221286 Official]ournal of the European Communities ^oC^28^ 
Opinionon theproposalfor aCouncilDecision adoptingan actionprogrammefor the 
promotion of vouth exchanges in the Community— VES for Europe— 1^8^ to 1^89^ 
^86BC^28^ 
On 24 Marchl986 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee on 
the abo^ementioned proposal 
The section for Social Questions,which was responsible for preparing the Committee'swork 
on the subject, adopted its opinion on l^]u!^1986 in the light of the report h^ Mr Schwar^ 
At its 2^9th plenary session ^meeting of 1^ September 1986^, the Economic and Social 
Committee adopted the following opinion unanimously 
1, General comments 
1BL The Committee welcomes the action pro 
gramme for the promotion of ^outhe^changesinthe 
Community — ^es for Europe — 198B^tol989 under 
consideration in the light of the^^o^Adonino Com 
mitteeR-eportona ^eople'sEurope' adoptedb^ the 
Council of Milan, ]une 198^ and the subsequent 
Comett and Erasmus proposals. The latter together 
withongoingvoung workers'e^changeprogrammes 
and ^ES for Europe will complete the spectrum of 
provision for all ^oung people within the Community, 
L2, fhe Committee recognises theproposed aims 
and ob^ectnBes of ^ES for Europe as consistent with 
existing policies of the Communit^s^eople'sEurope', 
preparation for adult andworkinglife'/lOeclaration 
ofEuropeanUnion'^r^, in that the^ reinforce the twin 
pillars of the informal learning processes and encourage 
growing empathy andawareness amongst ^oung people 
across Member States, 
1,^, The Committee supports the following ke^ 
elements, presented in the^ES for Europe proposal 
— animpro^ementinqualit^andquantit^of ^outh 
exchanges within the Community for an initial 
three^ear phase, 198^ to 1989, 
— a target group embracing all ^oung people between 
16and2^earsofage, 
— a programme in^ol^ing bilateral, multilateral, 
reciprocal and^orone^wa^ exchanges fromamini 
mum of 1 to ^ weeks to a maximum of several 
months, 
and 
— structured learning experiences involving planning, 
preparation and evaluation, in order to gain under 
standing at first handof the economic, social and 
cultural life of other Member States through direct 
contact with the local community in the host 
country 
^oi^De^,^,^m^^D^ 1,4, The Committee urges the Commission to 
encourage local initiative in developing these cross^ 
frontier exchange programmes through ^outh clubs, 
^outh associations, ^outh movements and other rel 
e^ant organisations. 
Leo, In this connection, the establishment of national 
agencies ought to assure access to all relevant inform 
mation and opportunities and stimulate local responses^ 
and so,inasense,the agencies should act as^honest 
brokers'within the initiative. 
1,6, it is essential, in the light of existing exchange 
programmes variable as the^ are in nature and distri 
bution^,that^ES for Europe should not be seen as an 
alternative vehicle or substitute but rather as a new 
andadditionalelement inthepromotionof a ^oung 
Europe', 
1,B5 fhe Committee acknowledges in the proposala 
pragmatic approachdesigned toachie^efle^ibilit^of 
operation coupled withadesire to achieve progression 
in bringing ^oung Europeans closer together. 
1,8, The Committee recognises important impli 
cations emanating from the proposal which are directed 
at Member States regarding^ 
— the need to facilitate more language teaching, 
— the allocation of appropriate finance, 
— the designation of effective agencies, 
and 
— the removal of administrative and financial 
obstaclesparticularl^ for the ^oung unemployed, 
for example the loss of sociaPsecurit^ income 
support. 
2, Specific comments 
2,1, The Committee approves the implementation of 
exchange programmes as envisaged b^ the Commission, 
No C 328/46 Official Journalof the European Communities 22. 12. 86 
2.2. In order to develop more the specifically Com­
munity character of the programme, the Committee 
thinks that in addition to the national agencies, pro­
vision should be made for the machinery needed to 
ensure, from the very start of the programme, the 
growth, support and effective coordination of multi­
lateral exchanges, particularly those organized by 
European non-governmental organizations. 
2.3. The Committee recognizes a clear need for firm 
guidelines to be provided by the Commission to 
national agencies regarding: 
— dissemination of information techniques to enable 
the widest possible participation by young people 
and their organizations, 
and 
— the selection of programmes based on quality of 
content and preparation. 
In this way will parity of provision and opportunity be 
achieved across Member States. 
2.4. In the absence of any proposed European 
agency, concern must be voiced regarding the degree of 
staffing provision as defined in the Annex (Item 7) 
through which the Commission will administer YES for 
Europe. The Committee encourages the Commission 
to consider the seconding of some of its staff to assist 
in the dissemination of information, monitoring and 
evaluation of programmes etc. Proper use should also 
be made of the Commission information offices in the 
Member States for promotiong 'YES for Europe'. 
2.5. The Committee would urge, in order to ensure 
the effective coordination and growth of multilateral 
youth exchanges which lie at the heart of YES for 
Europe, that consideration be given at the review stage 
to the establishment of a European agency. 
2.6. The public funds necessary for the YES for 
Europe programme should not be secured by cut-backs 
in other youth exchange programmes (such as those 
sponsored by the EEC Youth Forum, the European 
Youth Centre and the Europaisches Jugendwerk (Euro­
pean Youth Foundation). 
Done at Brussels, 17 Septembre 1986. 2.7. The Committee recommends that a European 
advisory committee be established (as is also the case 
for the Erasmus proposals) in order to assist in the 
monitoring of programmes, identification of exemplars 
and analysis of annual reports. 
2.8. In the pursuit of flexibility the Committee re­
cognizes a need for individual negotiations to take place 
regarding priority factors when claims for weighting 
are being considered. To this end such criteria as youth 
population, average distances involved and cost of 
living appear appropriate. 
2.9. The Committee encourages the Commission to 
reconsider its proposal to require a minimum of six 
Member States to take part in any multilateral 
exchanges of a voluntary work camp nature. A mini­
mum of four appears to be a far more realistic and 
appropriate figure. 
2.10. The Committee supports the proposal to pro­
vide training programmes at all levels for those who 
organize youth exchanges, e.g. youth workers. It is 
essential that professional development operates within 
the initial phase and beyond as the leaders are. the 
agents for change and progression. 
2.11. It is clear that the initial phase of YES for 
Europe is perceived by the Commission as operating 
collectively and exclusively for all young people within 
the Member States. The Committee encourages the 
Commission at the three-year review stage to consider 
extending the European and international field of 
operation. 
2.12. The Committee applauds the notion of encour­
aging young people to be directly involved in the plan­
ning, preparation, delivery and evaluation of exchange 
programmes and to this end the Committee rec­
ommends that the process of application for sponsor­
ship be as simple as possible. 
2.13. The Decision states that after three years of 
operation an interim report will be prepared for sub­
mission by the Commission to the Council and Parlia­
ment. This report should be submitted to the Commit­
tee also. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic and Social Committee 
Gerd MUHR