contribuent à l'éducation et à l'apprentissage informels et non formels des jeunes.

9. Proposer des mécanismes qui soient simples et flexibles compte tenu du public cible visé.

5.1.5 Dispositions prises à la suite de l'évaluation intermédiaire du programme actuel

L'évaluation intermédiaire du programme JEUNESSE permet de dégager les recommandations suivantes:

1. Cibler encore mieux le programme sur son public cible, à savoir les jeunes de toutes conditions, en particulier ceux avec moins d'opportunités.

2. Améliorer l'assistance aux bénéficiaires et aux projets, dans toutes les phases, par des mesures de proximité et de qualité.

3. Simplifier les procédures et les rendre aussi flexibles que possible compte tenu du public visé.

4. Renforcer la transparence et la cohérence dans la mise en oeuvre du programme, notamment au niveau décentralisé.

5. Augmenter la qualité du travail par une évaluation des projets avec un retour d'information auprès des bénéficiaires et une reconnaissance des activités réalisées.

6. Développer les activités de volontariat tant sur le plan qualitatif que sur le plan quantitatif.

7. Ouvrir davantage le programme sur les pays tiers.

8. Anticiper les évolutions par la mise en oeuvre de projets innovants et la réalisation des études nécessaires.

9. Donner une visibilité au programme et à chacune de ses actions et valoriser les résultats obtenus.

5.2 Actions envisagées et modalités de l'intervention budgétaire

5.2.1 Actions du programme

Les objectifs du programme sont soutenus par cinq actions opérationnelles

- Jeunesse pour l'Europe

Cette action vise à soutenir les échanges de jeunes, leurs initiatives, leur participation à la vie démocratique et toute activité permettant de développer leur citoyenneté et la compréhension mutuelle entre les jeunes. La population type est représentée par les jeunes de 13 à 30 ans.

- Le Service Volontaire Européen

Cette action vise à renforcer la participation des jeunes à différentes formes d'activités de volontariat, à l'intérieur et en dehors de l'Union européenne. Cette action concerne les jeunes de 18 à 30 ans.

- Jeunesse pour le monde

Cette action vise à soutenir des projets avec les pays partenaires du programme, notamment l'échange de jeunes et d'animateurs socio-éducatifs, le soutien aux initiatives qui renforcent la compréhension mutuelle des jeunes et leur sens de la solidarité ainsi que le développement de la coopération dans le domaine de la jeunesse et de la société civile dans ces pays. Cette action concerne les jeunes de 13 à 30 ans et les animateurs socio-éducatifs.

- Animateurs socio-éducatifs et systèmes d'appui

Cette action a pour objet d'assurer le soutien aux organismes actifs au niveau européen dans le domaine de la jeunesse, notamment les organisations non gouvernementales de jeunesse, leur mise en réseau, l'échange, la formation et la mise en réseau des animateurs socio-éducatifs, la stimulation de l'innovation et de la qualité des actions menées dans le domaine de la jeunesse, l'information des jeunes et la mise en place des structures et activités nécessaires au programme pour atteindre ses objectifs. Cette action concerne des milliers d'organisations de jeunes et d'animateurs socio-éducatifs.

- Soutien à la coopération politique

Cette action permet d'organiser le dialogue entre les différents acteurs du monde de la jeunesse, en particulier les jeunes, les animateurs socio-éducatifs et les responsables politiques, de contribuer au développement de la coopération politique dans le domaine de la jeunesse et d'effectuer les travaux et les mises en réseau nécessaires à une meilleure connaissance du domaine de la jeunesse.

5.2.2 Caractéristiques des actions

- Le programme est ouvert aux jeunes entre 13 et 30 ans

Cette proposition est la conséquence de l'analyse du Livre Blanc et de l'évaluation du programme actuel par les Etats membres. Les jeunes sont prêts à participer à des projets plus tôt que précédemment et ils accèdent à l'autonomie plus tard. Il est néanmoins proposé que l'âge de participation au programme soit modulé en fonction de la nature des activités.

- Le programme intègre le soutien aux ONG européennes de jeunesse

La Commission a proposé une base légale pour ce soutien aux ONG pour la période 2004 - 2006. Au delà, ce soutien fait partie intégrante de l'objectif visant à promouvoir la citoyenneté active des jeunes en général, et leur citoyenneté européenne en particulier. Il doit donc être intégré au nouveau programme proposé.

- Le programme est ouvert aux pays qui ont vocation à rejoindre un jour ou l'autre l'Union européenne ainsi qu'aux pays membre de l'AELE.

Cette proposition est dans le droit fil du programme actuel. Elle est appliquée aux pays actuellement candidats à l'adhésion, aux Balkans occidentaux, aux Etats de l'AELE membres de l'EEE et à la Suisse.

- Une action particulière est créée pour les actions avec les pays tiers, appelés pays partenaires du programme

Le programme actuel autorise des actions avec les pays tiers, mais leur offre peu de visibilité du fait de leur éparpillement. La création de l'action « Jeunesse pour le monde » permettra d'augmenter cette visibilité.

- Cette action prévoit deux niveaux de coopération, l'un avec les pays voisins de l'Europe, l'autre avec le reste du monde

Avec les pays voisins de l'Europe, le programme propose de pouvoir faire le même type d'activités que celles réalisées au sein de l'Union, à quelques exceptions près liées à leur faisabilité dans ces pays. Pour le reste du monde, les mesures sont beaucoup plus ciblées (échanges de bonnes pratiques, d'animateurs socio-éducatifs, de jeunes mais dans des conditions limitées) sous peine de transformer le programme en un programme mondial difficile à gérer.

- La base légale ouvre la possibilité au soutien à des structures régionales et locales pour aider les jeunes dans leur projet

La gestion centralisée indirecte via des agences nationales dans chaque pays participant au programme est confirmée. Dans certains pays, il convient cependant de prévoir des relais locaux ou régionaux pour l'information et le support des jeunes dans la mise en oeuvre de leurs projets.

- La Commission pourra, après avis du comité et donc du Parlement européen, adapter les mesures prévues au sein de chaque action.

La base légale proposée couvre jusqu'en 2013. Le programme doit être au service du processus politique initié suite au Livre Blanc. Le programme doit donc pouvoir s'adapter de manière flexible aux priorités qui résulteront, durant la prochaine décennie, de ce processus politique.

- Le programme pourra établir des passerelles avec d'autres instruments communautaires

Le domaine de la jeunesse est complémentaire avec d'autres domaines, en particulier l'éducation, la formation professionnelle, la culture, le sport, l'inclusion sociale, la lutte contre les discriminations, la recherche, l'action extérieure de l'Union. Le programme pourra, établir des actions avec d'autres programmes pour établir des passerelles avec ces domaines. La mise en commun éventuelle de moyens financiers ne pourra se faire qu'en accord avec les bases légales respectives de chaque instrument et leurs autorités décisionnelles en matière de budget.

- Les pays participant au programme pourront financer eux-mêmes des projets similaires à ceux du programme qui recevront un label européen, et des partenariats pourront être signés avec certaines entités comme les régions, avec un cofinancement de leur part

Ces mesures visent l'efficience du programme et son effet multiplicateur. Il s'agit de mobiliser les énergies et les fonds pour démultiplier l'action du programme, dans le respect des compétences et des règles propres à chaque partenaire.

- Le programme, dans le respect du Règlement financier doit tenir compte de l'environnement spécifique auquel il s'adresse

- il n'est pas basé sur un système institutionnalisé

- les acteurs proviennent de la société civile, des ONG ou encore d'initiatives locales

- les jeunes eux-mêmes créent leurs activités

- tous les jeunes peuvent participer

- les projets sont basés sur l'initiative individuelle et volontaire

- les projets sont réalisés dans les communautés locales mais en dehors du cadre scolaire

- moindre capacité financière et capacité de planification à long terme de la part des bénéficiaires

En conséquence, la proposition de programme utilise à chaque fois que possible et que nécessaire les flexibilités offertes par le nouveau règlement financier.

5.2.3 Objectifs spécifiques du programme

OBJECTIFS SPECIFIQUES // INDICATEURS

1. Promouvoir la citoyenneté active des jeunes, en général, et leur citoyenneté européenne en particulier //

- en donnant la possibilité aux jeunes et à leurs organisations de représentation de participer au développement de la société en général et de l'Union européenne en particulier; // - qualité des plans de travail des ONG

- nombre des ONG ayant plus de 8 partenaires en Europe

- en développant auprès des jeunes le sentiment d'appartenance à l'Union européenne; // - niveau d'adhésion à l'Europe des jeunes ayant participé au programme

- en développant la mobilité des jeunes en Europe; // - niveau de mobilité des jeunes ayant participé au programme

- en développant l'apprentissage interculturel au sein de la jeunesse; // A propos des jeunes ayant participé au programme:

- attitudes modifiées concernant les jeunes d'autres cultures

- en assurant la promotion des valeurs fondamentales de l'Union auprès des jeunes; // - nombre de projets intégrant les thèmes de paix, liberté, égalité des genres, démocratie, droit de l'homme, tolérance

- en encourageant l'esprit d'initiative, d'entreprise et de créativité; // - nombre de projets qui implique directement les jeunes dans leur réalisation (et impact sur le développement personnel)

- nombre d'initiatives ayant favorisé l'employabilité des jeunes

- nombre de projets qui se pérennisent

- en veillant à la participation au programme des jeunes qui ont le moins d'opportunités; // - nombre de jeunes moins favorisés participant au programme

- type de compétences acquises

- en veillant au respect de l'égalité entre les femmes et les hommes dans participation au programme. // - [break-down by gender of actions beneficiaries]

2. Développer la solidarité des jeunes notamment afin de renforcer la cohésion sociale de l'Union //

- en donnant la possibilité aux jeunes d'exprimer leurs engagements personnels par des activités de volontariat au niveau européen et international; // - progrès dans le développement personnel du jeune

- taux de satisfaction parmi les jeunes ayant effectué un SVE, vis à vis de la qualité de l'engagement qu'ils ont pu concrétiser.

- en associant les jeunes aux actions de solidarité de l'Union européenne; // - nombre d'actions de solidarités

- contribution à la réussite de l'intervention

- en contribuant à la coopération entre les services civils et volontaires impliquant des jeunes au niveau national. // - niveau d'intensité de la coopération

3. Favoriser la compréhension mutuelle des peuples à travers les jeunes //

- en développant entre les jeunes de l'Union européenne et les jeunes des pays voisins, des échanges et le dialogue interculturel; // A propos des jeunes ayant participé au programme:

- attitudes modifiées concernant les jeunes d'autres cultures

- en contribuant à développer dans ces pays, la qualité des structures en appui aux jeunes et du travail des animateurs socio-éducatifs. // - Niveau de qualité des structures (ONG, coordinateurs,...) travaillant dans le programme

- en développant avec les autres pays des coopérations thématiques impliquant les jeunes et les animateurs sociaux-éducatifs. // - niveau d'intensité de la coopération

- niveau d'effet multiplicateur

4. Contribuer au développement de systèmes de qualité en soutien aux activités des jeunes et de la capacité