Common position (EC) No 22/1999 adopted by the Council on 28 June 1999 with a view to the adoption of Decision No _/1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the 'Youth' Community action programme
Date: 1999-06-28
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU programme, action programme, information policy, third country, young person, youth exchange scheme

22.7.1999

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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I

(Information)

COUNCIL

COMMON POSITION (EC) No 22/1999

adopted by the Council on 28 June 1999

with a view to the adoption of Decision No . . ./1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council establishing the (cid:145)Youth(cid:146) Community action programme

(1999/C 210/01)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

field on the basis of the experience acquired from that
programme;

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

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

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

(3) Whereas

the

extraordinary

European Council

on
Employment held in Luxembourg on 20 and 21
Novmeber 1997 adopted a coordinated employment
strategy in which life-long education and training have a
fundamental role to play in implementing the guidelines
set out in the Council Resolution of 15 December 1997 (6)
for the Member States’ employment policies in order to
enhance employability, adaptability and the culture of
entrepreneurship and to promote equal opportunities;

Having regard to the opinion of
Regions (3),

the Committee of

the

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

(4) Whereas the Commission in its communication (cid:145)Towards
a Europe of knowledge(cid:146) set out guidelines on the creation
of an open and dynamic European education area capable
of achieving the objective of
life-long education and
training;

(1) Whereas the Treaty establishing the European Community
provides that the latter’s action shall, inter alia, contribute
to the development of quality education and training;
whereas this was resolutely reiterated by the Treaty of
Amsterdam signed on 2 October 1997 which states that
the Community is also to promote the development of the
highest possible level of knowledge for
its peoples
to education and through a
through a wide access
continuous updating of knowledge;

third phase of

(2) Whereas, by their Decision No 818/95/EC of 14 March
(cid:145)Youth for Europe(cid:146)
1995 the
programme (5), the European Parliament and the Council
set up an action programme regarding cooperation in the
field of youth; whereas it is appropriate to pursue and
strengthen cooperation and Community action in that

the

(1) OJ C 311, 10.10.1998, p. 6.
(2) OJ C 410, 30.12.1998, p. 11.
(3) OJ C 51, 22.2.1999, p. 77.
(4) Opinion of the European Parliament of 5 November 1998 (OJ C
359, 23.11.1998, p. 75), Council Common Position of 28 June
1999 and Decision of the European Parliament of
(not yet
published in the Official Journal).

. . .

(5) Whereas,

the

emergence of

in its White Paper (cid:145)Teaching and learning (cid:151)
the Commission stated
Towards the learning society(cid:146),
that
learning society entails
the
encouraging the acquisition of new knowledge and to
this end providing motivation to learn at every oppor-
in its Green Paper (cid:145)Education, training,
tunity; whereas,
research:
the
Commission highlighted the advantages of mobility for
people and competitiveness in the European Union;

to transnational mobility(cid:146),

the obstacles

(6) Whereas there is a need to promote active citizenship, to
strengthen the links between measures pursued under this
programme and to step up the fight for respect for human
rights and against exclusion in all
including
racism and xenophobia; whereas special attention should
be focused on removing discrimination and on promoting
equal opportunities for women and men;

its forms,

(7) Whereas youth exchanges in particular contribute to
mutual trust, the strengthening of democracy, tolerance,
a willingness to cooperate and solidarity between young
people, and whereas they are therefore crucial
for the
cohesion and further development of the Union;

(5) OJ L 87, 20.4.1995, p. 1.

(6) OJ C 30, 28.1.1998, p. 1.

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(8) Whereas the participation of young people in voluntary
service activities is a type of informal education leading to
the acquisition of additional knowledge, whose quality
should be largely based on appropriate preparatory
measures,
including those of a linguistic and cultural
future
nature; whereas
direction of their lives, to broaden their horizons and to
develop their social skills, active citizenship and balanced
integration into society from the economic, social and
including preparation for
cultural points of
working life, and promotes awareness of true European
citizenship;

to determine

it helps

view,

the

(9) Whereas,

in its Resolution of 14 May 1998 on the
information and communication policy in the European
Union (1), the European Parliament stated that, with regard
to support and action programmes,
the selection of
projects should be more transparent and the reasons for
the choice should be clearer to those who submit the
projects;

(10) Whereas the Commission and Member States should seek
European
complementarity
similar

to
Voluntary Service activities and the various
national schemes;

guarantee

between

(11) Whereas the European Parliament and the Council,

in
their Decision No . . ./1999/EC on education, and the
Council, in Decision No . . ./1999/EC of 26 April 1999
action
on
fields
programmes
respectively, which contribute together with the youth
programme to a Europe of knowledge;

education and training

established Community

training,

have

the

for

(12) Whereas the policy of cooperation in the youth field
contributes to the promotion of informal education, and
therefore to life-long learning, and whereas this policy
needs to be further developed;

it

the youth
Socrates), whereas
programme committee be kept regularly informed about
Community initiatives taken in the fields of education,
vocational training and youth;

important

that

is

(16) Whereas the European Councils of Essen (9 and 10
December 1994) and Cannes (26 and 27 June 1995)
further action to enhance the
stressed the need for
integration of young people in
social and vocational
Europe; whereas
the European
conclusions of
the
Council of Florence (21 and 22 June 1996) emphasised
the importance of making it easier for young people to
enter the labour force; whereas the European Council
meeting in Amsterdam (15-17 June 1997) expressed its
support
the
European Parliament and Council adopted Decision No
establishing
1686/98/EC
the
Community
(cid:145)European Voluntary
Service for Young People(cid:146) (2);

for non-profit-making activities; whereas

on
action programme

1998

July

20

(17) Whereas European Voluntary Service activities are not a
substitute for military service, for the alternative service
formulae
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;

particular

provided

for

in

(18) 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;

(19) Whereas the European Parliament adopted a Resolution
on 2 July 1998 on promoting the role of voluntary
organisations and foundations in Europe (3); 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;

(13) Whereas the integration of young people into the world
their integration into
of work is an essential part of
society, and whereas this also calls for all
their skills
and competences acquired as part of their experience of
informal education to be recognised and for a high
premium to be put on their importance;

(20) Whereas the Commission and the Member States are to
ensure that
they foster cooperation with non-govern-
mental organisations active in the youth and social
the environment,
in the areas of
fields, as well as
culture,
forms of
exlusion;

sport and combating the various

(14) Whereas it is necessary, in order to reinforce the added
value of Community action that the Commission in coop-
eration with the Member States should ensure coherence
and a complementarity at all levels between the actions
implemented within the framework of this Decison and
other relevant policies, instruments and actions;

(15) Whereas

it

is

that

important

the youth programme
committee should consult, on the basis of arrangements
to be defined, with the committees responsible for the
implementation of
training
and educational programmes (Leonardo da Vinci and

the Community vocational

(21) Whereas the Agreement on the European Economic Area
(EEA Agreement) provides for greater cooperation in the
field of education,
training and youth between the
European Community and its Member States, on the
the European Free Trade
one hand, and the States of
European
Association
the
Economic
the
EEA-Agreement
lays down procedures for the partici-
pation of the EFTA States participating in the EEA in
education,
Community programmes
training and youth;

participating
the

other; whereas

(EFTA)
Area,

field of

in the

on

in

(1) OJ C 167, 1.6.1998, p. 230.

(2) OJ L 214, 31.7.1998, p. 1.
(3) OJ C 226, 20.7.1998, p. 66.

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(22) Whereas provision should be made

to open this
the associated Central
programme to participation of
and Eastern European countries (CEEC)
in accordance
with the conditions established in the Europe Agreements,
in their additional protocols and in the decisions of the
funded by
respective Association Councils, of Cyprus,
additional
the
procedures to be agreed with that country, as well as of
Malta and Turkey, funded by additional appropriations, in
accordance with the provisions of the Treaty;

accordance with

appropriations

in

(23) Whereas

evaluated

this programme should be monitored and
continually
the
Commission and the Member States in order to allow
for
for
readjustments, particularly in the priorities
implementing the measures;

cooperation

between

in

(24) Whereas, in accordance with the principles of subsidiarity
and proportionality as defined in Article 5 of the Treaty,
since the objectives of the proposed action concering the
development and strengthening of a cooperation policy in
the youth field, including European Voluntary Service and
youth exchanges both within the Community and with
third countries, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the
Member States because of the complexity and diversity
of the youth field, they can therefore be better achieved
by the Community owing to the transnational dimension
this
of Community actions
Decision does not go beyond what
is necessary to
archieve those objectives;

and measures; whereas

(25) 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
33 of
the Interinstitutional Agreement between the
European Parliament, the Council and the Commission
of 6 May 1999 (1), on budgetary
and
improvement of the budgetary procedure;

discipline

(26) Whereas an agreement was reached on 20 December
1994 on a modus vivendi between the European
Parliament, the Council and the Commission concerning
the implementing measures for acts adopted pursuant to
the procedure referred to in Article 251 (*) of
the
Treaty (2),

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Establishment of the programme

This decision establishes the (cid:145)Youth(cid:146) Community action
1.
(cid:145)this programme(cid:146),
referred to as
programme, hereinafter
concerning cooperation policy in the youth field,
including
European Voluntary Service and youth exchanges both within
the Community and with third countries.

(1) OJ C 172, 18.6.1999.
(*) Article 189b was

renumbered Article 251 in the Treaty of

Amsterdam.

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

This programme shall be implemented over the period
2.
starting on 1 January 2000 and ending on 31 December 2004.

This programme shall contribute to the promotion of a
3.
Europe of knowledge by developing a European area of coop-
eration in the field of youth policy, based on informal
education and training. It shall promote life-long learning and
the building up of the knowledge and skills and competences
likely to foster active citizenship and employability.

This programme shall support and supplement action
4.
taken by and in the Member States while fully respecting
their cultural and linguistic diversity.

Article 2

Objectives of the programme

1.
In order to allow young people to acquire knowledge,
skills and competences which may be one of the foundations
of their future development, and to exercise responsible citi-
zenship so as to become an active part of society and bearing
in mind the importance of promoting equal opportunities, the
objectives of this proogramme are as follws:

(a) to promote an active contribution by young people to the
building of Europe through their participation in trans-
national exchanges within the Community or with third
countries so as to develop understanding of the cultural
diversity of Europe and its fundamental common values,
thus helping to promote respect for human rights and to
combat racism, anti-semitism and xenphobia;

(b) to strengthen their

sense of

solidarity through more
extensive participation by young people in transnational
community-service activities within the Community or
in particular those with which the
with third countries,
Community has concluded cooperation agreements;

(c) to encourage young people’s

initiative, enterprise and
creativity so that they may take an active role in society
and, at the same time, to stimulate recognition of the value
of informal education acquired within a European context;

(d) reinforce cooperation in the field of youth by fostering the
exchange of good practice, the training of youth workers/
leaders and the development of
innovative actions at
Community level.

This programme shall also contribute to attaining the

2.
objectives of other relevant areas of Community policy.

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Article 3

Community actions

1.
The objectives of this programme as set out in Article 2
shall be pursued by means of the following actions, the oper-
ational content and the application procedures of which are
described in the Annex:

(cid:151) Youth for Europe,

(cid:151) European Voluntary Service,

(cid:151) Youth initiatives,

(cid:151) Joint actions,

(cid:151) Support measures.

These actions shall be implemented through the following
appropriate, be

2.
types of measures, which may where
combined:

(a) support for the transnational mobility of young people;

(b) support for the use of

information and communication

technologies (ICT) in the youth field;

(c) support for the development of cooperation networks at
exchange of

the European level permitting mutual
experience and good practice;

(d) promotion of language skills and understanding of different

cultures;

(e) support

for pilot projects based on transnational part-
nerships designed to develop innovation and quality in
the youth field;

(f) development, at a European level, of methods of analysis
and follow-up of youth policies and their evolution (e.g.
data bases, key figures, mutual knowledge of
(cid:145)systems(cid:146))
and of methods of disseminating good practice.

Article 4

Access to the programme

1.
This programme is aimed at young people (cid:151) in principle
between the ages of 15 and 25 (cid:151) as well as those involved in
youth work, who are legal residents of a Member State.

Within the framwork of Actions 1.2, 2.2 and 5 set out in the
Annex, this programme may also be aimed at young people (cid:151)
in principle aged from 15 to 25 (cid:151) and those involved in youth
work who reside in third countries, without prejudice to the
competences of the Member States.

2.
Particular attention should be paid to ensuring that all
young people, without discrimination, have access to the
activities of this programme.

The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that
3.
special efforts are made to assist young people who,
for
cultural, social, physical, mental, economic or geographical

reasons, find it more difficult to participate in relevant action
programmes at Community, national, regional or local level, as
local groups. The Commission shall
well as to assist small
accordingly take account of
the difficulties faced by these
target groups, thus contributing to combating exclusion.

Article 5

Implementation of the programme and cooperation with
the Member States

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

2.
The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States,
shall take the steps described in the Annex (Action 5) in order
to make the best use of what has been achieved through
Community cooperative action in the youth field.

The Commission and Member States shall take appro-
3.
priate action to develop structures established at Community
and national level to achieve the objectives of the programme,
to the
in a user-friendly way,
programme for young people and other partners at
local
level, to evaluate and monitor actions called for under the
programme
consultation and
selection arrangements.

to facilitate access

and to apply

transparent

so as

The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that they
take measures to facilitate young people’s access to trans-
national mobility through measures designed adequately to
inform them and raise their awareness of this subject. The
Commission and the Member States shall ensure that appro-
priate information and publicity is provided about actions
supported by the programme.

take the necessary steps to
The Member States shall
4.
ensure the efficient running of
they shall
the programme;
also endeavour, as far as possible, to adopt such measures as
they deem necessary and desirable to remove legal and admin-
istrative obstacles to access to this programme.

5.
The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States,
shall ensure the transition between those actions carried out
within the framwork of the previous Community programmes
in the youth field (Youth for Europe III and European Voluntary
Service) and the actions
this
programme.

to be implemented under

Article 6

Joint actions

As part of the process of building up a Europe of knowledge,
the measures of
this programme may be implemented in
accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 7 as
joint
and
actions with related Community programmes
actions in the area of youth, education and vocational training.

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Article 7

Committee

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 be assisted by a committee
two representatives from each Member State

1.
composed of
and chaired by the representative of the Commission.

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

submit

to the

(a) the

arrangements

implementing this programme,
including the annual plan of work for the implementation
of the programme’s actions;

for

(b) the general balance between the different actions of the

programme;

(c) the

criteria

applicable

indicative
breakdown of
funds among the Member States for the
purpose of the actions to be managed on a decentralised
basis;

establishing the

for

(d) the arrangements for implementing the joint actions;

(e) the arrangements for evaluating the programme;

(f)

the arrangements for attesting to participation of young
volunteers.

3.
The committee shall deliver its opinion on this 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 205(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.

4. (a) The Commission shall adopt measures which shall apply

immediately.

(b) However, if these measures are not in accordance with
the
be
communicated by the Commission to the Council
forthwith. In that event:

committee,

opinion

shall

they

the

of

(cid:151) the Commisison shall defer application of

the
measures which it has decided for a period of up
to two months from the date of the communication;

(cid:151) the Council, acting by a qualified majority, may take
a different decision within the time limit referred to
in the preceding indent.

In that

concerning
event,

The Commission shall consult the committee on other
5.
the
appropriate matters
the
programme.
Commission shall submit
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.

implementation of
of
to the committee a draft of

representative

the

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.

Article 8

Funding

The financial framework for the implementation of this
1.
programme for the period specified in Article 1 is hereby set at
EUR 350 million.

The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the
financial

authority within the

limits of

the

2.
budgetary
perspective.

Article 9

Consistency and complementarity

The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States
1.
and without prejudice to the individual character and speci-
ficity of each programme, shall ensure overall consistency
and
relevant Community
policies, instruments and actions. Particular attention shall be
paid to the promotion of equality and to equal opportunities
for women and men.

complementarity with

other

2.
The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States,
shall ensure consistency between the implementation of this
programme and the other Community activities relating to
youth, in particular in the area of culture and the audiovisual
sector, the completion of the internal market, the information
society, environment, consumer protection, SMEs, social policy,
employment, and public health.

The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that
3.
the measures of
regard to the
employment guidelines adopted by the Council as part of a
coordinated strategy for employment.

this programme have

4.
The Commission shall ensure an efficient link-up between
this programme and the programmes and actions in the youth
field undertaken as part of the Community’s external relations.

Article 10

Participation of the EFTA/EEA countries, the associated
Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC), Cyprus,
Malta and Turkey

This programme shall be open to the participation of

(cid:151) the EFTA/EEA countries in accordance with the conditions

established in the EEA agreement,

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(cid:151) the associated Central and Eastern European countries
in accordance with the conditions established in
in their additional protocols and

(CEEC)
the Europe agreements,
in the decisions of the respective Association Councils,

(cid:151) Cyprus, funded by additional appropriations in accordance

with the procedures to be agreed with that country,

This evaluation will also examine the complementarity between
actions under this programme and those pursued under other
relevant Community policies, instruments and actions.

In accordance with criteria established using the procedure
(3) and (4), there will be regular
described in Article 7(2),
external evaluations of the results of the Community actions.

(cid:151) Malta and Turkey, funded by additional appropriations in

accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.

3. Member States shall submit to the Commission by 31
December 2002 and 30 June 2005, respectively, report on
the implementation and the impact of this programme.

Article 11

International cooperation

Under this programme, the Commission, acting in accordance
with the procedures laid down in Article 7, shall strengthen its
cooperation with non-Community countries and relevant inter-
national organisations, in particular the Council of Europe.

Article 12

Monitoring and evaluation

The Commission shall regularly monitor this programme

1.
in cooperation with the Member States.

This monitoring shall
paragraph 3 and specific activities.

include the reports

referred to in

2.
This programme shall be evaluated regularly by the
Commission in cooperation with the Member States. This
evaluation is intended to increase the effectiveness of actions
implemented with regard to the objectives referred to in
Article 2.

The Commission

4.
European
Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee
and the Committee oft the Regions

submit

shall

the

to

(cid:151) an interim report on the qualitative and quantitative aspects
of the implementation of this programme by 30 June 2003,

(cid:151) a final report on the implementation of this programme by

31 December 2005.

Article 13

Entry into force

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

Done at . . .

For the European Parliament

The President

For the Council

The President

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ANNEX

Funding approved under the programme is to observe the principles of co-financing and additionality. In accordance
with Article 4(3) of the Decision, efforts must be made to facilitate access to the programme for young people who face
difficulties of a cultural, social, physical, mental, economic or geographical nature, as well as for small local groups. The
committee referred to in Article 7 of the Decision is to lay down the specific form these efforts should take. Community
funding is to be distributed in such a way as to take account of the need to ensure balance between the mobility actions
undertaken and an equal opportunity of participation for the young people of every Member State; that is to say, Article
4(3) is to be taken into account.

Initiatives designed to encourage tolerance and the acceptance of differences, as well as measures combating all forms of
exclusion, should be given specific encouragement and stimulation. The Community will be receptive to activities giving
a prominent position to culture and sport in the context of informal education for young people.

In order to achieve the objectives of the programme, five categories of action are to be implemented on the basis of the
measures described in Article 3 of the Decision:

(cid:151) Youth for Europe,

(cid:151) European Voluntary Service,

(cid:151) Youth initiatives,

(cid:151) Joint actions,

(cid:151) Support measures.

ACTION 1 (cid:151) YOUTH FOR EUROPE

Action 1.1: Intra-Community exchanges for young people

The Community will support mobility activities for young people provided that the activities in question last at least one
week, are carried out on the basis of joint projects within the Community and involve groups of young people aged in
principle between 15 and 25 years and legally resident in a Member State.

Those activities, based on transnational partnership between groups of young people, are to involve their active
participation and be designed to make it possible for them to discover and become aware of different social and
cultural realities and to encourage them to participate in, or initiate, other activities at European level. Particular
attention is to be paid to participation by young people for whom it is their first European activity and to small-scale
or local groups without experience at European level.

In order to move towards a better balance between bilateral and multilateral activities, Community support will be
progressively focused on multilateral group-mobility activities. Bilateral group mobility will receive funding if this is
justified in terms of the target groups or a specific pedagogical approach.

Activities designed to strengthen the active involvement of young people in group mobility projects may receive funding
under this action, particularly in the form of activities to provide the young people in question with linguistic and
intercultural preparation

Action 1.2: Exchanges of young people with third countries

The Community will support mobility activities for young people provided that the activities in question last at least one
week, are carried out on the basis of joint projects and involve groups of young people aged in principle between 15
and 25 years and legally resident in a Member State or in a third country. These mobility activities are to involve at least
two Member States.

Those activities, based on transnational partnerships between groups of young people are to involve their active
participation and be designed to make it possible for them to discover and become aware of different social and
cultural realities and to encourage them to participate in, or initiate, other activities at European level. Moreover, these
projects are to make it possible for partners in the third countries to gain experience of this kind of activity in the field
of informal education and to contribute to the development of youth work and associations in those countries.

Activities designed to strengthen the active involvement of young people in group mobility projects may receive
funding, particularly in the form of activities in provide the young people in question with linguistic and intercultural
preparation before their departure.

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ACTION 2 (cid:151) EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE

For the purposes of this programme, (cid:145)young volunteer(cid:146) is taken to be a person agend in principle between 18 and 25
years and legally resident in a Member State.

Young volunteers will undertake, as active citizens, to carry out an activity which gives tangible form to solidarity, with
the view to acquiring social and personal abilities and skills thus laying the foundations for their future development,
while at the same time contributing to society. To this end, young volunteers will participate, in a Member State other
than the one in which they reside, or in a third country, in a non-profit-making and 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
and the Community, in compliance with the aims of this programme set out in Article 2. In particular it should not
result in job substitution. Full board and lodging as well as mentoring wil be provided. The voluntary service project will
ensure that young volunteers are covered by health and appropriate insurance. Young volunteers will receive an
allowance/pocket money.

European Voluntary Service is based on a partnership and shared responsibilities between the young volunteers, the
sending organisation and the host organisation.

In accordance with the provisions relating to the programme committee referred to in Article 7, a document, issued by
the Commission, will attest to the participation of the young volunteers in European Voluntary Service and to the
experience and skills that they have acquired during the relevant period.

Action 2.1: Intra-Community European Voluntary Service

The Community will support transnational projects (for a limited period ranging in principle from three weeks to one
year) which involve young people, actively and personally, in activities designed to help meet the needs of society in a
wide range of fields (social, socio-cultural, environmental, cultural, etc.) which constitue at the same time an experience
of informal education with a view to acquiring social and cultural skills. These projects are designed to bring young
people into contact with other cultures and other languages and to experience new ideas and projects in a multicultural
civil society.

The Community may support schemes, particularly those with a linguistic or intercultural element, which aim at
preparing young volunteers for their departure and easing their social integration during those activities as well as
when they have completed their period of European Voluntary Service. Particular attention is to be paid to pedagogical
support and mentoring.

Action 2.2: European Voluntary Service with third countries

The Community will support transnational projects with third countries (for a limited period ranging in principle from
three weeks to one year) which involve young people, actively and personally, in activities designed to help meet the
needs of society in a wide range of fields (social, socio-cultural, environmental, cultural, etc.) which constitute at the
same time an experience of informal education with a view to acquiring social and cultural skills. These projects are
designed to bring young people into contact with other cultures and other languages and to experience new ideas and
projects in a multicultural civil society.

Support may be given to action laying or consolidating the necessary foundations for developing transnational European
voluntary service with third countries.

The Community may support schemes, particularly those with a linguistic or intercultural element, which aim at
preparing young volunteers for their departure and easing their social integration during those activities as well as
when they have completed their period of European Voluntary Service. Particular attention is to be paid to pedagogical
support and mentoring.

ACTION 3 (cid:151) YOUTH INITIATIVES

In order to encourage initiative and creativity amoung young people, the Community will support projects in which
young people actively and directly participate in innovative and creative schemes and in schemes which focus on the
social commitement of young people at local, regional, national or European level. These projects will allow young
people to develop their initiative and to put into practice activities of their own devising in which they play the key
roles.

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The Community will support initiatives designed to help young volunteers to make the best possible use of the
experience they have gained during their period of voluntary service and to encourage their active integration into
society. Those initiatives taken by young people after completing their European Voluntary Service will allow them to
launch and promote activities of a social, cultural, socio-cultural and economic nature and/or aim at their personal
development. Priority access will be given to those young people most in need.

Support will aim at encouraging extension of these projects to include similar initiatives conducted in other Member
States in order to strengthen their transnational nature and greatly expand exchanges of experience and cooperation
between young people. This aid may include organising meetings of young promoters of Europe-wide initiatives.
Financial aid may be granted towards the effective establishment of stable, transnational partnership between such
projects.

ACTION 4 (cid:151) JOINT ACTIONS

Having regard to the need for a flexible and creative approach as a precondition for cooperation between sectors,
Community aid may be granted for the actions referred to in Article 6 of the Decision and for activities to be
undertaken jointly with other Community schemes relating to the Europe of knowledge, in particular Community
programmes in the field of education and vocational training.

The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, will aim at developing a common system of information,
observation and dissemination concerning good practice in the field of knowledge and life-long learning, alongside joint
actions with regard to multimedia for educational and training purposes. Those projects will cover a range of schemes
from a number of different sectors including youth. They may be funded in a complementary manner by a number of
different Community programmes, and may be implemented by means of calls for joint projects.

Appropriate measures may be adopted to promote, at regional and local level, contact and interaction between those
participating in this programme and in programmes dealing with vocational training and education. In this context,
activities increasing awareness of the opportunities provided by the Community to young people may be supported.

ACTION 5 (cid:151) SUPPORT MEASURES

Action 5.1: Training and cooperation in relation to those involved in youth policy

Funding shall be granted to:

1. Activities designed to give further training to persons involved in youth work (cid:151) particularly European Voluntary
Service instructors, youth workers/leaders, those running European projects and youth initiative counsellors (cid:151) who
take part in schemes directly involving young people, of the kind described in Actions 1, 2 and 3 of the programme,
the aim being to ensure that such schemes are of an appropriately high quality. Particular attention is to be paid to
activities seeking to encourage the participation of those young people who find it most difficult to participate in
Community actions.

2. Activities designed to develop European modules fulfilling the requirements for transnational cooperation.

3. Activities (cid:151) such as study visits, feasibility studies, seminars, work-experience (cid:151) which focus particularly on
exchanges of experience and good practice in relation to joint actions or issues of common interest or which are
designed to facilitate and promote the establishment of sustainable transnational partnerships and/or multilateral
networks between those active in the field of youth work.

4. Experimental activities which comprise a source of

innovation and enrichment of youth policy through the
implementation of new approaches and new forms of cooperation, as well as through the shared efforts of
participants from differing backgrounds.

5. Community support may also be given to conferences and seminars which seek to promote cooperation and the
exchange of good practice in the field of youth, as well as to other promotion and dissemination measures regarding
the results of the projects and activities supported within the framework of Community actions related to youth.

Activities associated with these measures may be solely intra-Community in nature or involve non-member countries.
Particular attention is to be paid to those who work with youth at a regional or local level and who have no or little
experience of, or scope for, contacts at European level, as well as to activities in which young people play the key roles.

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Action 5.2: Information for young people and youth studies

1. In line with the objectives of the programme and in particular to improve access for all young people and to enhance
their initiative and active participation in society, the Commission will encourage those active in the field of youth
work to become involved in informing young people at European level, as well as boosting cooperation between the
information and communication systems for young people established in the Member States and at Community level.
In this context, particular stress is to be laid on broadening cooperation to include the fields of education and
training, as well as on the dialogue both between and with young people.

2. Accordingly, funding is to be provided for initiatives involving:

(cid:151) the acquisition of the necessary experience and skills to carry out youth information projects based on trans-
national cooperation and projects which provide information and, in particular, advisory services for young
people,

(cid:151) cooperative projects focusing on information dissemination, enhancing the awareness among young people of
the field covered by the programme and giving young people access to all necessary information to achieve the
objectives of the programme,

(cid:151) the implementation, as part of transnational cooperation projects, of mechanisms permitting dialogue both
between and with young people, particularly through the use of youth-oriented media and new technologies.

3. With regard to the youth studies associated with the programme objectives, the Commission will support studies
focusing, among other subjects, on the impact of measures taken on behalf of young people and, in particular,
measures that seek to promote cooperation in this field. This research may take the form of case studies.

Action 5.3: Support measures

1. National agencies

Community assistance may be provided to support the activities of the structures set up by Member States, in
accordance with Article 5 of the Decision.

2. Technical assistance and operational support

In carrying out the programme, the Commission may have recourse to technical assistance organisations the
financing of which may be provided for within the overall financial framework for the programme. It may have
recourse to experts under the same conditions. Furthermore, the Commission will be able to undertake evaluation
studies and organise such seminars, colloquia or other meetings of experts as are likely to facilitate the implemen-
tation of the programme, including application of Article 11 of the Decision. The Commission may also undertake
information, publication and dissemination actions.

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STATEMENT OF THE COUNCIL’S REASONS

I. INTRODUCTION

1. On 28 August 1998, the Commission submitted to the European Parliament and to the Council a
proposal for a Decision establishing the Community action programme for youth (doc. 10945/98
JEUN 24 SOC 305 EDUC 56 CODEC 432 (cid:151) COM(1998) 331 final + COR 1(en)).

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

15 October and 5 November 1998 respectively.

3. The European Parliament delivered its Opinion on 19 November 1998.

4. On 30 November 1998,

Parliament and the Council
COM(1998) 695 final (cid:151) 98/0197(COD)).

the Commission submitted an amended proposal

to the European
(doc. 13628/98 JEUN 60 SOC 466 EDUC 102 CODEC 661 (cid:151)

5. On 28 June 1999, the Council adopted its Common Position in accordance with Article 251 of the

EC Treaty.

II. OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAMME

The aim of the proposal is, by setting up a Community programme for youth, to help young people to
acquire knowledge, abilities and skills and to exercise responsible citizenship to help them play an
active part in society.

1. General comments

In its Common Position, the Council in essence approved the Commission proposal while making
certain changes wich it felt were desirable.

2. Specific comments

2.1. Amendments made by the Council to the Commission proposal

2.1.1. Financing of the programme

The Council considered that the funding of EUR 350 million granted for the programme
both fulfilled its wish to see the programme become a success and its concern for a fair
division of the available resources at a time of significant financial restraint.

2.1.2. The order of the actions

The Council felt that it would be best (as did the European Parliament in one of its
amendments) to reverse the order of the two first actions listed in Article 3 by placing
(cid:145)Youth for Europe(cid:146) first and (cid:145)European voluntary service(cid:146) second, as the former was long
established and very succesful, and should take precedence.

2.1.3. Member States’ commitment to removing obstacles to mobility

The Council amended the wording of the passage which referred to this commitment so
as to align it generally on the similiar provisions in the European voluntary service
programme.

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2.1.4. Nature of the programme Committee

In view of the scope of the Decision and the complexity of the activities covered by the
programme, the Council felt that a type II (b) programme Committee (rather than II (a)
as proposed by the Commission) would be more appropriate in accordance with the
definitions in the committee procedure Decision of 13 July 1987.

2.2. Amendments by the European Parliament

2.2.1. Parliament amendments adopted by the Commission

The Commission accepted, either in part or in essence, 36 of the 61 textual amendments
submitted by the European Parliament.

2.2.2. Parliament amendments adopted by the Council

The Council accepted either in part or in essence, one textual amendement proposed by
the European Parliament but not adopted by the Commission (Amendment No 23) and
21 of the amendments adopted by the Commission (Nos 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 19,
21, 24, 28, 30, 34, 36, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46).

2.2.3. Parliament amendments not adopted by the Council

Apart from those not adopted by the Commission, the Council rejected the following
amendments:

2.2.3.1. Amendments which were completely or partially outside the scope of the programme

(Nos 8, 18, 26)

The Council felt that these amendments either did not come within or only
partically came within the scope of the Decision.

2.2.3.2. Amendments which raised difficulties when it came to applying the principe of

subsidiarity

(Nos 2, 6, 9, 52)

The Council considered that these amendments did not seem to comply with
the principle of subsidiarity.

2.2.3.3. Amendments which dit not make any significant improvements to the text or which
(Nos 4, 17, 22, 49)

echoed existing provisions or which seemed to be irrelevant

to the text of

The Council considered that Amendment 22 did not make any significant
the Decision and that Amendment 49 made
improvement
additions to the text which were difficult to understand. It also thought that
Amendment 4 had largely the same content as Amendments 5 and 10 which it
had adopted and inserted in the text of the Decision. Finally the Council noted
that Amendment 17 as drafted was inaccurate, seeming as it did to give a
particular interpretation of certain provisions of Article 149 of the Treaty.

2.2.3.4. Amendment which might be understood as aiming at harmonisation in the filed of

social welfare and medical assistance

(No 29)

The Council considered that this amendment could be interpreted as meaning
that coordination between the Member States in question would lead de facto to
harmonisation of the rules on social welfare and medical assistance.

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2.2.3.5. Amendment on the removal of obstacles to mobility

(No 31)

The Council throught that the wording it had chosen for Article 5(4) was more
appropriate than that of the amendment. In fact the Council had essentially
taken over the wording of the similiar provision in the European voluntary
service programme.

2.2.3.6. Amendment on the coordination of information campaigns and publication of their
results with similiar actions provided for in LEONARDO and SOCRATES (No 57)

The Council took the view that considerable practical difficulties would arise in
implementation if this amendment were included in the text of the programme.

2.2.3.7. Amendment on the setting up of a structure based on promoting youth projects,
(No 59)
information, documentation on youth and dialogue with youth as a whole

The Council rejected this amendment as it believed that
committee should take this kind of initiative.

the programme

III. CONCLUSIONS

The Council considers that its Common Position is a balanced text which broadly takes over the
Commission’s proposal while making such changes
(partly echoing the European Parliament’s
amendments) as might improve the text.