WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3891/98 by Odile LEPERRE-VERRIER Exchanges with the countries of Latin America under the 'Youth for Europe' programme
Date: 1999-01-04
Institutions: European Parliament, LEPERRE-VERRIER
Subjects: Central America, EU programme, Latin America, cooperation agreement (EU), education, non-governmental organisation, vocational training, young person, youth employment, youth exchange scheme













EUR-Lex - 91998E3891 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91998E3891

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3891/98 by Odile LEPERRE-VERRIER Exchanges with the countries of Latin America under the 'Youth for Europe' programme  


Official Journal C 289 , 11/10/1999 P. 0103 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-3891/98by Odile Leperre-Verrier (ARE) to the Commission(4 January 1999)Subject: Exchanges with the countries of Latin America under the "Youth for Europe" programmeWould the Commission supply a report on the exchanges with Latin American countries carried out under the "Youth for Europe" programme, indicating what types of measures have been subsidised and in which countries?Would it also say what will happen to such exchanges with the introduction of the new "Youth for Europe" programme? In the event of a merger with the European voluntary service programme, will measures aimed at Latin America still be given financial support?Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission(23 February 1999)The Commission has been supporting exchanges of young people and activities in support of exchanges of young people with the countries of Latin America since 1992. Until 1994, these activities came under "Priority actions in the field of youth". As of 1995, exchanges of young people with third countries were incorporated into the "Youth for Europe" programme.Since 1993, there has been sustained interest and a spirit of solidarity on the part of the European non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in supporting youth work in these countries. Although initially there was a concentration of applications from Iberian associations, all the Member States eventually joined in, including Germany and the Nordic countries. The need to involve at least two Latin American countries also led to the exchange and transfer of experience and the establishing of fruitful relations between Latin American NGOs. Exchanges of young people have made a major contribution in some Latin American countries to the achievement of a democratic society, the process of peace consolidation, and the establishing of youth policies and structures.In 1998 the Commission received 78 funding applications for youth guidance worker training or youth exchanges with Latin America and Central America, of which 31 were approved. Implementation of the European Voluntary Service pilot initiative in 1996 and of the programme proper as from 1998 has also led to the placing of 55 young European voluntary workers in projects located in Latin America and Central America.As the cooperation agreements between the Community and these countries now include a strand on "cooperation in the field of education, vocational training and youth", the Commission is examining the possibilities of strengthening cooperation in the youth field, particularly with local players responsible for youth work and development of the associative fabric in the context of regional cooperation agreements between the Mercosur, Andean Pact and Central American countries.