Decision No 1686/98/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 20 July 1998 establishing the Community action programme 'European Voluntary Service for Young People'
Date: 1998-07-20
Institutions: Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Subjects: action programme, voluntary military service, young person

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I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

DECISION No 1686/98/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE
COUNCIL

of 20 July 1998

establishing the Community action programme ‘European Voluntary Service for
Young People’

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),

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), in the light of the joint text
approved by the Conciliation Committee on 30 June
1998,

(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
(13 and 14 December 1996) stressed the
Council
need to undertake new measures to promote the
social and occupational integration of young people
in Europe;

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

(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 has
concluded association or cooperation agreements;

(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,
to
acknowledge as one of the objectives of their social
policies the incorporation of social protection for
development volunteers or the correction of short-
comings in this field;

and recommended Member States

(7) Whereas

the Parliament has also expressed its
support, on many occasions, for the development of
voluntary service at Community level, in particular in
its Resolution of 22 September 1995 on the estab-
lishment of European civilian service (6);

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

(8) Whereas, insofar as it fosters informal education, the
policy of cooperation in the youth field is comple-
mentary to the education policy enshrined in the
Treaty, and whereas that policy is in need of devel-
opment;

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

(1) OJ C 302, 3. 10. 1997, p. 6.

and 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 De-
cember 1997, (OJ C 43, 9. 2. 1998, p. 35) and Decision of the
European Parliament of 12 March 1998 (OJ C 104, 6. 4. 1998,
p. 206). Decision of the European Parliament of 15 July 1998.
Decision of the Council of 20 July 1998.

(9) Whereas voluntary service activities also exist in a
forms in several Member States and a
are

variety of
number of non-governmental organisations
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 C 269, 16. 10. 1995, p. 232.

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

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

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

(13) Whereas

this Decision establishes a Community
framework designed to contribute to the develop-
ment of
transnational voluntary service activities;
whereas appropriate, coordinated measures designed
to eliminate the legal and administrative obstacles
should be adopted by the Member States in order to
improve further the access of young people to the
programme and facilitate recognition of the specific
nature of the situation of young volunteers;

(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 includ-
ing those of a linguistic and cultural nature, contrib-
utes to their future development and to broadening
their horizons, promotes 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;

(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 it is therefore important to make
sure that they are complementary;

(16) Whereas

it

carried out under

is necessary to reinforce the links
between the measures
this
programme, combating the various forms of exclu-
sion, including 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 the
‘Employment-Youthstart’ Community Initiative);

(17) Whereas,

to facilitate the transition to
working life, complementary links need to be estab-

in order

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

(20) Whereas young volunteers

in this
programme should have adequate means of sub-
sistence;

taking part

(21) Whereas European voluntary service activities are not
a substitute for military service, for the alternative
service formulae provided in particular for conscien-
tious 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 the Commission and the Member States
should
complementarity
to
between European voluntary service activities and
similar national activities of various kinds;

endeavour

ensure

(23) Whereas all young people legally resident

in a
Member State should be eligible to apply to take part
in European voluntary service, without discrimina-
tion;

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

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

that Community

guaranteeing

(26) 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 information and in following-up young people
at the end of their service;

(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).

(27) Whereas the social partners should play an important
role in the development of European voluntary

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service, not only to avoid any activity that is a substi-
tute 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;

cooperation between the Community and third
countries, on the other, are important objectives of
the ‘European Voluntary Service for Young People’
programme;

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

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

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

(31) 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
from 1 January
European Economic Area shall,
1995, participate in all Community programmes in
the field of education, training and youth then in
force or adopted;

already

(32) 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 Addi-
tional Protocols,
to be
concluded, on the participation of those countries in
Community programmes; whereas this programme is
open to the participation of Cyprus and Malta on the
basis of additional appropriations under the same
rules as apply to the EFTA States participating in the
European Economic Area, in accordance with pro-
cedures to be agreed with those countries, without
prejudice to the procedures to be completed for
Malta’s participation;

concluded or

(34) Whereas a number of association and cooperation

agreements provide for exchanges of young people;

(35) Whereas this Decision lays down, for the entire dura-
tion of the programme, a financial framework consti-
tuting the principal point of reference, within the
meaning of point 1 of the Joint Declaration by the
European Parliament, the Council and the Commis-
sion of 6 March 1995 (1), for the budgetary authority
during the annual budgetary procedure;

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

(37) 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’;

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

the Council

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Establishment of the programme

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

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

(33) Whereas the promotion of active citizenship and the
acquisition of informal education experience, on the
one hand, and the contribution of young people to

(1) OJ C 102, 4. 4. 1996, p. 4.
(2) OJ C 102, 4. 4. 1996, p. 1.

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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 oppor-
tunities for men and women, to encourage mobility and
solidarity among young people as part of active citizen-
ship, 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 parti-
cipation 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
principle between 18 and 25 an attested informal educa-
tional experience, at transnational level, involving both
the acquisition of skills and abilities and the demonstra-
tion of responsible citizenship in order to help them to
become actively integrated into society. Young people
participating in the activities of this programme are here-
inafter also referred to as ‘young volunteers’.

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

(a) to encourage a spirit of initiative, creativity and solid-
arity among young people so as to enable them to
become actively integrated into society and to con-
tribute to the attainment of
the
programme;

the objectives of

(b) to step up participation by young people legally res-
ident 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 par-
ticular
those with which the Community has
concluded cooperation agreements. Those activities
must not restrict or be a substitute for potential or
existing paid employment;

(c) to promote recognition of the value of informal educa-
tional experience acquired in a European context;

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 ac-
to the community, within the

tivities of benefit
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;

(d) to develop and support appropriate preparation, par-
ticularly linguistic and intercultural, and the integra-
tion of young volunteers,
‘mentors’ and European
project leaders so that young volunteers can benefit
from high-quality projects connected with the objec-
tives 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’ en-
deavours to improve services and measures related to
European voluntary
through
measures to provide young people with information
the programme and through
on the objectives of
studies and continuing evaluation through which,
where appropriate, the detailed implementing rules
and the approaches of the programme may be brought
into line with any needs which might emerge.

service, particularly

Article 3

Financial provisions

1.
The financial framework for the implementation of
this programme for the period 1998-1999 is hereby set at
ECU 47,5 million, in keeping with the current financial
perspective.

The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the
the financial

2.
budgetary authority within the limits of
perspective.

Article 4

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

people.

Access to the programme — positive action

3.
For this purpose, and in accordance with the general
objectives set out in Article 1 and the specific objectives

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

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

they shall

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,
those countries in
concluded on the participation of
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

The Commission shall ensure the implementation

1.
of this programme.

to be

implemented under

The Commission and the Member States

2.
shall
ensure that
there is consistency and complementarity
this
between measures
programme and other relevant Community programmes
and initiatives,
‘Youth for Europe’ and
programmes offering the possibility of financing volun-
teer projects aimed at young volunteers from third coun-
tries, as well as measures undertaken by the Member
States in this field.

in particular

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.

Article 7

Cooperation with Member States

The Commission and the Member States shall take
1.
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 local level, 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 ensure that appropriate information is
provided and volunteers are made aware of their rights
and obligations at European, national and local level, and
shall endeavour to make an active contribution to en-
suring complementarity between European voluntary
service activities and similar national activities of various
kinds.

Each Member State shall endeavour, as

2.
far as
possible, to adopt such measures as it deems necessary
and desirable to ensure the proper functioning of the
programme, in particular regarding the legal and adminis-
trative obstacles to the access of young people to the
programme, obstacles to the transnational mobility of
young volunteers and recognition of the specific nature of
the situation of young volunteers.

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 Euro-
pean Voluntary Service and to the experience and skills
that they have acquired during the relevant period.

Article 9

Committee

In the implementation of

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

this programme,

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,

— the annual plan of work for the implementation of the

measures in the programme,

— the general balance between the various sections of

the programme,

— 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 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.

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

— the Commission may defer

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

application of

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

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

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.

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.

Article 10

Monitoring and evaluation

1. On implementation of this Decision, the Commis-
sion 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 consis-
tent approach to youth-related measures looking forward
to the year 2000.

Article 11

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

Done at Brussels, 20 July 1998

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.

For the European Parliament

For the Council

The President

J. M. GIL-ROBLES

The President

W. MOLTERER

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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 Euro-
pean 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 State 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 mo-

bility 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 organizing 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 appro-
priate 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 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.

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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 dimen-
sion of activities, to prepare young long-term volunteers prior to departure and to promote their integra-
tion 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 speci-
fically 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.

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

ities of young people residing in Member States.

3. Assistance will be awarded for:

long-term activities

4. Long-term activities will emphasise 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 trans-
national European voluntary service projects in third countries, more specifically long-term activities.

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7. Measures intended (particularly at the linguistic and intercultural levels) to reinforce the European dimen-
sion of activities, to prepare young long-term volunteers prior to departure and to promote their integra-
tion 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 familiarize 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 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.

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

Activities supported will be those intended to:

— 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 (organization, 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.

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31. 7. 98

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 frame-
work 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.

6.

This assistance may cover innovative activities which create networks between initiatives within the
Community, in which third countries may participate where appropriate.

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 in-
tegration within these networks of a European voluntary service dimension.

4.3. Information, research and evaluation

1.

2.

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.

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 ped-
agogical 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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Statements by the Commission

(on the elimination of obstacles to mobility)

The Commission attaches great importance to eliminating all the legal and administrative
obstacles hampering access to the Community action programme ‘European voluntary service for
young people’ and the transnational mobility of European youth volunteers.

The Commission will carefully monitor implementation of the programme, including the elim-
ination of these obstacles, and, where necessary, will take the appropriate initiatives.

(on the Programme Committee)

The Commission will inform the European Parliament once a year about the implementing
measures taken pursuant to this Decision.