Resolution of the Council and of the representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council of 27 June 2002 regarding the framework of European cooperation in the youth field
Date: 2002-06-27
Institutions: Council of the European Union, Representatives of the Governments of the Member States
Subjects: action programme, cooperation policy, education policy, evaluation method, information, social participation, voluntary work, young person

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Official Journal of the European Communities

13.7.2002

RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL AND OF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS
OF THE MEMBER STATES, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL

of 27 June 2002

regarding the framework of European cooperation in the youth field

(2002/C 168/02)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE REPRESEN-
TATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE MEMBER STATES,
MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL,

‘how to bring citizens, and primarily the young, closer to
the European design and the European institutions’,

Whereas:

RECALL THAT:

(1) The Commission White Paper entitled ‘A new impetus for
European youth’
referred to as the ‘White
Paper’) suggests a new framework for European coop-
eration in the youth field.

(hereinafter

1. In the framework of European cooperation in the youth
field, as set out in the White Paper, there are comple-
mentary aspects that need to be addressed in practical
terms:

(2) The Council (Education/Youth) of 29 November 2001 took
a positive view of the White Paper and proposed further
debate to define a framework for future cooperation.

(a) application of the OMC to the thematic priorities of

the specific youth field;

a

the

starting point

establishment of

(3) In its conclusions of 14 February 2002 the Council
the White Paper
(Education/Youth) acknowledged that
was
a
for
framework of European cooperation in the youth field
which includes
two strands: on the one hand the
application of the open method of coordination (OMC),
and on the other taking more into account
the youth
dimension in other policies. The Council also undertook
to carry on drawing up such a framework with a view
to adoption by the Council (Education/Youth) of 30 May
2002.

regarding

participation (1),

(4) The Council (Education/Youth) has already adopted various
social
Resolutions
youth
inclusion of young people (2), promoting young people's
initiative, enterprise and creativity (3), and the added value
of voluntary activity for young people in the context of the
development of Community action on youth (4), as well as
the declaration on combating racism and xenophobia on
the Internet by intensifying work with young people.

(5) By Decision No 1031/2000/EC of 13 April 2000,

the
European Parliament and the Council adopted the ‘Youth’
Community action programme (5), on the basis of Article
149 of the Treaty,
in
order to allow young people to acquire knowledge, skills
and competencies 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.

implemented by the Commission,

(b) taking more account of the youth dimension in other

policies.

STRESS THAT:

2. The OMC will be applied with a flexible approach in a
manner suited to the youth field, with due regard for the
competencies of the Member States and the principle of
subsidiarity.

3. The principles of equality between men and women as set
out in Article 2 and Article 3(2) and of non-discrimination
as set out in Articles 12 and 13 of the Treaty must be
in any proposed initiative coming
taken into account
within the framework of European cooperation in the
youth field.

4. Young people, whether organised or not, as well as youth
associations
should be
associated with the cooperation framework both at the
European and national level.

representatives of youth,

as

5. Candidate

countries

associated with the
should be
framework of European cooperation in the youth field
through whatever means are deemed appropriate.

(6) The Laeken Declaration, annexed to the conclusions of the
European Council of 14-15 December 2001, states that
one of the basic challenges facing the European Union is

6.

(1) OJ C 42, 17.2.1999, p. 1.
(2) OJ C 374, 28.12.2000, p. 5.
(3) OJ C 196, 12.7.2001, p. 2.
(4) OJ C 50, 23.2.2002, p. 3.
(5) OJ L 117, 18.5.2000, p. 1.

INVITE THE COMMISSION AND THE MEMBER STATES, EACH
WITHIN THEIR OWN AREAS OF COMPETENCE, as regards the
the Youth
OMC and the horizontal consideration of
to
dimension in other policies and initiatives relevant
youth, to see, where appropriate, that those policies and
initiatives that affect the young people both at national and
at European level, take into consideration matters such as
the needs,
the living conditions and the
expectations of youth.

the situation,

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CONCERNING THE APPLICATION OF THE OMC:

young people, and the promotion of networks
among all the actors involved,

7. ENDORSE the four thematic priorities as proposed in the
White Paper, and with whose importance the Council
conclusions of 14 February 2002 agreed:

(a) participation;

(b) information;

(c) voluntary activities among young people;

(d) greater understanding and knowledge of youth.

8. UNDERLINE the view that these thematic priorities can best
be approached in a flexible, phased and progressive way,
using, inter alia, as appropriate, elements of the OMC as
defined in the Lisbon European Council conclusions and
subsequently.

9. STRESS that the following thematic priorities should be

aimed at:

(a) Participation

— to encourage participation by young people in the

exercise of active citizenship,

— to promote voluntary activities that allow young
people to develop their sense of commitment and
active citizenship, individual and social skills and to
gain
abilities which
contribute to their participation in society in
general and to their greater employability,

knowledge

useful

and

— to foster recognition and appreciation of voluntary
activities, inter alia, by public authorities, enterprise
sector and civil society;

(d) Greater understanding and knowledge of youth

— to facilitate the compilation of studies on youth
including

matters at national and European level
by research structures and youth associations,

— to facilitate the networking of research structures;
to contribute to the creation of study and research
tools (e.g. indicators),

— to consider,

in the light of existing studies, what
if necessary, might be needed to
further work,
support current priorities, youth autonomy issues
and other relevant topics for the future.

— to involve young people in decision-making,

support
particular
associations and for different
participation by young people in civil society,

the work

for

in
youth
of
forms of active

10. TAKE NOTE OF THE COMMISSION'S

INTENTIONS AS
PAPER AND INVITE THE

OUTLINED IN THE WHITE
COMMISSION:

— to enhance participation at a local level to promote

socially cohesive communities,

— to stimulate the exchange of good practices,
alia, by promoting and encouraging networks;

inter

(b) Information

— to enhance the existing youth information services
promoting in particular the information for those
working with and for young people,

— to encourage the linkage of these services and the

use of new technologies;

(a) to draw up, in consultation with the Member States, a
questionnaire for each priority, including key issues, to
be transmitted to the Member States;

(b) — to prepare, on the basis of the answers of the
each
Member States,
identifying the good practices and the
priority,
innovative approaches, which are of common
interest for the Member States,

synthesis

report

for

a

— to present

to the Council drafts for common
objectives after consulting the European Youth
Forum, without excluding other forms of consul-
tation at European level;

(c) Voluntary activities among young people

— to facilitate opportunities for the exercise of soli-
darity and voluntary commitment on the part of

(c) to proceed within the indicative timetable proposed in
paragraph 19 and, on the basis of the Member States'
report, to follow-up the common objectives of each
priority, which can lead to their adjustment;

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(d) to inform, in a suitable way, the European Parliament,
the

Social Committee

and

Economic

the
Committee of the Regions.

and

CONCERNING HORIZONTAL ASPECTS (TAKING MORE ACCOUNT
OF THE YOUTH DIMENSION IN OTHER POLICIES)

11.

INVITE THE MEMBER STATES:

13. CALL FOR:

(a) on the basis of the Commission's questionnaire,

to
respond to each priority following the indicative
timetable proposed in paragraph 19. The questionnaire
will be structured so as to be able to identify existing
mechanisms, policy initiatives, measures which the
Member States plan to adopt
in the short and
medium term as well as examples of good practice.
Issues for prospective discussion in connection with
the subject may also be submitted;

(b) before responding to the Commission's questionnaire,
to set up such channels as they deem appropriate for
consultation with young people, youth associations
and, where applicable, national youth councils or
similar bodies;

(c) within the area of their competence and in accordance
with the principle of subsidiarity, to implement the
the
measures
common objectives decided by the Council, as well
as
the
reporting possible;

follow-up which makes

they deem appropriate

the procedure of

to achieve

in line with the priorities

(a) the inclusion of the youth dimension in other policies
and programmes, both at national and at European
forth in the
level,
White Paper (education,
lifelong learning, mobility,
employment and social integration, combating racism
and xenophobia, autonomy) and other priorities to be
in cooperation with the
defined by the Council
Commission;

set

(b) initiatives

targeted at youth at both national and
Community level, to be considered in a coherent way.

14. TAKE NOTE OF THE COMMISSION'S

INTENTIONS AS
PAPER AND INVITE THE
OUTLINED IN THE WHITE
COMMISSION to explore the ways and means for matters
concerning young people to be taken into consideration in
its proposals and in the Community programmes and
initiatives.

15. TAKE NOTE OF THE COMMISSION'S INTENTION to set up a

working group to reflect on youth autonomy.

(d) in order to allow for the follow-up of the implemen-
tation of the measures taken in the carrying out of the
common objectives mentioned in point (c), to define as
follow-up mechanisms,
level,
appropriate, at
including indicators, to assess the progress achieved
for each thematic priority.

their

12. TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES:

16.

17.

(a) The Council will establish,

taking into account a
the common objectives and a
follow-up reports from the Member

Commission draft,
timetable for
States for each priority, as appropriate;

(b) The Council will establish,

taking into account a
Commission draft, the proposed adjustments of the
common objectives, as appropriate;

(c) The Council,

in cooperation with the Commission,
plays a central role through successive presidencies
by
the
continuity
momentum of the process;

and maintaining

ensuring

(d) The

in

Council may,

cooperation with

the
Commission, review the application of the OMC in
the youth field in the light of progress made, and
having regard to the evaluation exercise indicated in
paragraph 18.

that

the Council will undertake,

in the
INDICATE
framework of its competence, to see that the interests of
young people are taken into consideration in other policy
areas.

INVITE THE MEMBER STATES,
in the framework of their
own areas of competence, to attempt as far as possible
identified with
the general objectives
to implement
regard
youth
of
consideration
dimension in other policies.

horizontal

the

to

CONCERNING EVALUATON OF THE FRAMEWORK FOR COOP-
ERATION IN THE YOUTH FIELD:

18. TAKE NOTE OF THE COMMISSIONS

INTENTIONS, AS
OUTLINED IN THE WHITE
PAPER, AND INVITE THE
COMMISSION no later than the end of the first implemen-
tation exercise for the application of the four thematic
priorities, to prepare an evaluation report in association
with the Member States on the framework for cooperation
which will
then, after consulting the European Youth
Forum, without excluding other forms of consultation,
for consideration. The
be transmitted to the Council
report will cover:

(a) the evaluation of

the OMC and, as appropriate,

suggestions for its modification;

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(b) on the basis of

information furnished by Member
and Community
States,
initiatives taken on the inclusion of
the horizontal
consideration of the youth dimension in other policies.

summary of national

a

19. PROPOSE the following indicative timetable:

(b) other priorities will be dealt with in a phased, flexible
and progressive manner according to a timetable to be
determined by the Presidency in consultation with the
Member States and the Commission;

(c) regarding the inclusion of

the youth dimension in
other policies and programmes, the timetable will be
coordinated with the processes concerned;

(a) the application of the OMC will start in July 2002,
concerning participation and

with the priorities
information;

(d) the evaluation report on the framework of coop-
eration, mentioned in paragraph 18 will be discussed
by the Council in 2004.