Opinion of the Commission pursuant to Article 251(2) (c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council´s common position regarding the proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the "Youth" Community action programme, amending the proposal of the Commission pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty
Date: 1999-12-22
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, action programme, education, vocational training, young person

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 22.12.1999
COM(1999) 659 final

1998/0197 (COD)

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION

pursuant to Article 251(2) (c) of the EC Treaty,
on the European Parliament's amendments
to the Council's common position regarding the

proposal for a

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

establishing the "Youth" Community action programme

AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION
pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

Article 251(2)(c) of the EC Treaty lays down that the Commission shall deliver an opinion on
the amendments proposed by the European Parliament at second reading.

The Commission sets out its opinion below on the 13 amendments proposed by Parliament. It
also includes, under the terms of Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty, an amended proposal
incorporating the 13 amendments by Parliament which the Commission accepted wholly or in
part.

1.

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

f)

g)

BACKGROUND

On 28 August 1998, the Commission forwarded to the Council and to the European
Parliament its proposal for a decision (COM(1998)331 final - COD 1998/0197 of
27 May 1998.

The Economic and Social Committee delivered a
15 October 1998.

favourable opinion on

The Committee
19 November 1998.

of

the Regions

delivered

a

favourable

opinion

on

On 5 November 1998, Parliament adopted at first reading a favourable resolution
including 61 amendments to the Commission proposal.

On 2 December 1998 the Commission adopted, pursuant to Article 250(2) of the
Treaty, an amended proposal for a decision incorporating wholly or in part 36 of the
61 amendments proposed by Parliament (COM(1998)695 final - COD 1998/0197 of
27.11.98.

The Council adopted its common position on 28 June 1999.

On 27 October 1999,
favourable resolution including 13 amendments to the common position.

the Parliament European adopted at second reading a

2.

PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSAL

Based on Article 149 of the EC Treaty, the proposal for a decision on "Youth" establishes a
new integrated and coherent framework for Community actions for young people, which have
been an ongoing success. The new programme integrates actions laid down in the "Youth for
Europe" and "European voluntary service for young people" programmes. The "Opportunity
for Youth" action will make it possible to give extra support to initiatives intended to assist
young people in establishing self-employment. Finally, the proposal for a decision represents
an important rationalisation of accompanying measures aimed at leaders and players in the
youth field. The programme incorporates lessons learnt from the implementation of preceding
programmes. Thus it maintains the acquis communautaire in terms of decentralisation and
extends it by strengthening cooperation with the competent national authorities.

2

3.

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE AMENDMENTS BY THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENT

3.1.

Amendments retained by the Commission

• Amendments 2 and 6 seek to reinforce the invitation to the Member States to remove the
legal or administrative obstacles to transnational mobility for young people and to ensure
the preservation of rights, particularly in the field of social protection and access thereto
and to medical care. These two amendments echo the Commission's concerns on this
subject in so far as it is a crucial aspect for the development of the programme.

• Amendment 3 sets the duration of the programme at seven years. This amendment is based
on the decisions taken for the Socrates and Leonardo programmes, where a duration of
seven years appeared to be more effective than a shorter programme. The Youth
programme is one of the three programmes proposed by the Commission in the fields of
education (Socrates), training (Leonardo) and youth, and provides for joint actions with
these two other programmes. Maintaining Youth as a five-year programme therefore risked
compromising efforts towards consistency and complementarity in Community action in
these different fields as well as efforts towards rationalisation and consistency in the
management and implementation of these programmes (including at external assistance
level). Since the first reading, the financial perspectives have also been adopted for a
duration of seven years, laying down budgets for each of the three programmes for this
length of time.

• Amendment 9 makes a number of modifications to Article 8 concerning the financial
provisions. The section of the amendment concerning the distribution of appropriations
between the different actions of the programme on the basis of an annual report presented
to Parliament under the annual budget procedure is useful and pertinent and ties in with the
statement by the Commission in the minutes of the Council meeting of 27 May 1999
concerning the budgetary breakdown (first reading). The Commission accepts the spirit of
this amendment, which it wishes to supplement in order to take the concerns of the Council
into account as well.

• Amendment 10 relates to the introduction of a revision clause in Article 12 (Monitoring
and evaluation) which would enable the Commission to submit, three years after the start
of the programme, a report on the results achieved, accompanied by any proposals it deems
appropriate, including with regard to the financial framework set out in Article 8. As the
Commission can accept amendment 3, which extends the duration of the programme to
seven years (instead of the five years initially proposed by the Commission), the clause
introduced by Parliament will enable the programme to adapt flexibly to any new
requirements which may arise in the future.

• Amendment 13 asks the Commission to establish a structure based on deriving the
maximum benefit from projects for young people, information, documentation on youth
and dialogue with all young people. This amendment was accepted at first reading by the
Commission and was therefore integrated in its amended proposal of 2 December 1998.1
This amendment will make it possible to strengthen proximity with citizens and dialogue
with young people and to respond effectively and appropriately to their requests and
requirements. The Commission wishes to make some minor modifications to take account

1

COM(1998)695 final-1998/0197 (COD).

3

of concerns expressed by the Member States during the first reading, and considers it more
logical to include the reworded amendment under action 5.3.2 (Support measures) in the
new paragraph 3.

A number of other amendments are intended to clarify and reinforce certain aspects of the
common position and may therefore by retained either as they are or in spirit. More
particularly, this applies to amendments Nos 1, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12 (part 1) which relate to the
following aspects:

• the importance of adequate information to make it possible to reach all young people and

to encourage greater accessibility to the programme;

• promotion of European citizenship and the involvement of young people in the

development of the Union;

• a degree of flexibility concerning the age category;

• taking into account, when evaluating the programme, compliance with the principle of

equal access as laid down in Article 4(2) and (3);

• taking into account, in the context of studies, the impact of other policies on the world of
youth and the need to provide a clearer and more global image of the needs of young
people and the conditions in which they live.

Amendments 7 and 8 concerning the programme committee may be accepted in principle by
means of a wording in accordance with the wording of the provisions relating to committee
procedure in the basic instruments.

3.2.

Amendments not accepted by the Commission

Amendment 9 (section 3), relating to a flexibility clause which would make it possible to
review the total amount of the budget in the context of annual budgetary cooperation, cannot
be accepted. This section of the amendment departs from the interinstitutional declaration of
6 March 1995 on the
acts
(OJ 96/C 102/03).

financial provisions

incorporation of

into legislative

the Commission's initial proposal, pursuant

With regard to the funding of the programme (amendment 9, part 1), it should be borne in
mind that
to the priorities laid down in
600 million over five years. The same priority criteria
Agenda 2000, provides for a budget of
applied to a seven-year period (as proposed by the European Parliament) would lead to an
amount less than that proposed by the amendment, which lays down a budget of 980 million
euro.

€

Amendment 12 (part 2), which specifies the type of studies to be carried out in the context of
action 5.2 ("Information for young people and studies concerning youth"), comes under the
heading of implementation and, in particular, of the annual work programme submitted to the
Committee. The concerns addressed in this amendment will be taken into account when
drawing up these work plans.

4

1998/0197 (COD)

Proposal for a

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

establishing the "Youth" Community action programme

AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION
pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission1,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee2,

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions3,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty4,

(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 through a wide access to
education and through a continuous updating of knowledge;

(2) Whereas, by their Decision No 818/95/EC of 14 March 1995 adopting the third phase
of the "Youth for Europe" programme5, 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 field
on the basis of the experience acquired from that programme;

(3) Whereas the extraordinary European Council on Employment held in Luxembourg
on 20 and 21 November 1997 adopted a coordinated employment strategy in which
life-long education and training have a fundamental role to play in implementing the

1

2

3

4

5

OJ C 311, 10.10.1998, p. 6.
Opinion delivered on 15 October 1998 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
Opinion delivered on 19 November 1998 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
Opinion of the European Parliament of 5 November 1998 (not yet published in the Official Journal),
Council Common Position of ... (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Decision of the
European Parliament of ... (not yet published in the Official Journal).
OJ L 87, 20.4.1995, p. 1.

5

guidelines set out in the Council Resolution of 15 December 19976 for the Member
States’ employment policies in order to enhance employability, adaptability and the
culture of entrepreneurship and to promote equal opportunities;

(4) Whereas the Commission in its communication "Towards a Europe of knowledge" 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;

(5) Whereas, in its White Paper "Teaching and learning – Towards the learning society",
the Commission stated that the emergence of the learning society entails encouraging
the acquisition of new knowledge and to this end providing motivation to learn at
every opportunity; whereas, in its Green Paper "Education, training, research: the
obstacles to transnational mobility", the Commission highlighted the advantages of
mobility for people and competitiveness in the European Union;

(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 its forms, including racism and xenophobia; whereas
special attention should be focused on removing discrimination and on promoting
equal opportunities for women and men;

(7) Whereas the Commission and Member States, in wishing to reach young people
in general and not only those who are involved in youth organisations, consider it
essential, therefore, to ensure a suitable information flow and an adequate
distribution of the actions of the programme;

(8) Whereas this Decision establishes a Community framework to assist in the
development of transnational voluntary service activities; whereas the Member
States should endeavour to adopt appropriate and coordinated measures to
remove the legal and administrative obstacles in order to further improve access
to the programme for young people and facilitate recognition of the specific
nature of voluntary service for young people;

(7)(9) 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;

(8)(10) 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 nature; whereas it helps to determine the future 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 cultural points of
view,
including preparation for working life, and promotes awareness of true
European citizenship;

(9)(11) Whereas, in its Resolution of 14 May 1998 on the information and communication
policy in the European Union7, the European Parliament stated that, with regard to

6

7

OJ C 30, 28.1.1998, p. 1.
OJ C 167, 1.6.1998, p. 230.

6

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)(12) Whereas

the Commission and Member States

should seek to guarantee
complementarity between European Voluntary Service activities and the various
similar national schemes;

(11)(13) Whereas

the European Parliament

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

the Council,

and

in

(12)(14) 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;

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

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

(15)(17) Whereas it is important that the Youth programme committee should consult, on the
basis of arrangements to be defined, with the committees responsible for the
implementation of the Community vocational training and educational programmes
(Leonardo da Vinci and Socrates); whereas it is important that the Youth programme
committee be kept regularly informed about Community initiatives taken in the fields
of education, vocational training and youth;

(16)(18) Whereas the European Councils of Essen (9 and 10 December 1994) and Cannes
(26 and 27 June 1995) stressed the need for further action to enhance the social and
vocational integration of young people in Europe; whereas the conclusions of the
European 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
for
non-profit-making activities; whereas the European Parliament and Council adopted
Decision No 1686/98/EC on 20 July 1998 establishing the Community action
programme “European Voluntary Service for Young People”8;

support

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

8

OJ L 214, 31.7.1998, p. 1.

7

(18)(20) 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)(21) Whereas the European Parliament adopted a Resolution on 2 July 1998 on promoting
the role of voluntary organisations and foundations in Europe9; 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;

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

(21)(23) 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 one hand, and the States of the
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) participating in the European Economic
Area, on the other; whereas the EEA Agreement
lays down procedures for the
participation of the EFTA States participating in the EEA in Community programmes
in the field of education, training and youth;

(22)(24) Whereas provision should be made to open up this programme to participation of the
associated Central 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 respective Association Councils, of Cyprus, funded by additional
appropriations in accordance with 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;

(23)(25) Whereas this programme should be monitored and continually evaluated in
cooperation between the Commission and the Member States in order to allow for
readjustments, particularly in the priorities for implementing the measures;

(24)(26) 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
concerning 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 of
Community actions and measures; whereas this Decision does not go beyond what is
necessary to achieve those objectives;

(25)(27) 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

9

OJ C 226, 20.7.1998, p. 66.

8

Council and the Commission of 6 May 199910, on budgetary discipline and
improvement of the budgetary procedure;

(26)(28) 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 Treaty11; Whereas, in accordance with Article 2 of Council
Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the
exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission, the measures
necessary for the implementation of this Decision should be adopted, depending
on the nature of these measures, in accordance with the advisory procedure laid
down in Article 3 or the management procedure laid down in Article 4 of that
Decision,

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

1.

2.

3.

4.

1.

10

*

11

Article 1
Establishment of the programme

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

This programme shall be implemented over the period starting on 1 January 2000
and ending on 31 December 2004 2006.

This programme shall contribute to the promotion of a Europe of knowledge by
developing a European area of cooperation 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, skills and competence likely to foster active citizenship and
employability.

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

Article 2
Objectives of the programme

In order to allow young people to acquire knowledge, skills and competence which
future development, and to exercise
may be one of the foundations of their
responsible citizenship so as to become an active part of society and bearing in mind
the importance of promoting equal opportunities, the objectives of this programme
are as follows:

OJ C ... 1999.
Article 189b was renumbered Article 251 in the Treaty of Amsterdam.
OJ C 102, 4.4.1996, p. 1

9

a)

b)

c)

d)

to promote an active contribution by young people to the building of Europe
through their participation in transnational 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 xenophobia;

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

in particular

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

the same time,

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 objectives of other relevant
areas of Community policy.

Article 3
Community actions

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

2.

1.

–

–

–

–

–

Youth for Europe;

European Voluntary Service;

youth initiatives;

joint actions;

support measures.

2.

These actions shall be implemented through the following types of measures, which
may, where appropriate, be combined:

a)

b)

c)

support for the transnational mobility of young people;

support for the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in
the youth field;

support for the development of cooperation networks at the European level
permitting mutual exchange of experience and good practice;

10

d)

support for transnational projects intended to promote citizenship of the
European Union and participation by young people in the development of
the Union;

d)e) promotion of language skills and understanding of different cultures;

e)f)

support for pilot projects based on transnational partnerships designed to
develop innovation and quality in the youth field;

f)g) 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 "systems") and of methods of disseminating good practice.

Article 4
Access to the programme

This programme is aimed at young people – in principle between the ages of 15 and
25 – as well as those involved in youth work, who are legal residents of a Member
State. The age limits may be adapted to some degree, taking into account the
specific conditions of each project.

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

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
should endeavour to adopt
appropriate measures so that the beneficiaries of the programme may have
access to social protection and medical care.

The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that special efforts are made to
for cultural, social, physical, mental, economic or
assist young people who,
geographical
to participate in relevant action
programmes at Community, national, regional or local level, as well as to assist small
local groups. The Commission shall accordingly take account of the difficulties faced
by these target groups, thus contributing to combating exclusion.

find it more difficult

reasons,

Article 5
Implementation of the programme and cooperation with the Member States

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

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.

11

1.

2.

3.

3.4.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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

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

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

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

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 actions
with related Community programmes and actions in the area of youth, education and
vocational training.

Article 6a
Implementation measures

1.

The Commission shall determine, in accordance with the procedure referred to
in Article 7(2), the following measures:

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

f)

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

the general balance between the different actions of the programme;

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

the arrangements for implementing joint actions;

the arrangements for evaluating the programme;

the arrangements for attesting to the participation of young volunteers.

12

2.

1.

2.

2.

3.

3.

4.

The Commission shall determine the other measures in accordance with the
procedure referred to in Article 7(3).

Article 7
Committee

The Commission shall be assisted by a committee composed of representatives from
each Member State representatives from the Member States and chaired by the
representative of the Commission.

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

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

f)

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

the general balance between the different actions of the programme;

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

the arrangements for implementing the joint actions;

the arrangements for evaluating the programme;

the arrangements for attesting to participation of young volunteers.

Where reference is made to this paragraph, the management procedure laid
down in Article 4 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, in compliance with the
provisions of Article 7§3 and Article 8 thereof. The period laid down in
Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at two months.

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.

Where reference is made to this paragraph, the advisory procedure laid down
in compliance with the
in Article 3 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply,
provisions of Article 7 §3 and Article 8 thereof.

a)

b)

The Commission shall adopt measures which shall apply immediately.

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

13

4.

5.

1.

2.

1.

2.

–

–

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

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

The Committee shall draw up its own rules of procedure.

The Commission shall consult
the committee on other appropriate matters
concerning implementation of the programme. In that event, 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.

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 programme for the period
specified in Article 1 is hereby set at EUR 350 [765] million.

The overall balance between the different actions of the programme shall be
determined by the programme committee in accordance with the procedures
laid down in Article 6a(1)(b), in line with its objectives and on the basis of an
annual report presented to the European Parliament and to the Council.

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

Article 9
Consistency and complementarity

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

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 audio-visual sector, the
completion of the internal market, the information society, environment, consumer
protection, SMEs, social policy, employment, and public health.

14

3.

4.

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

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:

–

–

–

–

the EFTA/EEA countries in accordance with the conditions established in the EEA
agreement;

the associated Central 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 respective Association Councils;

Cyprus, funded by additional appropriations in accordance with the procedures to be
agreed with that country;

Malta and Turkey, funded by additional appropriations in accordance with the
provisions of the Treaty.

Article 11
International cooperation

Under this programme, the Commission, acting in accordance with the procedures laid down
in Article Articles 6a and 7, shall strengthen its cooperation with non-Community countries
and relevant international organisations, in particular the Council of Europe.

Article 12
Monitoring and evaluation

1.

2.

The Commission shall regularly monitor this programme in cooperation with the
Member States.

This monitoring shall include the reports referred to in paragraph 3 and specific
activities.

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 and to
ensure equal access to the programme as set out in Article 4(2) and (4).

15

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 described in
Article 6a(1),
there will be regular external evaluations of the results of the
Community actions.

Member States shall submit to the Commission by 31 December 2002 2004 and
30 June 2005 2007, respectively, reports on the implementation and the impact of
this programme.

to the European Parliament,

the
The Commission shall submit
Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions a report on the
results achieved by the programme, accompanied by such proposals as it deems
appropriate, including with regard to the budget laid down in Article 8. The
European Parliament and the Council shall take a decision on these proposals
as soon as possible:

the Council,

3.

4.

–

–

an interim report on the qualitative and quantitative aspects of
implementation of this programme by 30 June 2003 2005;

the

a final report on the implementation of this programme by 31 December 2005
2007.

Article 13
Entry into force

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

Done at Brussels,

For the European Parliament
The President

For the Council
The President

16

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:

• Youth for Europe;

• European Voluntary Service;

• Youth initiatives;

• Joint actions;

• Support measures.

17

ACTION 1 - 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. The age limits may be adapted to some degree,
taking into account the specific conditions of each project.

These 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. 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. The age limits may be adapted to some degree, taking into account the
specific conditions of each project.

These 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 to provide the young
people in question with linguistic and intercultural preparation before their departure.

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ACTION 2 - EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY SERVICE

For the purposes of this programme, "young volunteer" is taken to be a person aged in
principle between 18 and 25 years and legally resident in a Member State. The age limits
may be adapted to some degree, taking into account the specific conditions of each
project.

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 will 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 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.

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.

19

Support may be given to action laying or consolidating the necessary foundations for
developing transnational European voluntary service projects 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 - YOUTH INITIATIVES

In order to encourage initiative and creativity among 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 commitment 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.

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 partnerships between such
projects.

ACTION 4 - 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.

20

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 - SUPPORT MEASURES

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

Funding shall be granted to:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

activities designed to give further training to persons involved in youth work –
particularly European Voluntary Service instructors, youth workers/leaders, those
running European projects and youth initiative counsellors – 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;

activities designed to develop European modules fulfilling the requirements for
transnational cooperation;

activities – such as study visits, feasibility studies, seminars and work experience –
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
and/or
sustainable
promote the
multilateral networks between those active in the field of youth work;

transnational partnerships

establishment of

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;

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 little or no experience of, or scope for, contacts at
European level, as well as to activities in which young people play the key roles.

21

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 their 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:

–

–

–

the acquisition of the necessary experience and skills to carry out youth
information projects based on transnational cooperation and projects which
provide information and, in particular, advisory services for young people;

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;

implementation,

the
projects,
of mechanisms permitting dialogue both between and with young people,
particularly through the use of youth-oriented media and new technologies.

transnational

cooperation

part

of

as

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.
These studies will analyse, as much as possible, the impact of other policies on
the world of youth and will aim to provide a clearer and more global image of
the needs of young people and the conditions in which they live.

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 implementation of the programme, including application
of Article 11 of the Decision. The Commission may also undertake information,
publication and dissemination actions.

22

3.

The Commission will take the necessary steps to, inter alia, draw benefits from
information and documentary resources on youth,
youth projects, collect
assembling publications, specific studies, programmes and/or measures in the
youth field emanating from both the Community Institutions, and the Member
States and from other bodies and associations and, in particular, the Council of
Europe. It will aim to increase the visibility of the actions aimed at young people
at community level and in the Member States, in many different fields. It
should, moreover, use all the means of communication, and particularly
Internet sites, in order to facilitate a dialogue with young people.

23