COMMON POSITION (EC) No 6/98 adopted by the Council on 16 December 1997 with a view to adopting Decision 98/.../EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of ... establishing the Community action programme 'European voluntary service for young people'
Date: 1997-12-16
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: action programme, voluntary military service, young person

9.2.98

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

C  43/35

COMMON  POSITION  (EC)  No  6/98

adopted  by  the  Council  on  16  December  1997

with a view to adopting Decision 98/. . ./EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of
. . .  establishing  the  Community  action  programme  ‘European  voluntary  service  for  young
people’

(98/C  43/03)

THE  EUROPEAN  PARLIAMENT  AND  THE  COUNCIL  OF
THE  EUROPEAN  UNION,

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European
Community,  and  in  particular  Article  126  thereof,

Having  regard  to  the  proposal  from  the  Commission (1),

(5)  Whereas,  in  its  Resolution  of  5  October  1995  on
cooperation  with  third  countries  in  the  youth
field (5),  the  Council  stressed  the  need  to  step  up
cooperation,  particularly  with  regard  to  voluntary
service,  with  third  countries  with  which  the
Community 
or
cooperation  agreements;

association 

concluded 

has 

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social
Committee (2),

Having  regard  to  the  opinion  of  the  Committee  of  the
Regions (3),

Acting  in  accordance  with  the  procedure  laid  down  in
Article  189b  of  the  Treaty (4),

(6)  Whereas  the  European  Council  of  25  and  26  June
1984  asked  Member  States  to  take  the  necessary
measures  to  encourage  young  people  to  take  part
in projects organised by the Community outside its
frontiers,  and  recommended  Member  States  to
acknowledge as one of the objectives of their social
policies  the  incorporation  of  social  protection  for
development  volunteers  or 
the  correction  of
shortcomings  in  this  field;

(1)  Whereas  the  Essen  European  Council  (9  and  10
December  1994),  the  Cannes  European  Council
(26  and  27  June  1995),  the  Madrid  European
Council  (15  and  16  December  1995)  and  the
Dublin  European  Council  (13  and  14  December
1996) stressed the need to undertake new measures
to promote the social and occupational integration
of  young  people  in  Europe;

(2)  Whereas  the  conclusions  of  the  Florence  European
Council  (21  and  22  June  1996)  stressed  the
importance  of  helping  young  people  to  become
integrated into active life and, in this respect, noted
with 
idea  of  European  voluntary
service;

interest  the 

(3)  Whereas  the  Amsterdam  European  Council  (16
and  17  June  1997)  expressed  its  attachment  to
voluntary service activities;

(4)  Whereas  the  Council  requested  the  Commission  to
propose 
promote
practical  measures 
transnational  cooperation  in  the  field  of  voluntary
service;

to 

(1)  OJ  C  320,  21.10.1997,  p.  7.
(2)  OJ  C  158,  26.5.1997,  p.  12.
(3)  OJ  C  244,  11.8.1997,  p.  47.
(4)  Opinion  of  the  European  Parliament  of  12  June  1997  (OJ
C  200,  30.6.1997,  p.  183),  Council  common  position  of
16 December 1997 and Decision of the European Parliament
of  . . .  (not  yet  published  in  the  Official  Journal).

(7)  Whereas  the  Parliament  has  also  expressed  its
support,  on  many  occasions,  for  the  development
of  voluntary  service  at  Community 
in
particular  in  its  resolution  of  22  September  1995
on 
civilian
establishment  of  European 
the 
service (6);

level, 

(8)  Whereas,  insofar  as  it  fosters  informal  education,
the  policy  of  cooperation  in  the  youth  field  is
complementary  to  the  education  policy  enshrined
in the Treaty, and whereas that policy is in need of
development;

(9)  Whereas  voluntary  service  activities  also  exist  in  a
variety  of  forms  in  several  Member  States  and  a
number  of  non-governmental  organisations  are
working  in  this  field;

(10)  Whereas only limited experience has been acquired
thereby  and  whereas 
transnational  voluntary
service activities should be developed in qualitative
and  quantitative  terms;

(5)  OJ  C  296,  10.11.1995,  p.  11.
(6)  OJ  L  269,  16.10.1995,  p.  232.

C  43/36

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

9.2.98

(11)  Whereas it is necessary to create new opportunities
for  the  transfer  and  application  of  experience  and
good  practice  and  to  promote  new  partnerships;

established  between  European  voluntary  service
and,  in  particular,  local  employment  initiatives;

(12)  Whereas  an  independent  ex-ante  evaluation  of  a
multiannual  programme  of  voluntary  service  has
been  carried  out  in  accordance  with  the  principles
put  in  place  by  the  Commission  for  the  second
phase  of  its  SEM  2000  (‘sound  and  efficient
management’) programme;

(13)  Whereas  this  Decision  establishes  a  Community
framework  designed 
the
to 
development  of  transnational  voluntary  service
activities;

contribute 

to 

(14)  Whereas  participation  by  young  people 

in
voluntary  service  activities  constitutes  a  form  of
informal  education,  the  quality  of  which  will  to  a
large  extent  be  based  on  appropriate  preparation
activities including those of a linguistic and cultural
nature, contributes to their future development and
to  broadening 
the
development of their social skills, active citizenship
and their balanced integration into society from an
economic,  social  and  cultural  point  of  view  and
makes it possible to promote awareness of genuine
European  citizenship;

their  horizons,  promotes 

(15)  Whereas  the  establishment  of  European  voluntary
service  should  be  carried  out  in  conjunction  with
other Community schemes to benefit young people
developed  in  particular  under  the  ‘Youth  for
Europe’  programme (1),  and 
therefore
important 
are
sure 
complementary;

to  make 

it 
that 

they 

is 

including 

the  various 

(16)  Whereas  it  is  necessary  to  reinforce  the  links
between  the  measures  carried  out  under  this
programme,  combating 
forms  of
exclusion, 
racism  and  xenophobia,
cooperation  with  third  countries  and  the  projects
pursued  within  the  framework  of  social  policy,
particularly  action  assisted  by  the  European  Social
Fund  on  training  and  access  to  employment  (both
mainstream  and 
‘Employment-Youthstart’
Community  Initiative);

the 

(18)  Whereas  voluntary  service  may  help  to  meet  new
societal  needs  and  also  to  identify  new  sources  of
activities  and  professions;

(19)  Whereas  participation  in  the  voluntary  service
activities covered by this Decision should be purely
voluntary;  whereas  such  activities  should  be
non-profit-making  and  the  host  project  should
informal  educational
for 
constitute  a  vehicle 
activity  on  the  part  of  young  volunteers  and
whereas  that  activity  can  therefore  in  no  case  be
equated  with  employment;

(20)  Whereas  young  volunteers  taking  part  in  this
programme  should  have  adequate  means  of
subsistence;

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

(22)  Whereas  all  young  people  legally  resident  in  a
Member  State  should  be  eligible  to  apply  to  take
part 
in  European  voluntary  service,  without
discrimination;

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

(24)  Whereas implementation of this programme should
be  based  on  decentralised  structures  designated  by
Member  States  in  close  cooperation  with  the
youth
national 
questions,  with  a  view  to  guaranteeing  that
Community  action  supports  and  complements
national activities whilst respecting the principle of
subsidiarity,  as  defined 
in  Article  3b  of  the
Treaty;

responsible 

authorities 

for 

(17)  Whereas,  in  order  to  facilitate  the  transition  to
working  life,  complementary  links  need  to  be

(1)  Decision  No  818/95/EC  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of
the  Council  of  14  March  1995  adopting  the  third  phase  of
the  ‘Youth  for  Europe’  programme  (OJ  L  87,  20.4.1995,
p.  1).

(25)  Whereas  European  voluntary  service  activities  are
of  direct  concern  to  local  and  regional  authorities
having  regard  to  their  potential  role  in  providing
direct  support  for  projects  but  also  in  developing
local 
in  following-up  young
people  at  the  end  of  their  service;

information  and 

9.2.98

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

C  43/37

(26)  Whereas  the  social  partners  should  play  an
important  role  in  the  development  of  European
voluntary  service,  not  only  to  avoid  any  activity
that  is  a  substitute  for  potential  or  existing  paid
employment,  but  also  as  part  of  following  up  the
experience  acquired  so  as  to  assist  with  the  active
integration  of  young  people  into  society;

(32)  Whereas  the  promotion  of  active  citizenship  and
the  acquisition  of  informal  education  experience,
on  the  one  hand,  and  the  contribution  of  young
people  to  cooperation  between  the  Community
and  third  countries,  on  the  other,  are  important
objectives  of  the  ‘European  voluntary  service  for
young  people’  programme;

(27)  Whereas  the  voluntary  sector  should  also  play  an
important  role 
in  enabling  all  young  people,
particularly  those  with  the  greatest  difficulties,  to
participate  in  these  programmes;

(28)  Whereas  there  should  be  ongoing  monitoring  to
take  account  in  particular  of  the  opinions  of  the
social  partners  and  the  voluntary  sector;

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

(30)  Whereas 

the  Agreement  on 

the  European
Economic Area provides for greater cooperation in
the  field  of  education,  training  and  youth  between
the  European  Community  and  its  Member  States,
on  the  one  hand,  and  the  States  of  the  European
Free  Trade  Area  (EFTA)  participating 
in  the
European  Economic  Area,  on  the  other;  whereas
Article  4  of  Protocol  31  provides  that  the  EFTA
States  participating  in  the  European  Economic
Area  shall,  from  1  January  1995,  participate  in  all
Community  programmes  in  the  field  of  education,
training  and  youth  then  in  force  or  adopted;

(31)  Whereas the ‘European voluntary service for young
people’  programme  is  open  to  the  participation  of
the  associated  countries  of  Central  and  Eastern
Europe  (CCEE),  in  accordance  with  the  conditions
set  out  in  the  Europe  Agreements  or  in  the
Additional  Protocols,  already  concluded  or  to  be
concluded,  on  the  participation  of  those  countries
this
in  Community 
programme  is  open  to  the  participation  of  Cyprus
and  Malta 
additional
appropriations  under  the  same  rules  as  apply  to
the  EFTA  States  participating  in  the  European
Economic  Area,  in  accordance  with  procedures  to
be  agreed  with  those  countries,  without  prejudice
to  the  procedures  to  be  completed  for  Malta’s
participation;

programmes;  whereas 

basis 

the 

on 

of 

(33)  Whereas  a  number  of  association  and  cooperation
for  exchanges  of  young

agreements  provide 
people;

(34)  Whereas  this  Decision  lays  down,  for  the  entire
duration of the programme, a financial framework
constituting the principal point of reference, within
the meaning of point 1 of the Joint Declaration by
the  European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the
Commission  of  6  March  1995 (1), 
the
budgetary  authority  during  the  annual  budgetary
procedure;

for 

(35)  Whereas  the  Community’s  financial  perspective  is
valid until 1999 and will have to be revised for the
period  beyond  that  date;

(36)  Whereas, in the light of the conclusion of the third
phase of the ‘Youth for Europe’ programme on 31
December  1999,  the  Commission  will  present  to
the  European  Parliament  and  to  the  Council,
before  31  December  1997,  a  report  setting  out  its
ideas on the ‘priorities of the policy of cooperation
in  the  youth  field  looking  forward  to  the  year
2000’;

(37)  Whereas  an  agreement  was  reached  on  20
December  1994  on  a  modus  vivendi  between  the
European  Parliament, 
the
implementing
Commission 
the
to 
for  acts  adopted  pursuant 
measures 
procedure  referred  to  in  Article  189b  of  the
Treaty (2),

the  Council  and 

concerning 

the 

HAVE  DECIDED  AS  FOLLOWS:

Article  1

Establishment  of  the  programme

1. This  Decision  establishes  the  Community  action
programme 
for  young
‘European  voluntary  service 
people’,  hereinafter  referred  to  as  the  ‘programme’,
concerning  European  voluntary  service  activities  within
the  Community  and  in  third  countries  for  young  people
legally  resident  in  a  Member  State.

(1)  OJ  C  102,  4.4.1996,  p.  4.
(2)  OJ  C  102,  4.4.1996,  p.  1.

C  43/38

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Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

9.2.98

The programme is adopted for the period from 1 January
1998  to  31  December  1999.

(d) to  facilitate  access  to  the  programme  for  all  young

people.

2. This  programme  comes  within  the  context  of  the
general  objectives  of  a  cooperation  policy  in  the  youth
field  as  set  out  in  the  programme  ‘Youth  for  Europe’
(Article  1(2)).  It  is  intended,  while  respecting  equal
opportunities for men and women, to encourage mobility
and  solidarity  among  young  people  as  part  of  active
citizenship,  to  promote,  and  give  them  the  chance  of
acquiring, informal educational experience in a variety of
sectors  of  activity,  which  may  be  one  of  the  foundations
of  their  future  development,  and  to  promote,  through
their  participation  in  transnational  activities  of  benefit  to
the  community,  an  active  contribution  on  their  part  to
the  ideals  of  democracy,  tolerance  and  solidarity  in  the
context  of  European  integration  and  to  cooperation
between  the  European  Community  and  third  countries.

Article  2

Framework,  objectives  and  resources

1. This  programme,  based  on  intensified  cooperation
between  the  Member  States,  offers  young  people  aged  in
informal
principle  between  18  and  25  an  attested 
educational  experience,  at  transnational  level,  involving
both  the  acquisition  of  skills  and  abilities  and  the
demonstration  of  responsible  citizenship  in  order  to  help
them  to  become  actively  integrated  into  society.  Young
people  participating  in  the  activities  of  this  programme
are  hereinafter  also  referred  to  as  ‘young  volunteers’.

In  accordance  with  the  general  objectives  set  out  in
2.
Article  1,  the  specific  objectives  of  this  programme  shall
be  as  follows:

(a)  to  encourage  a  spirit  of  initiative,  creativity  and
solidarity  among  young  people  so  as  to  enable  them
to  become  actively  integrated  into  society  and  to
contribute  to  the  attainment  of  the  objectives  of  the
programme;

(b) to  step  up  participation  by  young  people  legally
resident in a Member State in long-term or short-term
transnational  activities  of  benefit  to  the  community,
within  the  Community  or  in  third  countries,  in
particular  those  with  which  the  Community  has
concluded  cooperation  agreements.  Those  activities
must  not  restrict  or  be  a  substitute  for  potential  or
existing  paid  employment;

3. For  this  purpose,  and  in  accordance  with  the  general
objectives  set  out  in  Article  1  and  the  specific  objectives
described in paragraph 2 of this Article, the main features
of  this  programme,  which  are  set  out  in  detail  in  the
Annex,  shall  be  as  follows:

(a)  to  support  long-term  or  short-term  transnational
activities  of  benefit  to  the  community,  within  the
Community  and  in  third  countries;

(b) to  support  activities  intended  to  foster  partnerships
based  on  European  voluntary  service  and  innovative
network  activities;

(c)  to  support  measures  and  projects  intended  to  further
the  follow-up  of  young  volunteers,  to  build  on  the
experience  acquired  by  the  latter  in  the  context  of
European voluntary service and thus to promote their
active  integration  into  society;

linguistic  and 

(d) to  develop  and  support  appropriate  preparation,
particularly 
intercultural,  and  the
‘mentors’  and
integration  of  young  volunteers, 
European project leaders so that young volunteers can
benefit  from  high-quality  projects  connected  with  the
objectives  of  the  programme;

(e)  to  support  the  quality  of  all  the  programme’s
activities  and  the  development  of  their  European
dimension  and  to  contribute  to  cooperation  in  the
youth field by supporting, wherever possible, Member
States’  endeavours  to  improve  services  and  measures
related  to  European  voluntary  service,  particularly
through  measures  to  provide  young  people  with
information  on  the  objectives  of  the  programme  and
through  studies  and  continuing  evaluation  through
which,  where  appropriate,  the  detailed  implementing
rules  and  the  approaches  of  the  programme  may  be
brought 
line  with  any  needs  which  might
emerge.

into 

Article  3

Financial provisions

1. The  financial  framework  for  the  implementation  of
this  programme  for  the  period  1998-99  is  hereby  set  at
ECU  35  million,  in  keeping  with  the  current  financial
perspective.

(c)  to  promote  recognition  of  the  value  of  informal
in  a  European

educational  experience  acquired 
context;

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

9.2.98

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Article  4

Article  7

Access  to  the  programme  —  positive  action

Cooperation  with  Member  States

1. Special  attention  shall  be  paid  to  ensuring  that  all
young people can have access, without discrimination, to
the  programme’s  activities.

2. The  Commission  and  the  Member  States  shall  ensure
that  special  efforts  are  made  for  young  people  who
experience  the  most  difficulties  in  being  included  in
existing  action  programmes  at  both  Community  and
national,  regional  and  local  levels,  owing  to  cultural,
social,  physical,  economic  or  geographical  reasons.  To
this  end,  they  shall  take  into  consideration  the  problems
encountered  by  this  target  group.

Article  5

Participation  by  associated  countries

This programme shall be open to the participation of the
associated  countries  of  Central  and  Eastern  Europe
(CCEE) in accordance with the Europe Agreements or the
Additional  Protocols,  which  have  been,  or  are  to  be,
concluded  on  the  participation  of  those  countries  in
Community  programmes.  This  programme  shall  be  open
to  the  participation  of  Cyprus  and  Malta  on  the  basis  of
additional  appropriations  under  the  same  rules  as  apply
to  the  EFTA  countries  participating  in  the  European
Economic  Area,  in  accordance  with  the  procedures  to  be
agreed  with  those  countries,  without  prejudice  to  the
procedures  to  be  completed  for  Malta’s  participation.

Article  6

Implementation,  links  with  other  measures  and
international  cooperation

1. The  Commission  shall  ensure  the  implementation  of
this  programme.

2. The  Commission  and  the  Member  States  shall  ensure
that  there  is  consistency  and  complementarity  between
measures  to  be  implemented  under  this  programme  and
other relevant Community programmes and initiatives, in
particular  ‘Youth  for  Europe’  and  programmes  offering
the  possibility  of  financing  volunteer  projects  aimed  at
young  volunteers  from  third  countries,  as  well  as
measures  undertaken  by  the  Member  States  in  this  field.

local 

level, 

1. The  Commission  and  the  Member  States  shall  take
such  measures  as  they  deem  appropriate  to  develop  the
structures  set  up  at  Community  and  national  level  for
achieving  the  objectives  of  the  programme,  for  making
the  programme  more  accessible  to  young  people  and
other  partners  at 
for  evaluating  and
monitoring  the  measures  provided  for  in  the  programme
and  for  applying  consultation  and  selection  mechanisms.
In  that  context,  the  Commission  and  the  Member  States
shall  take  steps  to  foster  the  provision  of  appropriate
information and volunteers’ awareness of their rights and
obligations  at  European,  national  and  local  level,  and
shall  endeavour  to  make  an  active  contribution  to
ensuring complementarity between transnational activities
and  national  voluntary  activities.

2. Each  Member  State  shall  endeavour,  as  far  as
possible,  to  adopt  measures  as  it  deems  necessary  and
desirable  to  ensure  the  proper  functioning  of  the
programme,  in  particular  as  far  as  the  mobility  of  young
volunteers  is  concerned.

Article  8

Attestation

A document, drawn up by the Commission in accordance
with  the  procedure  laid  down  in  Article  9(2)  and  (3),
shall  attest  to  the  participation  of  young  volunteers  in
European  voluntary  service  and  to  the  experience  and
skills  that  they  have  acquired  during  the  relevant
period.

Article  9

Committee

In  the 

implementation  of  this  programme,  the
1.
Commission  shall  be  assisted  by  a  committee  composed
of two representatives of each Member State and chaired
by  the  representative  of  the  Commission.

2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to
the  committee  a  draft  of  the  measures  to  be  taken  in
respect  of:

—  the  committee’s  rules  of  procedure,

—  the  implementing  provisions,

3. The  Commission  and  the  Member  States  shall  foster
cooperation  relating  to  this  programme  so  as  to  allow
complementarity  of  action  with  that  of  the  competent
international  organisations,  in  particular  the  Council  of
Europe.

—  the  annual  plan  of  work  for  the  implementation  of

the  measures  in  the  programme,

—  the  general  balance  between  the  various  sections  of

the  programme,

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9.2.98

—  the criteria for determining the indicative allocation of

funds  among  the  Member  States,

—  the  document  attesting  to  participation  in  European

voluntary service,

—  the  procedures  for  monitoring  and  evaluating  the

programme.

The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition,
each Member State shall have the right to ask to have its
position  recorded  in  the  minutes.

The  Commission  shall  take  the  utmost  account  of  the
opinion  delivered  by  the  Committee.  It  shall  inform  the
Committee  of  the  manner  in  which  its  opinion  has  been
taken  into  account.

The  committee  shall  deliver  its  opinion  on  the  draft
within  a  time  limit  which  the  chairman  may  lay  down
according to the urgency of the matter. The opinion shall
be  delivered  by  the  majority  laid  down  in  Article  148(2)
of the Treaty in the case of decisions which the Council is
required  to  adopt  on  a  proposal  from  the  Commission.
The  votes  of  the  representatives  of  the  Member  States
within the committee shall be weighted in the manner set
out  in  that  Article.  The  chairman  shall  not  vote.

The  Commission  shall  adopt  measures  which  apply
immediately.  However,  if  these  measures  are  not  in
accordance with the opinion of the committee, they shall
be  communicated  by  the  Commission  to  the  Council
forthwith.  In  that  event:

—  the  Commission  may  defer  application  of 

the
measures  which  it  has  decided  for  a  period  of  two
months  from  the  date  of  such  communication,

—  the  Council,  acting  by  a  qualified  majority,  may  take
a different decision within the time-limit referred to in
the  previous  indent.

Article  10

Monitoring  and  evaluation

1. On  implementation  of  this  Decision,  the  Commission
shall  take  the  necessary  measures  to  ensure  that  the
programme  is  monitored  and  continuously  evaluated,
taking  account  of  the  general  and  specific  objectives
referred  to  in  Articles  1  and  2,  the  specific  objectives
defined in the Annex, the provisions laid down in Article
4 and any input provided by the Committee set up under
Article  9.

2. The Commission shall submit in sufficient time to the
European  Parliament  and  to  the  Council  a  report  taking
account  in  particular  of  the  results  of  Community
youth-related measures and accompanied, if necessary, by
appropriate  proposals,  particularly  with  a  view  to  a
consistent  approach  to  youth-related  measures  looking
forward  to  the  year  2000.

Article  11

3. The  Commission  may  consult  the  Committee  on  any
other  matters  relating  to  the  implementation  of  this
programme.

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

In  that  case,  the  representative  of  the  Commission  shall
submit  to  the  Committee  a  draft  of  the  measures  to  be
taken.  The  Committee  shall  deliver  its  opinion  on  the
draft  within  a  time  limit  which  the  Chairman  may  lay
down according to the urgency of the matter, if necessary
by  taking  a  vote.

Done  at  . . .

For  the  European  Parliament

For  the  Council

The  President

The  President

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ANNEX

In  order  to  encourage  mobility  among  young  people  as  part  of  active  citizenship,  their  practical
participation in the creation of European solidarity and their active integration into society and to promote,
and give young people the chance of acquiring, an informal educational experience in a variety of sectors of
activity,  which  may  be  one  of  the  foundations  of  their  future  development,  the  Community  intends  to
support  European  voluntary  service  activities  within  the  Community  and  in  third  countries,  measures  to
follow  up  those  activities  and  European  cooperation  measures  designed  to  develop  the  quality  and  the
European  dimension  of  those  activities.

The  implementation  of  this  programme  should  correspond  to  the  needs  of  the  target  group.

By  way  of  information,  ‘young  volunteer’  under  this  programme  means  any  person  aged  between  18  and
25,  legally  resident  in  a  Member  State  of  the  European  Community.  Such  a  young  person  commits
himself/herself  voluntarily  to  the  fulfilment  of  an  experience  of  active  citizenship  and  informal  education
with a view to acquiring social, intercultural and personal abilities and skills, thus laying the foundations for
his/her  future  development  while  contributing  to  the  well-being  of  the  community.  To  this  end,  the  young
volunteer participates, in a Member State other than the one in which he/she resides or in a third country, in
a non-profit-making, unpaid activity of importance to the community and of a limited duration (12 months
maximum) in the context of a project recognised by the Member States concerned and the Community. Full
board  and  lodging  and  supervision  by  a  tutor  are  provided.  The  voluntary  service  project  ensures  that  the
person concerned is covered by health insurance as well as other appropriate insurance schemes. The young
volunteer  receives  an  allowance/pocket  money.

The  basic  principles  on  which  the  Community  action  is  founded  are  as  follows:

—  active  participation  of  young  volunteers  in  both  the  preparation  and  the  implementation  of  projects,

—  local  partnerships  between  the  various  public  and  private  partners  involved  in  the  active  integration  of

young  people  into  society,

—  transnational  partnerships  between  host  projects  and  projects  sending  out  young  volunteers,

—  approval  by  the  Commission  subject  to  a  positive  opinion  from  the  relevant  authorities  of  the  Member

States  of  all  host  projects,

—  guarantees  from  the  point  of  view  of  the  preparation,  the  supervision  and  —  as  far  as  possible  —  the

mobility  of  young  volunteers,

—  the  inclusion,  within  host  projects,  of  tutors  having  an  important  role  to  play  in  the  supervision  of
young  volunteers  and  in  the  recognition  of  the  added  value  of  achievements,  and  in  the  preparation  of
measures  following  up  the  experience,

—  recognition  of  the  value  of  an  informal  educational  experience  acquired  in  a  European  context,

—  follow-up  for  young  volunteers  and  turning  their  achievements  to  account.

To  this  end,  the  Community  is  organising  this  programme,  which  has  four  sections.  The  four  sections  are
interlinked and sufficiently flexible to meet the needs of the young people concerned in the most appropriate
way.  The  activities  carried  out  under  this  programme  will  be  complementary  to  those  conducted  in  the
youth  field,  notably  under  the  ‘Youth  for  Europe’  programme.

SECTION  1  —  INTRA-COMMUNITY

1.  The  Community  will  support  long-term  (in  principle  six  months  to  one  year)  and  short-term  (in
principle  three  weeks  to  three  months)  transnational  projects  which  will  enable  young  people  —
normally  aged  between  18  and  25,  although  exceptionally,  in  certain  duly  justified  cases,  applications
from  young  people  outside  those  age  limits  may  be  taken  into  consideration  —  legally  resident  in  a
Member State to play, individually or in groups, an active part in activities which help to meet the needs
of  society  in  a  wide  range  of  fields  (social,  socio-cultural,  environmental,  cultural,  etc).  and  which

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are likely to have a direct impact on the well-being of the populations of the host communities. The aim
of  these  projects  will  be  to  provide  young  people  from  the  Union  with  an  informal  educational
experience  and  to  bring  them  into  contact  with  other  cultures  and  languages  and  to  experience  new
ideas  and  projects  in  an  intercultural  civil  society  context.

2.  The  assistance  awarded  under  this  section  should  not  exceed  50 %  of  the  total  expenditure  incurred

linked  to  European  voluntary  service  activity,  subject  to  point  3.

3.  In  accordance  with  Article  4(2)  of  the  Decision,  efforts  must  be  made  to  help  young  people  facing
cultural,  social,  economic,  physical,  mental  or  geographical  difficulties.  These  efforts  must  be
proportional  to  the  difficulties  that  participation  in  existing  action  programmes  raises  for  this  target
group.  In  this  context,  financial  assistance  greater  than  the  50 %  provided  for  in  point  2  may  be
awarded, or support given, where appropriate, for other activities likely to facilitate participation by this
target group, including preparation and follow-up activities. Procedures for awarding assistance in excess
of  50 %  will  be  defined  by  the  Committee  provided  for  in  Article  9  of  the  Decision.

4.  Assistance  will  be  awarded  for:

Long-term activities

5.  Long-term activities will emphasise qualifying experience, acquired as part of European voluntary service

projects,  and  the  follow-up  to  young  volunteers’  activities.

6.  A  document,  drawn  up  by  the  Commission  in  accordance  with  Articles  8  and  9  of  the  Decision,  will
attest  to  the  participation  of  young  volunteers  in  European  voluntary  service  and  the  experience  and
skills  that  they  have  acquired  during  this  period.

Preparation  and  supervision

7.  Measures  intended  (particularly  at  the  linguistic  and  intercultural  levels)  to  reinforce  the  European
dimension  of  activities,  to  prepare  young  long-term  volunteers  prior  to  departure  and  to  promote  their
integration  during  these  activities  and  at  the  end  of  European  voluntary  service.

Short-term  activities

8.  The  Community  will  support  short-term  transnational  projects  intended  to  make  young  people
specifically  aware  of  the  potential  of  measures  inspired  by  the  principle  of  active  citizenship  and  the
impact that such activities may have on their lives, and to familiarise all the partners with the concept of
active citizenship.

9.  These projects will principally involve groups. Support for individual participation in a host project may
be  envisaged  depending  on  the  duration  of  the  project,  its  nature  or  the  profile  of  the  young
volunteer.

SECTION  2  —  THIRD  COUNTRIES

1.  The  Community  will  support  long-term  (in  principle  six  months  to  one  year)  and  short-term  (in
principle  three  weeks  to  three  months)  transnational  projects  which  will  enable  young  people  —
normally  aged  between  18  and  25,  although  exceptionally,  in  certain  duly  justified  cases,  applications
from  young  people  outside  those  age  limits  may  be  taken  into  consideration  —  legally  resident  in  a
Member State to play, individually or in groups, an active part in third countries in activities which meet
the  needs  of  society  in  a  wide  range  of  fields  (social,  socio-cultural,  environmental,  cultural,  etc.)  and
which  are  likely  to  have  a  direct  impact  on  the  well-being  of  the  populations  of  the  host  communities.
The  aim  of  these  projects  will  be  to  provide  young  people  with  informal  educational  experience  and  to
bring  them  into  contact  with  other  cultures  and  languages  and  to  experience  new  ideas  and  projects  in
an  intercultural  civil  society  context.

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2.  The  appropriations  awarded  under  this  Section  will  in  principle  cover  the  costs  connected  with  the

activities  of  young  people  residing  in  Member  States.

3.  Assistance  will  be  awarded  for:

Long-term activities

4.  Long-term activities will emphasize qualifying experience, acquired as part of European voluntary service

projects,  and  the  follow-up  to  young  volunteers’  activities.

5.  A  document,  drawn  up  by  the  Commission  in  accordance  with  Articles  8  and  9  of  the  Decision,  will
attest  to  the  participation  of  young  volunteers  in  European  voluntary  service  and  the  experience  and
skills  that  they  have  acquired  during  this  period.

Preparation  and  supervision

6.  Measures  making  it  possible  to  lay  or  consolidate  the  foundations  needed  for  the  development  of
transnational  European  voluntary  service  projects  in  third  countries,  more  specifically  long-term
activities.

7.  Measures  intended  (particularly  at  the  linguistic  and  intercultural  levels)  to  reinforce  the  European
dimension  of  activities,  to  prepare  young  long-term  volunteers  prior  to  departure  and  to  promote  their
integration  during  those  activities  and  at  the  end  of  European  voluntary  service.

Short-term  activities

8.  The Community will support short-term transnational projects intended to make young people genuinely
aware  of  the  impact  that  such  activities  may  have  on  their  lives  and  to  familiarise  all  the  partners  with
the  concept  of  active  citizenship.

9.  These projects will principally involve groups. Support for individual participation in a host project may
be  envisaged  depending  on  the  duration  of  the  project,  its  nature  of  the  profile  of  the  young
volunteer.

SECTION  3  —  FOLLOW-UP,  SPIRIT  OF  INITIATIVE  AND  CREATIVITY

1.  The  Community  will  support  the  development  of  follow-up  projects  by  young  volunteers,  intended  to
help  them  turn  to  account  and  exploit  the  experience  acquired  during  their  voluntary  service  and  to
promote  their  active  integration  into  society.

2.  Assistance may be awarded for initiatives taken by young people at the end of their European voluntary
service  by  helping  them  to  launch  and  promote  social,  cultural,  socio-cultural  and  economic  activities
and/or  to  participate  in  complementary  educational  activities.  The  aim  of  such  assistance  will  be  to
enable young volunteers to develop their spirit of initiative and creativity and to foster the development
of various forms of European cooperation. Priority in the allocation of assistance will be given to those
young  people  in  greatest  need.

3.  Special  attention  will  be  paid  to  the  promotion  of  (public  or  private)  partnerships  and  to  cooperation
with (public or private) initiatives in particular at local level in order to support, help and sponsor young
people’s  strategies  for  active  integration  into  society.

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SECTION  4  —  COMPLEMENTARY  MEASURES

4.1.  Mentors  and  European  project  leaders

1.  Award  of  assistance

In  addition  to  voluntary  service  activities  proper,  assistance  will  also  be  awarded  for  measures
intended  to  underpin  the  quality  of  the  work  of  mentors  and  European  project  leaders.  These
measures  will  concern  activities  supported  at  intra-Community  level  as  well  as  in  third  countries.
They  are  intended,  on  the  one  hand,  to  ensure  that  the  content  of  the  informal  educational
experience  is  of  a  high  quality  and,  on  the  other  hand,  to  help  to  develop  certification  methods.

2.  Mentors

The  term  ‘mentors’  means  people  involved  as  tutors  for  young  volunteers  during  European
voluntary  service  activities  within  host  projects  and  those  who  act  as  contact  points  for  young
volunteers  and  projects  within  relay  structures  situated  at  the  national,  regional  or  local  level.

3.  Activities  supported

A c t i v i t i e s   s u p p o r t e d   w i l l   b e   t h o s e   i n t e n d e d   t o :

—  prepare and support mentors from the point of view of their tasks of tutoring and supervising
young volunteers during transnational voluntary service activities, with special attention being
paid  to  projects  involving  young  people  with  little  or  no  experience  of  transnational
activities,

—  develop  the  ability  of  European  project  leaders  effectively  to  carry  out  their  administrative
tasks  in  a  European  context  (organisation,  financial  aid  and  administrative  management  and
follow-up  of  European  projects,  legal  aspects,  etc.).

4.2.  Partnerships

Establishment  of  partnerships

1.  The  Community  will  support  activities  to  promote  partnerships  at  local/regional/national  level
—  between  public-  and  private-sector  partners  —  geared  towards  European  voluntary  service
and  offering  the  prospect  of  transnational  and  European  partnerships.

2.  Assistance  will  be  awarded  for  activities  to  facilitate  and  promote  the  establishment  of
transnational  partnerships  between  local/regional/national  partnerships  wishing  to  work  together
within  the  framework  of  this  programme  either  within  the  Community  or  with  third  countries.

3.  Special  attention  will  be  paid  to  projects/initiatives  undertaken  at  the  local  level  by  persons  or
entities  which  have  little  or  no  experience  of  or  opportunity  for  contacts  at  European  level.

Innovative  network  activities

4.  Assistance  will  be  awarded  for  innovative  measures  launched  by  networks,  particularly  in  the
social,  socio-cultural,  environmental  and  cultural  fields  and  in  connection  with  the  fight  against
the  various  forms  of  exclusion.

5.  This  assistance  may  cover  innovative  activities  which  create  networks  between  initiatives  within

the  Community,  in  which  third  countries  may  participate  where  appropriate.

6.  Support  for  these  activities  is  intended  to  encourage,  on  the  one  hand,  the  development  by  these
networks of innovative practical European voluntary service activities and, on the other hand, the
integration  within  these  networks  of  a  European  voluntary  service  dimension.

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4.3. 

Information,  research  and  evaluation

1.  Support  for  activities  to  launch  awareness,  information  and  advisory  systems  at  local,  regional,

national  and  Community  level  to  promote  and  support  the  objectives  of  the  programme.

2.  In the particular area of research and evaluation connected with the objectives of the programme,
the Community will concentrate its efforts on the analysis and dissemination of data, the content
and pedagogical value of the informal education and the promotion of Community cooperation in
this field. The Commission will, in cooperation with the Member States, monitor and evaluate this
programme  in  an  ongoing  way  in  order,  when  necessary,  to  bring  the  detailed  rules  of  its
implementation  into  line  with  any  needs  which  may  arise.

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STATEMENT  OF  THE  COUNCIL’S  REASONS

I. 

INTRODUCTION

1.  On  27  December  1996  the  Commission  submitted  to  the  European  Parliament  and  to
the  Council  a  proposal  for  a  Decision,  based  on  Article  126  of  the  EC  Treaty,
establishing  the  Community  programme  ‘European  voluntary  service  for  young
people’.

2.  The Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions delivered their

opinions  on  19  March  1997  and  13  November  1996  respectively.

3.  The  European  Parliament  delivered  its  opinion  on  12  June  1997.

4.  On  16  December  1997  the  Council  adopted  its  common  position  in  accordance  with

Article  189b  of  the  EC  Treaty.

II.  AIM  OF  THE  PROPOSAL

The  proposal  concerns  the  implementation,  at  Community  level,  of  a  specific  action
programme  geared  towards  the  integration  of  young  people  into  active  life  through
transnational  activities  that  are  of  benefit  to  the  community.

1.  General  comments

In  its  common  position  the  Council  has  approved  the  essence  of  the  Commission
proposal  while  making  some  amendments  which  it  thought  desirable.

2.  Specific  comments

2.1.  Amendments  made  by  the  Council  to  the  Commission  proposal

2.1.1.  D u r a t i o n   o f   t h e   p r o g r a m m e   a n d   f i n a n c i a l   a l l o c a t i o n

The  Council’s  main  concern  in  connection  with  the  duration  of  the  programme
and  its  financial  allocation  was  to  create  conditions  which  were  conducive  to
firm  and  consistent  action  in  the  future  under  the  youth  cooperation  policy.

The  Council  thought  it  necessary  to  ensure  that  ultimately  there  was  perfect
compatibility  between  the  activities  currently  undertaken  under  the  ‘Youth  for
Europe’  programme  and  the  activities  of  the  European  voluntary  service  for
young  people.  In  this  context  reference  was  made  to  the  possibility  of
establishing  a  single  programme  for  young  people.

Since the ‘Youth for Europe’ programme will expire on 31 December 1999, the
Council  thought  that  a  two-year  duration  for  the  ‘European  voluntary  service
for  young  people’  programme  (1  January  1998  —  31  December  1999)  would
make  it  possible  subsequently  to  integrate  these  different  activities  into  a
coherent  and  effective  whole.

The  Council  was  of  the  opinion  that  a  financial  framework  of  ECU  35  million
would  be  sufficient  to  reconcile  its  wish  to  see  this  programme  attain  its
objectives  with  the  Council’s  duty  to  contribute  to  a  fair  distribution  of
available resources.

2.1.2.  M o b i l i t y   o f   y o u n g   v o l u n t e e r s

The  Council  acknowledged  the  need  for  each  Member  States  to  endeavour  to
adopt  the  measures  it  considered  necessary  and  desirable  to  ensure  the  proper

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functioning  of  the  programme,  in  particular  concerning  the  mobility  of  young
volunteers.  However,  it  thought  that  the  wording  proposed  by  the  Commission
in  recital  13  and  Article  7(2)  of  its  amended  proposal  concerned  areas  which
came within Member States’ jurisdiction. The Council therefore considered that
these  parts  of  the  text  should  be  deleted.

2.1.3.  A n n e x   t o   t h e   D e c i s i o n

In the interests of greater clarity, the Council made some changes to the Annex
to  the  Decision.  A  definition  of  a  ‘young  volunteer’  was  included,  for
information,  in  the  introduction  and  the  number  of  sections  was  reduced  to  4,
although  the  essence  of  the  Commission’s  text  was  retained.  Section  3  of  the
proposal  (Innovative  networks)  was  incorporated  in  section  5  (Complementary
measures) which thus becomes the new section 4. The title of the new section 3
(former  section  4)  was  amended  to  emphasise  follow-up  projects  by  young
people  who  have  participated  in  voluntary  service.  A  number  of  other  minor
changes  were  also  made  to  the  text  to  improve  readability.

2.2.  European  Parliament  amendments

2.2.1.  P a r l i a m e n t   a m e n d m e n t s   a d o p t e d   b y   t h e   C o m m i s s i o n

The  Commission  adopted  in  full,  in  part  or  in  essence  19  to  the  40  Parliament
amendments.  Those  amendments  are  Nos  2,  3,  6,  8,  9,  11,  12,  13,  14,  16,  17,
19,  21,  26,  27,  28,  37,  39  and  40.

2.2.2.  P a r l i a m e n t   a m e n d m e n t s   a d o p t e d   b y   t h e   C o u n c i l

The  Council  accepted  in  full,  in  part  or  in  essence  16  of  the  amendments
proposed  by  the  Parliament  and  adopted  by  the  Commission.  Those
amendments are Nos 3, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 27, 28, 37, 39 and
40.

2.2.3.  P a r l i a m e n t   a m e n d m e n t s   n o t   a d o p t e d   b y   t h e   C o u n c i l

Apart  from  the  amendments  not  adopted  by  the  Commission,  the  Council  did
not  accept  the  following  amendments:

—  Amendment  2

R e f e r e n c e   t o   a   s p e c i f i c   b u d g e t   l i n e

The  Council  thought  that  the  tenth  recital  of  the  amendment  proposal
should  be  deleted  and  that  the  addition  proposed  by  Parliament  was
therefore  no  longer  relevant,

—  Amendment  6

M o b i l i t y   o f   y o u n g   v o l u n t e e r s

The  Council  considered  that  the  areas  referred  to  in  recital  13  of  the
Commission’s  original  proposal  and,  a  fortiori, 
in  the  Parliament’s
amendment  6  were  the  responsibility  of  Member  States.  The  Council
therefore  thought  that  the  recital  should  be  deleted  and  the  amendment
rejected,

—  Amendment  26

B u d g e t a r y   c o m p a t i b i l i t y

The  Council  thought  that  the  proposed  specific  reference  to  budgetary
compatibility  was  not  necessary.

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III.  CONCLUSIONS

The Council considers that its common position constitutes a balanced text which makes it
possible  to  set  up  a  European  voluntary  service  while  respecting  the  prerogatives  of
Member  States  in  the  specific  areas  for  which  they  are  responsible.