Common Position (EC) No 14/2006 of 24 July 2006 adopted by the Council, acting in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, with a view to adopting a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Youth in Action programme for the period 2007 to 2013
Date: 2006-07-24
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU programme, European citizenship, action programme, economic and social cohesion, social participation, youth policy

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COMMON POSITION No 14/2006

adopted by the Council on 24 July 2006

with a view to adopting a Decision No …/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
of … establishing the ‘Youth in Action’ programme for the period 2007-2013

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EURO-
PEAN UNION,

(5)

(2006/C 251 E/02)

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Com-
munity and in particular Article 149(4) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the Opinion of the European Economic and
Social Committee (1),

Having regard to the Opinion of
Regions (2),

the Committee of

the

Acting in accordance with the procedure in Article 251 of the
Treaty (3),

(7)

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

The Treaty establishing the European Community, here-
inafter referred to as ‘Treaty’, establishes citizenship of
the Union and provides that Community action in the
field of education, vocational training and youth is to be
aimed, primarily, at encouraging the development of
youth exchanges, exchanges of socio-educational instruc-
tors and quality education.

The Treaty on European Union is founded on the princi-
ples of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and
fundamental
equality between men and
women and non-discrimination. The promotion of
young people's active citizenship should contribute to
the development of these values.

freedoms,

Decision No 1031/2000/EC of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 13 April 2000 established the
‘Youth’ Community action programme (4). It is appro-
priate to pursue and strengthen cooperation and Com-
munity action in that field on the basis of the experience
acquired from that programme.

(8)

(9)

Decision No 790/2004/EC of the European Parliament
and of
the Council of 21 April 2004 established a
programme of Community action to promote bodies
active at European level in the field of youth (5).

(10)

(1) OJ C 234, 22.9.2005, p. 46.
(2) OJ C 71, 22.3.2005, p. 34.
(3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 25 October 2005 (not yet
published in the Official Journal), Council Common Position of 24
July 2006 and Position of the European Parliament of … (not yet
published in the Official Journal).

(4) OJ L 117, 18.5.2000, p. 1. Decision as last amended by Council

Regulation (EC) No 885/2004 (OJ L 168, 1.5.2004, p. 1).

(5) OJ L 138, 30.4.2004, p. 24.

The extraordinary European Council held in Lisbon on
23 and 24 March 2000 established a strategic objective
for the EU including an active employment policy giving
greater priority to lifelong learning, complemented by
the sustainable development strategy of the Gothenburg
European Council of 15 and 16 June 2001.

(6)

The Laeken Declaration annexed to the Presidency
conclusions of
the European Council of 14 and
15 December 2001 asserts that one of the basic chal-
lenges to be resolved by the EU is how to bring citizens,
and primarily young people, closer to the European
design and the European institutions.

The Commission adopted a White Paper on ‘A new
impetus for European youth’ on 21 November 2001,
which proposes a cooperation framework in the field of
youth to focus on participation, information, voluntary
activities and a greater understanding of young people.
The European Parliament adopted these proposals in its
resolution of 14 May 2002 (6).

the Governments of

The Resolution of the Council and of the representatives
the Member States meeting
of
within the Council of 27 June 2002 (7) establishes,
in
particular, an open method of coordination covering the
priorities of participation, information, voluntary activ-
ities among young people and greater understanding of
youth. This should be taken into account in the imple-
mentation of the YOUTH IN ACTION Programme, here-
inafter referred to as ‘the Programme’.

In its conclusions of 6 May 2003 (8), the Council stresses
the need to maintain and develop the existing Com-
specifically addressed to young
munity instruments
for the development of
people, as they are essential
Member States' cooperation in the field of youth, and,
moreover,
those
instruments should be aligned with the Framework of
European Cooperation in the field of Youth.

the priorities and objectives of

that

The Spring European Council on 22 and 23 March
2005 adopted the European Pact for Youth as one of the
the
instruments contributing to the achievement of
Lisbon objectives of growth and jobs. The Pact focuses
on three areas: employment,
integration and social
advancement; education, training and mobility; reconci-
liation of working life and family life.

(6) OJ C 180 E, 31.7.2003, p. 145.
(7) OJ C 168, 13.7.2002, p. 2.
(8) OJ C 115, 15.5.2003, p. 1.

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(11)

The Community's action includes a contribution to high
quality education and training and must seek to elimi-
nate inequalities and promote equality between men and
women, pursuant to Article 3(2) of the Treaty.

(12)

The special needs of people with disabilities should be
addressed.

(13)

(14)

(15)

There is a need to promote active citizenship and, when
implementing the action lines, step up the fight against
exclusion and discrimination in all their forms, including
those based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or
belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, in accordance
with Article 13(1) of the Treaty.

The candidate countries and those EFTA countries which
are parties to the EEA Agreement are recognised as
in
potential participants in Community programmes,
accordance with the agreements concluded with them.

The Thessaloniki European Council of 19 and 20 June
2003 adopted the ‘Thessaloniki Agenda for the Western
Balkans: moving towards European integration’, which
provides that Community programmes should be open
to countries forming part of the Stabilisation and Asso-
ciation process, on the basis of framework agreements
to be signed between the Community and these coun-
tries.

(16)

Steps should be taken with a view to opening up the
Programme to Switzerland.

(17)

(18)

(19)

The Barcelona Declaration adopted at the Euro-Mediter-
ranean conference in 1995 states that youth exchanges
should be the means to prepare future generations for
closer cooperation between the Euro-Mediterranean part-
ners, while respecting the principles of human rights
and fundamental freedoms.

In its conclusions of 16 June 2003, the Council on the
basis of the Commission communication entitled ‘Wider
Europe — Neighbourhood: A New Framework for Rela-
tions with our Eastern and Southern Neighbours’, sets
out as action lines for the Community the stepping up
of cultural cooperation, mutual understanding and coop-
eration in the area of education and training with the
neighbouring countries.

The interim evaluation reports of the existing Youth
programme and the public consultation on the future of
Community's activity in education, training and youth
reveal a strong and in some respects growing need for
continuing cooperation and mobility in the youth field
at European level, and press for a simpler, more user-
friendly and more flexible approach to implement such
action.

(20)

(21)

(22)

(23)

(24)

Following the principle of sound financial management,
the implementation of the Programme may be simplified
by recourse to lump sum funding, in respect either of
support awarded to programme participants or of Com-
munity support for the structures established at national
level for the administration of the Programme.

The Programme should be regularly monitored and eval-
uated in cooperation between the Commission and the
Member States in order to allow for readjustments, parti-
cularly in the priorities for implementing the measures.
This monitoring and evaluation should include measur-
able and relevant objectives and indicators.

is necessary to provide sufficient

flexibility in the
It
formulation of
the legal base for the Programme to
allow for appropriate adjustments in the actions to
respond to changing needs during the period 2007 to
2013, and to avoid the excessively detailed provisions of
previous programmes, so this Decision is deliberately
limited to generic definitions of actions and their essen-
tial accompanying administrative and financial provi-
sions.

It
the
is appropriate to ensure a correct closure of
Programme, in particular regarding the continuation of
multi-annual arrangements for its management, such as
the financing of technical and administrative assistance.
As of 1 January 2014, the technical and administrative
assistance will ensure, if necessary, the management of
actions not yet finalised by the end of 2013.

It is necessary to provide for specific arrangements for
the application of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No
1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation
applicable to the general budget of
the European
Communities (1) and its implementing measures, as well
as for the derogations from these texts necessitated by
the features of the beneficiaries and the nature of the
actions.

(25) Appropriate measures

implemented to
prevent irregularities and fraud and to recover funds lost
or incorrectly paid or used.

should be

(26)

This Decision lays down for the entire duration of the
Programme, a financial envelope constituting the prime
reference, within the meaning of point 37 of the Interin-
stitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the
European Parliament, the Council and the Commission
on budgetary discipline and sound financial manage-
ment (2), for the budgetary authority during the annual
budgetary procedure.

(1) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.
(2) OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 1.

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(27)

Since the objectives of this Decision cannot be suffi-
ciently achieved by the Member States as multilateral
partnerships,
transnational mobility measures and an
exchange of information at European level are required
and can therefore, by reason of the transnational and
multilateral scale of the proposed actions and measures,
be better achieved at Community level, the Community
may adopt measures in accordance with the principle of
In
subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty.
accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set
out in that Article, this Decision does not go beyond
what is necessary in order to achieve those objectives.

(28)

The measures necessary for the implementation of this
Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council
Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down
the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers
conferred on the Commission (1).

(29)

Provisional measures to monitor actions started before
31 December 2006 should be adopted pursuant to Deci-
sion No 1031/2000/EC and Decision No 790/2004/EC,

(e) to promote European cooperation in the youth field.

The general objectives of the Programme shall comple-
2.
ment the objectives pursued in other areas of the Community's
activities, in particular in the field of lifelong learning, including
vocational training and non-formal and informal learning, as
well as in other fields, such as culture, sport and employment.

3.
The general objectives of the Programme shall contribute
to the development of the EU policies, in particular with regard
to the recognition of cultural, multicultural and linguistic diver-
sity in Europe, to fostering social cohesion and combating all
discrimination based on sex, race or ethnic origin, religion or
belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, and with regard to
sustainable development.

Article 3

Specific objectives of the Programme

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

The specific objectives are as follows:

Article 1

Establishment of the Programme

This Decision establishes

the YOUTH IN ACTION
1.
Programme as a Community action, hereinafter referred to as
‘the Programme’, the aim of which is to develop cooperation in
the field of youth in the European Union.

The Programme shall start on 1 January 2007 and end on

2.
31 December 2013.

Article 2

General objectives of the Programme

1.

The general objectives of the Programme shall be:

1. In the context of the general objective to promote young
people's active citizenship in general and their European
citizenship in particular:

(a) giving young people and youth organisations the oppor-
tunity to take part in the development of society in
general and the EU in particular;

(b) developing young people's sense of belonging to the EU;

(c) encouraging the participation of young people in the

democratic life of Europe;

(d) fostering the mobility of young people in Europe;

(e) developing intercultural learning within the youth field;

(f) promoting the fundamental values of the EU among
young people, in particular respect for human dignity,
equality, respect for human rights, tolerance and non-
discrimination;

(a) to promote young people's active citizenship in general and

(g) encouraging initiative, enterprise and creativity;

their European citizenship in particular;

(b) to develop solidarity and promote tolerance among young
people, in particular in order to reinforce social cohesion in
the EU;

(c) to foster mutual understanding between young people in

different countries;

(d) to contribute to developing the quality of support systems
for youth activities and the capabilities of civil society orga-
nisations in the youth field;

(1) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

(h) facilitating participation in the Programme by young
including young

people with fewer opportunities,
people with disabilities;

(i) ensuring that the principle of equality between men and
women is respected in participation in the Programme
and that gender equality is fostered in the actions;

(j) providing non-formal and informal

learning opportu-
nities with a European dimension and opening up inno-
vative opportunities in connection with active citizen-
ship.

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2. In the context of the general objective of developing soli-
darity and promoting tolerance among young people,
in
particular in order to reinforce social cohesion in the EU:

(a) giving young people the opportunity to express their
through voluntary activities at

personal commitment
European and international level;

(b) involving young people in actions fostering solidarity

between citizens of the EU.

3. In the context of the general objective to foster mutual
understanding between young people in different countries:

(a) developing

exchanges

dialogue
and
between young Europeans and young people in the
neighbouring countries;

intercultural

(b) contributing to the development in these countries of
the quality of support structures for young people and
of the role of those active in youth work and youth
organisations;

(c) developing with other countries thematic cooperation
projects involving young people and those active in
youth work and youth organisations.

4. In the context of the general objective to contribute to
developing the quality of support systems for youth activ-
ities and the capabilities of civil society organisations in the
youth field:

Article 4

Actions

The specific and general objectives of the Programme shall be
pursued through the following actions, details of which can be
found in the Annex.

1. Youth for Europe

The aim of this action is to:

— support exchanges of young people in order to increase

their mobility;

— support youth initiatives

and activities
concerning participation in democratic life,
in order to
develop young people's citizenship and mutual under-
standing.

and projects

2. European Voluntary Service

The aim of this action is to support young people's participa-
tion in various forms of voluntary activities, both within and
outside the EU.

(a) contributing to the networking of

the organisations

3. Youth in the World

concerned;

(b) developing the training of, and collaboration between,
those active in youth work and youth organisations;

(c) promoting innovation in the development of activities

for young people;

(d) contributing to the improvement of

information for
young people, while paying special attention to the
access of young people with disabilities;

(e) supporting long-term youth projects and initiatives of

regional and local bodies;

(f) facilitating the recognition of young people's non-formal
learning and skills acquired through participation in the
Programme;

(g) exchanging good practices.

5. In the context of the general objective to promote European
cooperation in the youth field, taking due account of local
and regional aspects:

(a) encouraging the exchange of good practices and coop-
eration between administrations and policymakers at all
levels;

The aim of this action is to:

— support projects with the partner countries mentioned in
Article 5(2), in particular exchanges of young people and
those active in youth work and youth organisations;

— support

initiatives that reinforce young people's mutual
understanding, sense of solidarity and tolerance, as well as
the development of cooperation in the field of youth and
civil society in these countries.

4. Youth support systems

The aim of this action is to support bodies active at European
level in the field of youth, in particular the operation of youth
NGOs, their networking, advice for people developing projects,
ensuring quality by means of
training and
networking of those active in youth work and youth organisa-
tions, encouraging innovation and quality, providing young
people with information, developing the structures and activ-
these goals and
ities needed for the Programme to meet
encouraging partnerships with local and regional authorities.

the exchange,

5. Support for European cooperation in the youth field

(b) encouraging structured dialogue between policymakers

and young people;

The aim of this action is to:

(c) improving knowledge and understanding of youth;

(d) contributing

to the

cooperation between various

national and international youth voluntary activities.

— organise structured dialogue between the various actors in
the field of youth, in particular young people themselves,
those active in youth work and youth organisations and
policymakers;

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— support youth seminars on social, cultural and political

issues in which young people are interested;

— contribute to the development of policy cooperation in the

youth field;

— facilitate the development of the networks necessary to a

better understanding of youth.

4.
All young people, without discrimination, shall be able to
have access to the activities of the Programme, subject to the
provisions of the Annex. The Commission and the participating
countries shall ensure that particular efforts are made with
regard to young people who have particular difficulties taking
part in the Programme for educational, social, physical, psycho-
logical, economic or cultural reasons or because they live in
remote areas.

Article 5

Participation in the Programme

1.
the
The Programme is open to the participation of
following countries, hereinafter referred to as the ‘participating
countries’:

(a) the Member States;

(b) the EFTA States that are party to the EEA Agreement, in

accordance with the provisions of that Agreement;

(c) the candidate countries benefiting from a pre-accession
strategy, pursuant to the general principles and the general
conditions and arrangements laid down in the framework
agreements concluded with these countries for their partici-
pation in Community programmes;

(d) the countries of the western Balkans, in accordance with
the arrangements to be established with these countries
following the framework agreements providing for their
participation in Community programmes;

(e) Switzerland, subject to the conclusion of a bilateral agree-

ment with that country.

2.
The actions in points 2 and 3 of the Annex shall be open
to cooperation with third countries that have signed agree-
ments with the Community relevant to the youth field, herein-
after referred to as ‘partner countries’.

This cooperation shall be based, where relevant, on additional
appropriations from partner countries to be made available in
accordance with procedures to be agreed with these countries.

Article 6

Access to the Programme

The Programme is intended to support not-for-profit
1.
projects for young people, groups of young people,
those
active in youth work and youth organisations, non-profit
making organisations and associations and, in certain justified
cases, other partners working in the field of youth.

2. Without prejudice to the arrangements in the Annex for
the implementation of actions, the Programme is intended for
young people aged between 15 — 28, although certain actions
are open to young people aged as young as 13 or up to the
age of 30.

5.
The participating countries shall endeavour to take appro-
priate measures so that participants in the Programme can have
access to health care in accordance with the provisions of Com-
munity law. The country of origin shall endeavour to take
appropriate measures to enable participants in the European
Voluntary Service to retain their social protection. The partici-
pating countries shall also endeavour to adopt appropriate
measures, in accordance with the Treaty, to remove legal and
administrative obstacles to access to the Programme.

Article 7

International cooperation

The Programme shall also be open to cooperation with interna-
tional organisations with authority in the field of youth, in par-
ticular the Council of Europe.

Article 8

Implementation of the Programme

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

2.
The Commission and the participating countries shall
take appropriate measures to develop structures at European,
national and, if necessary, regional or local level to achieve the
objectives of the Programme and to derive the greatest benefit
from the actions of the Programme.

learning for young people,

3.
The Commission and the participating countries shall
take appropriate measures to encourage the recognition of
for
non-formal and informal
example by means of documents or certificates, whilst taking
account of national
recognising the experience
gained by the beneficiaries and attesting to the direct participa-
tion of young people or those active in youth work and youth
organisations in an action under the Programme. This aim may
be reinforced by complementing other Community actions as
provided for in Article 11.

situations

The Commission, in cooperation with the participating
4.
countries, shall ensure the adequate protection of Communities'
financial interests by introducing effective, proportionate and
dissuasive measures, administrative checks and penalties.

3.
Beneficiaries shall be legal residents of a country partici-
pating in the Programme or, depending on the nature of the
action, a partner country.

5.
The Commission and the participating countries shall
ensure that the actions supported under the Programme are
properly publicised.

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6.

The participating countries shall:

(a) take the necessary measures to ensure that the Programme
runs smoothly at national
involving the parties
concerned with the various aspects of youth in accordance
with national practice;

level,

(b) create/appoint and monitor the national agencies in the
implementation of the Programme actions at national level,
pursuant to Article 54(2)(c) of Regulation (EC, Euratom)
No 1605/2002 and in accordance with the following
criteria:

(i) the body created or appointed as the national agency
shall have legal personality or be part of an organisa-
tion having legal personality (and be governed by the
law of the participating country). A ministry shall not
be appointed as the national agency;

(ii) the body shall have sufficient staff with the appropriate
skills to work in an international cooperation environ-
ment, an appropriate infrastructure and an administra-
tive environment allowing it to avoid any conflict of
interests;

(iii) it shall be able to apply the fund management rules
and the contractual conditions laid down at Com-
munity level;

(iv) it shall have sufficient financial guarantees (preferably
from a public authority) and an administrative capacity
in line with the volume of Community funds that it
will have to manage;

(c) assume responsibility for the sound management by the
national agencies referred to in (b) of the appropriations
transferred to them to be awarded to projects. In particular,
they shall be responsible for ensuring that the national
agencies comply with the principles of transparency, equal
treatment and non-cumulation vis-à-vis other Community
funds, and for the obligation to recover any funds due from
the beneficiaries;

(d) take the necessary measures to audit and monitor the
finances of the national agencies referred to in (b), and in
particular:

(i) provide the Commission, before the national agency
starts work, with the necessary assurances regarding
the existence, relevance and operation in the national
agency, in accordance with the rules of sound financial
management, of
suitable procedures, monitoring
systems, accounting systems and procedures for the
award of contracts and grants;

(ii) assure the Commission, at the end of each financial
year, of the reliability of the national agencies' financial
systems and procedures and the accuracy of
their
accounts;

(iii) assume responsibility for any funds not recovered in
the event of any irregularity, negligence or fraud on

the part of the national agencies referred to in (b)
which leads the Commission to seek recovery of funds
from the national agency.

7.
As part of the procedure mentioned in Article 10(1), the
Commission may draw up guidelines for each of the actions in
the Annex in order to adapt the Programme to any changes of
priority in European cooperation in the field of youth.

Article 9

Committee

1.

The Commission shall be assisted by a committee.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and
7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply.

The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC
shall be set at two months.

3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 3 and
7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the
provisions of Article 8 thereof.

4.

The committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.

Article 10

Implementation measures

1.
The measures necessary for the implementation of this
Decision relating to the following matters shall be adopted in
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 9(2):

(a) the

arrangements

for
Programme, including the annual work plan;

implementation

the

of

the

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

Programme;

(c) with regard to the funding, the criteria (e.g. youth popula-
tion, GDP and geographical distance between countries)
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;

(d) the monitoring of the agreement referred in point 4.2 of
including the annual work plan and annual

the Annex,
report of the European Youth Forum;

(e) the arrangements for evaluating the Programme;

(f) the arrangements for certifying the participation of the

young people concerned;

(g) the

arrangements

for

adapting

the

actions of

the

Programme mentioned in Article 8(7).

2.
The measures necessary for the implementation of this
Decision relating to all other matters shall be adopted in
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 9(3).

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Article 11

Complementarity with other Community actions

ensure

The Commission shall

1.
complementarity
between the Programme and other areas of Community action,
especially education, vocational training, culture, citizenship,
sport, languages, employment, health, research, enterprise, the
EU's external action, social
inclusion, gender equality and
combating discrimination.

the

The Programme may, where compatible, share resources
2.
with other Community instruments in order to implement
actions meeting the objectives of both the Programme and
these instruments.

3.
The Commission and the Member States shall highlight
the actions of the Programme that contribute to the develop-
ment of the objectives of other fields of Community action,
such as education, vocational
training, culture and sport,
inclusion, gender equality and combating
languages, social
discrimination.

Article 12

Complementarity with national policies and instruments

The participating countries may apply to the Commission
1.
for entitlement to award a European label to national, regional
or local actions similar to those in Article 4.

A participating country may make national funding avail-
2.
able to beneficiaries to be managed in accordance with the
rules of the Programme and, to this end, use the decentralised
structures of the Programme, as long as it ensures the comple-
mentary pro rata funding of these structures.

Article 13

General financial provisions

1.
The budget for the implementation of this programme
for the period referred to in Article 1 is hereby set at EUR 785
million (1).

2.
The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the
budgetary authority within the limits of the financial frame-
work.

Article 14

Financial provisions concerning the beneficiaries

Legal and natural persons may receive grants under the

1.
Programme.

2.
The Commission may decide, depending on the character-
istics of the beneficiaries and the nature of the actions, to
exempt them from the verification of professional competences
action or work
completing
for
and qualifications
programme. The Commission shall respect
the principle of
proportionality in determining the requirements in relation to
the amount of financial support, taking account of the charac-
teristics of the recipients, their age, the nature of the action and
the amount of financial support.

the

the action,

Depending on the nature of

3.
the financial
support may take the form of subsidies or scholarships. The
Commission may also award prizes for actions or projects
implemented under the Programme. Depending on the nature
of the action, flat-rate financing and/or the application of scales
of unit costs may be authorised.

In the case of grants for action, agreements should be

4.
signed within two months of the award of the grants.

5.
Operating grants awarded under the Programme to orga-
nisations active at European level, as defined in Article 162 of
Commission Regulation No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002
laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council
Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial
Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European
Communities (2),
shall not be automatically decreased in
accordance with Article 113(2) of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No
1605/2002 in the event of renewal.

54(2)(c)

Pursuant

to Article

6.
(EC,
Euratom) No 1605/2002, the Commission may entrust tasks of
public authority and,
implementation
tasks to the structures referred to in Article 8(2) of this Deci-
sion.

in particular, budget

of Regulation

7.
Pursuant to Article 38(1) of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No
2342/2002, the option in paragraph 6 of this Article shall also
apply to structures in all participating countries.

Article 15

Monitoring and Evaluation

The Commission shall ensure that the Programme is regu-
1.
larly monitored against its objectives. This monitoring shall
include the reports referred to in paragraph 3 and specific
activities. The Commission's consultations on this monitoring
shall involve young people.

The Commission shall ensure the regular,

2.
external evaluation of the Programme.

independent,

(1) This amount is based on 2004 figures and shall be subject to tech-

nical adjustment to take account of inflation.

(2) OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by
Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1261/2005 (OJ L 201,
2.8.2005, p. 3).

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3.
Participating countries shall submit to the Commission a
report on the implementation of the Programme by 30 June
2010 and a report on the impact of
the Programme by
30 June 2015.

4.
The Commission shall submit to the European Parliament,
the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and
the Committee of the Regions:

(a) an interim evaluation report on the results obtained and
the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the implementa-
tion of the Programme by 31 March 2011;

(b) a Communication on the continuation of the Programme

by 31 December 2011;

(c) an ex post evaluation report by 31 March 2016.

Article 16

Temporary provision

for in Article 8 of Decision No 1031/2000/EC shall be replaced
by the one provided for in Article 9 of this Decision.

As provided for by Article 18 of Council Regulation (EC,
Euratom) No 1605/2002, the appropriations corresponding to
assigned revenue arising from the repayment of amounts
wrongly paid pursuant
to Decision No 1031/2000/EC and
Decision No 790/2004/EC may be made available to the
Programme.

Article 17

Entry into force

This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day
following its publication in the Official Journal of the European
Union.

It shall apply from 1 January 2007.

Actions started before 31 December 2006 pursuant to Decision
No 1031/2000/EC and Decision No 790/2004/EC shall
continue to be governed, until their completion, by those Deci-
sions.

Done at Brussels,

If necessary, appropriations could be entered in the budget
beyond 2013 to cover technical and administrative assistance
expenses necessary to enable the management of actions not
yet completed by 31 December 2013. The committee provided

For the European Parliament

The President

…

For the Council

The President

…

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ANNEX

The actions implementing the general and specific objectives of the Programme support small-scale projects promoting
the active participation of young people, while ensuring the European visibility and impact of projects.

The participation of young people in the Programme is not subject to any specific experience or qualifications, except in
exceptional cases.

The Programme should be implemented in a user-friendly way.

The Programme should encourage the initiative, enterprise and creativity of young people, facilitate the participation in
the Programme by young people with fewer opportunities, including young people with disabilities, and ensure that the
principle of equality between men and women is respected as regards the participation in the Programme and that
gender equality is fostered in all actions.

Participation in the actions is possible providing that appropriate insurance coverage is available, in order to ensure the
protection of young people during the implementation of the activities of the Programme.

ACTIONS

The actions can be broken down into the following measures:

Action 1 — Youth for Europe

The objective of this action is to reinforce the active citizenship of young people and mutual understanding between
them through the following measures.

1.1. Youth exchanges

Youth exchanges allow one or more groups of young people to be hosted by a group from another country in
order to participate together in a joint programme of activities. They are available, in principle, to young people
aged between 13 and 25. These activities, based on transnational partnerships between the various actors in a
project, involve the active participation of young people and are designed to allow them to discover and become
aware of different social and cultural realities, to learn from each other and reinforce their feeling of being Euro-
pean citizens. The support focuses on multilateral group mobility activities but does not exclude bilateral activities
of this kind.

Bilateral group exchanges are justified especially where it is their first European activity or the participants are
small-scale or local groups without experience at European level. Exchanges for young people with fewer opportu-
nities are particularly welcome, in order to step up their participation in the Programme.

This measure also supports preparation and follow-up activities, with the aim of reinforcing young people's active
participation in the projects, in particular those activities intended to help the young people at a linguistic and
intercultural level.

1.2. Support for young people's initiatives

This measure supports projects where young people participate actively and directly in activities of their own
devising in which they play the key roles, in order to develop their initiative, enterprise and creativity. In principle,
it is for young people aged between 18 and 30, although certain initiatives may admit young people from the age
of 15, as long as appropriate supervision is provided.

This measure supports group projects designed at local, regional and national level and the networking of similar
projects in different countries,
in order to strengthen their European aspect and to enhance cooperation and
exchanges of experiences between young people.

Particular attention is paid to young people with fewer opportunities.

1.3. Participative democracy projects

This measure supports young people's participation in democratic life. These projects and activities encourage the
active participation of young people in the life of their local, regional or national community or at international
level.

It is open, in principle, to young people aged between 13 and 30.

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These projects or activities are based on international partnerships, allowing the pooling, at European level, of
ideas, experiences and good practices from projects or activities at local or regional level, in order to improve
young people's participation at different levels. They may include organising consultation projects with young
people to find out their needs and wishes, with a view to developing new approaches to their active participation
in a democratic Europe.

Action 2 — European Voluntary Service

The aim of the Voluntary Service is to develop solidarity and promote active citizenship and mutual understanding
among young people through the following measures.

The young volunteer takes part in a non-profit-making unpaid activity to the benefit of the general public in a country
other than his or her country of residence. The European Voluntary Service must not have an adverse effect on potential
or existing paid employment or be seen as a substitute for it.

The service lasts for no less than two months, and may last up to twelve months. In duly justified cases, in particular to
facilitate the participation of young people with fewer opportunities, shorter periods and volunteer projects which allow
groups of young people may be allowed.

This measure also supports volunteer projects which allow groups of young people to take part collectively in local,
regional, national, European or international-level activities in a range of fields, including for example culture, sport, civil
protection, the environment and development aid.

In exceptional cases, depending on the tasks to be implemented and the situation in which the volunteers are deployed,
certain types of project may call for the selection of candidates with specific skills.

The measure is for young people aged between 18 and 30; certain activities may admit young people aged 16 and over,
as long as appropriate supervision is provided.

The measure covers all or part of the volunteer's expenses, insurance, subsistence and travel, plus an additional allowance
for young people with fewer opportunities where appropriate.

It also supports activities for the training and tutoring of young volunteers and coordination activities for the various
partners, as well as initiatives which aim at building on experience gained by young people during European Voluntary
Service.

The Member States and the Commission shall make sure that certain quality standards are respected: the voluntary work
must include a non-formal education dimension demonstrated by pedagogical activities to prepare young people at a
personal, intercultural and technical level, as well as ongoing personal support. Partnership between the various actors
involved in the project and risk prevention are considered particularly important.

Action 3 — Youth in the World

The purpose of this action is to develop mutual understanding between peoples in a spirit of openness, whilst also
contributing to the development of quality systems that support the activities of young people in the countries
concerned. It is open to the Programme's partner countries.

3.1. Cooperation with the neighbouring countries of the EU

This measure supports projects with the Programme partner countries that are each considered neighbourhood
countries under the provisions of the EU's European neighbourhood policy and under the terms of Article 5(2), as
well as with the Russian Federation and Western Balkan countries until
the requirements of
Article 5(1)(d).

they fulfil

It supports youth exchanges — mainly multilateral but not excluding bilateral ones — which allow several groups
of young people from participating countries and neighbouring countries to meet and take part together in a
programme of activities. It is available, in principle, to young people aged between 13 and 25. These activities,
based on transnational partnerships between the various actors in a project, involve the prior training of supervi-
sory staff and the active participation of young people, to allow them to discover and become aware of different
social and cultural realities. Activities to enhance the participation of young people in the projects, particularly
those intended to help them at a linguistic and intercultural level, may be eligible for funding.

As long as adequate national management structures are created in the neighbouring countries, individual or group
initiatives at local, regional or national level in these countries can be supported where they are carried out in
conjunction with similar initiatives in countries participating in the Programme. These are activities designed by the
young people themselves, in which they are the key players. In principle, the activity is for young people aged
between 18 and 30, although certain initiatives may admit young people from age 16, as long as appropriate
supervision is provided.

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This measure supports activities designed to network and enhance the capacity of NGOs in the field of youth,
recognising the important role that they can play in the development of civil society in the neighbouring countries.
It covers the training of those active in youth work and youth organisations, and exchanges of experience, expertise
and good practices between them. It supports activities which may lead to the establishment of long-lasting, high
quality projects and partnerships.

This measure also supports projects to stimulate innovation and quality, aiming at introducing, implementing and
promoting innovative approaches in the youth field.

Financial support may be awarded to information activities for young people and those active in youth work and
youth organisations.

This measure also supports activities promoting cooperation in the field of youth with the neighbouring countries,
e.g. promoting cooperation and the exchange of ideas and good practices in the field of youth, as well as other
promotion and dissemination measures regarding the results of the projects and activities supported in the coun-
tries concerned in the field of youth.

3.2. Cooperation with other countries

This measure supports cooperation activities in the field of youth, in particular the exchange of good practices with
the other partner countries.

It encourages exchanges between and the training of those active in youth work and youth organisations, and the
development of partnerships and networks of youth organisations.

Multilateral and bilateral exchanges of young people between these countries and the participating countries may
be implemented on a thematic basis.

Funding is awarded to activities that demonstrate their potential multiplier effect.

In the context of cooperation with industrialised countries, this measure funds only European beneficiaries of
projects.

Action 4 — Youth support systems

The aim of this action is to develop the quality of youth support structures, to support the role of those active in youth
work and youth organisations, to develop the quality of the Programme and promote the civil participation of young
people at European level by supporting bodies active at European level in the field of youth.

4.1. Support for bodies active at European level in the field of youth

This measure supports the operation of NGOs active at European level in the field of youth that pursue a goal of
general European interest. Their activities must contribute to young people's participation in public life and society
and the development and implementation of European cooperation activities in the field of youth in the broad
sense.

To be eligible for an operating grant, a body must satisfy the following requirements:

— it must have been legally established for at least one year;

— it must be non-profit-making;

— it must be established in one of the participating countries, in accordance with Article 5(1), or in one of certain

eastern European countries (i.e. Belarus, Moldova, Russian Federation, Ukraine);

— it must operate at European level, alone or in coordination with other associations, and its structure and activ-
ities must cover at least eight participating countries; it may be a European network representing bodies active
in the field of youth;

— its activities must be in accordance with the principles underlying the Community activity in the field of youth;

— it may be a body whose activities are solely for the benefit of young people or a body with wider aims, some of

the activities of which are for the benefit of young people;

— it must involve the young people in managing the activities conducted for their benefit.

Beneficiaries are selected on the basis of calls for proposals. Multiannual partnership framework agreements may be
concluded with the bodies selected. However, such framework agreements do not exclude the possibility of
launching annual calls for proposals for additional beneficiaries.

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The main activities of the youth organisations that are likely to contribute to the strengthening and effectiveness of
Community action are:

— representing the views and interests of young people in their diversity at European level;

— youth exchanges and voluntary services;

— non-formal and informal learning and youth activity programmes;

— promoting intercultural learning and understanding;

— debates on European issues, the policies of the EU or youth policies;

— dissemination of information on Community action;

— actions promoting young people's participation and initiative.

Under this measure, the only costs to be taken into account in determining the operating grant are those necessary
for the proper conduct of the normal activities of the body selected, in particular personnel costs, overheads (rental
and property charges, equipment, office supplies, telecommunications, postal charges, etc.), costs of internal meet-
ings, and publications, information and dissemination costs.

The grant is awarded with due respect for the body's independence in the selection of its members and its
autonomy in the detailed definition of its activities.

At least 20 % of the budgets of the bodies concerned must be covered by non-Community sources.

4.2. Support for the European Youth Forum

Grants may be awarded under this measure to support the ongoing activities of the European Youth Forum, herein-
after referred to as ‘Forum’, an organisation pursuing a goal of general European interest, with due respect for the
following principles:

— the Forum's independence in the selection of its members, ensuring the broadest possible representation of

different kinds of youth organisations;

— its autonomy in the detailed specification of its activities;

— the broadest possible involvement in the Forum's activities of non-member youth organisations and young

people who do not belong to organisations;

— the active contribution by the Forum to the political processes relevant to youth at European level, in particular
by responding to the European institutions when they consult civil society and explaining the positions adopted
by these institutions to its members;

The eligible expenditure of the Forum comprises operating costs and expenses for carrying out its actions. In view
of the need to ensure the continuity of the Forum, the Programme resources shall be allocated in accordance with
the following guideline: the annual resources allocated to the Forum shall not be less than EUR 2 million.

Grants may be awarded to the Forum upon receipt of an appropriate work plan and budget. Grants may be
awarded on an annual basis or on a renewable basis within a framework partnership agreement with the Commis-
sion.

At least 20 % of the Forum's budget must be covered by non-Community sources.

The main activities of the Forum are as follows:

— representing youth organisations vis-à-vis the EU;

— coordinating the positions of its members vis-à-vis the EU;

— relaying information on youth vis-à-vis the European institutions;

— relaying information from the EU to the national youth councils and non-governmental organisations;

— promoting and preparing the participation of young people in democratic life;

— contributing to the new cooperation framework in the youth field established at the level of the EU;

— contributing to the development of youth policies, youth work and educational opportunities, and to relaying
information concerning young people and developing representative structures for young people throughout
Europe;

— engaging in discussion and reflection on youth in Europe and in other parts of the world and on the Communi-

ty's action for young people.

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4.3. Training and networking of those active in youth work and youth organisations

This measure supports the training of those active in youth work and youth organisations in this field, in particular
project leaders, youth advisers and supervisors in these projects. It also supports the exchange of experiences,
expertise and good practices between those active in youth work and youth organisations, as well as activities
which may lead to the establishment of long-lasting, high quality projects, partnerships and networks. This may,
for instance involve job shadowing.

Particular attention is to be paid to activities fostering the participation of those young people who find it most
difficult to participate in Community actions.

4.4. Projects encouraging innovation and quality

This measure supports projects aimed at introducing, implementing and promoting innovative approaches in the
youth field. These innovative aspects may relate to the content and objectives, in line with the development of the
European cooperation framework in the youth field, the involvement of partners from different backgrounds or the
dissemination of information.

4.5. Information activities for young people and those active in youth work and youth organisations

This measure supports information and communication targeting young people by improving their access to rele-
vant information and communication services in order to increase their participation in public life and facilitate the
realisation of their potential as active, responsible citizens. To this end, support is given to activities at European
and national level which improve young people's access to information and communication services and increase
the provision of quality information and the participation of young people in the preparation and dissemination of
information.

This measure contributes, for example, to the development of European, national, regional and local youth portals
for the dissemination of specific information for young people through all kinds of information channels, particu-
larly those most frequently used by young people. It can also support measures which promote the involvement by
young people in the preparation and dissemination of understandable, user-friendly and targeted information
products and advice, so as to improve the quality of the information and access for all young people. All publica-
tions shall respect equality and diversity.

4.6. Partnerships

This measure is for the funding of partnerships with regional or local bodies, in order to develop over the long-
term projects which combine various measures in the Programme. The funding focuses on projects and coordina-
tion activities.

4.7. Support for the structures of the Programme

This measure funds the structures provided for in Article 8(2), in particular the National Agencies. The measure
also provides funding for assimilated bodies, such as the national coordinators, the resource centres, the EURO-
DESK network, the Euro-Mediterranean Youth Platform and the associations of young European volunteers, acting
as implementation bodies at national level, in full compliance with Article 54(2)(c) and (3) of Regulation (EC,
Euratom) No 1605/2002.

4.8. Adding to the value of the Programme

The Commission may organise seminars, colloquia or meetings to facilitate the implementation of the Programme
and undertake appropriate information, publication and dissemination actions as well as Programme monitoring
and evaluation. These activities may be financed by means of grants, purchased by means of procurement proce-
dures or organised and funded directly by the Commission.

Action 5 — Support for European cooperation in the youth field

The aim of this action is to promote European cooperation in youth field.

5.1. Meetings of young people and those responsible for youth policy

This measure supports cooperation, seminars and structured dialogue between young people, those active in youth
in particular,
work and youth organisations and those responsible for youth policy. The activities include,
promoting cooperation and the exchange of ideas and good practices in the field of youth, conferences organised
by the EU Presidencies and other measures to exploit and disseminate the results of the projects and the results of
the Community's activities in the field of youth.

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This measure covers European Youth Week, which might include events in the Member States and at European
level on the work of the European institutions, dialogue between European decision makers and young people, and
recognition for the high quality projects promoted by the Programme.

This measure may, in particular, support the aims being pursued through the Open Method of Coordination in the
youth field and the European Pact for Youth, as well as cooperation between national and international youth
voluntary actvities.

5.2. Support for activities to bring about better understanding and knowledge of the field of youth

This measure supports specific projects for the identification of existing knowledge relating to the priorities for the
field of youth established under the open method of coordination and projects intended to complement and update
them or facilitate access to them.

It is also designed to support the development of methods for analysing and comparing the results of studies and
guaranteeing their quality.

The Programme may also support the networking of the various actors in the youth field.

5.3. Cooperation with international organisations

This action can be used to support the EU's cooperation with international organisations working in the youth
field, in particular the Council of Europe, the United Nations or its specialised institutions.

INFORMATION

In order to present examples of good practices and model projects, a database shall be developed containing information
about existing ideas concerning youth activities at European level.

A guide explaining the objectives, rules and procedures of the Programme in particular explaining the legal rights and
obligations when accepting a grant must be made available by the Commission.

MANAGEMENT OF THE PROGRAMME

Minimum allocations

Subject to Article 13, the minimum amounts to be allocated to the actions shall be, in relation to the financial envelope
set out in that Article:

Action 1:: Youth for Europe 30 %

Action 2:: European Voluntary Service 23 %

Action 3:: Youth in the World 6 %

Action 4:: Youth support systems 15 %

Action 5:: Support for European cooperation in the youth field 4 %

The Programme budget may also cover expenditure associated with the preparation, follow-up, monitoring, auditing and
evaluation activities directly necessary for the management of the Programme and the realisation of its objectives, in par-
ticular studies, meetings, information and publication activities, expenditure associated with the IT networks for the
exchange of information and any other administrative and technical support expenditure on which the Commission
may decide for the management of the Programme.

CHECKS AND AUDITS

A system of spot checks has been created for projects selected in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article
14(3) of this Decision.

Grant beneficiaries must keep for the Commission supporting documents for all expenditure for a period of five years
from the date of the last payment. They must ensure that, where applicable, supporting documents in the possession of
partners or members be made available to the Commission.

The Commission may have an audit of the use made of the grant carried out either directly by its own staff or by any
other qualified outside body of its choice. These audits may be carried out throughout the lifetime of the contract and
for a period of five years from the date of payment of the balance of the grant. Where appropriate, the audit findings
may lead the Commission to seek recovery of sums paid.

Commission staff and outside persons authorised by the Commission must be granted appropriate access to the offices
of the beneficiary and to all the information, including information in electronic format, needed in order to conduct
such audits.

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The Court of Auditors and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) must enjoy the same rights, especially of access, as
the Commission.

The Commission's decisions taken under Article 10, the contracts with the national agencies, the agreements with the
participating third countries and the associated contracts and agreements must provide, in particular, for the Commis-
sion or its authorised representative, OLAF and the Court of Auditors to undertake inspections and financial audits, in
situ if necessary. The national agencies or, if necessary, the grant beneficiaries may be inspected.

The Commission may also undertake in situ inspections pursuant to Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2185/96 of
11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out by the Commission in order to protect
the European Communities' financial interests against fraud and other irregularities (1).

For the Community actions referred to in this Decision, the term ‘irregularity’ referred to in Article 1(2) of Council Regu-
lation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities financial inter-
ests (2) shall mean any infringement of a provision of Community law or any non-performance of a contractual obliga-
tion resulting from an act or omission by a party, which has, or would have, because of an unjustified item of expendi-
ture, the effect of prejudicing the general budget of the European Union or budgets managed by it.

(1) OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2.
(2) OJ L 312, 23.12.1995, p. 1.

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STATEMENT OF THE COUNCIL'S REASONS

I. INTRODUCTION

1. On 15 July 2004 the Commission submitted to the European Parliament and to the Council a
proposal for a decision, based on Article 149(4) of the EC Treaty, establishing the ‘Youth in Action’
programme for the period 2007-2013.

2. The Committee of the Regions delivered its opinion on 17 November 2004 (1).

3. The Economic and Social Committee delivered its opinion on 10 March 2005 (2).

4. The European Parliament delivered its opinion at first reading on 25 October 2005 (3).

5. On 24 July 2006, the Council adopted its common position in accordance with Article 251 (2) of

the EC Treaty.

II. OBJECTIVE

The new ‘Youth in Action’ Programme — successor to the current YOUTH Programme — consists of
five separate and mutually complementary strands and is aimed at providing young people in the parti-
cipating countries with opportunities for group exchanges and voluntary work, as well as at reinforcing
cooperation and supporting a range of activities in the youth field. By these means, the Programme is
intended to foster a greater sense of active citizenship and responsibility among young people, to
to promote mutual understanding
encourage young people's initiative, enterprise and creativity,
between young people in different countries and, at the same time, to stimulate recognition of the
value of informal education acquired within a European context.

III. ANALYSIS OF THE COMMON POSITION

1. General comments

The Council's common position remains substantially in line with the Commission's original
proposal, not least in respect of the Programme's objectives and actions, which it was possible to
maintain in full following the Interinstitutional Agreement on the Financial Framework for 2007-
2013. The total amount allocated to the Programme stands at EUR 785 million at 2004 prices (i.e.
EUR 885 million at current prices), which represents only a slight fall in relation to the Commis-
sion's original proposal.

2. New elements contained in the common position as compared to the Commission proposal

The most significant amendment to the original proposal was probably the inclusion of minimum
financial thresholds for each of the actions under the Programme (see Annex — Management of the
Programme). Although this conflicts slightly with the Commission's call for maximum flexibility,
the compromise agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council on the breakdown
between the five actions still allows for a flexibility margin of 22 % to be allocated in accordance
with future priorities and requirements.

Apart from a number of structural and textual
improvements, the other main changes to the
original proposal involved a decision to focus primarily on the 15/28 age group, a requirement on
appropriate insurance cover for participants and greater emphasis on the provision of non-formal
learning opportunities.

3. European Parliament amendments

The Council has sought in its common position to take account of the European Parliament's
concerns and priorities and has been able to accept a large number of Parliament's amendments.

(1) OJ C 234, 22.9.2005, p.46.
(2) OJ C 71, 22.3.2005, p.34.
(3) OJ C …

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3.1. Amendments accepted in full, in part or in principle

Amendments 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 31, 32, 34, 39, 41, 43 and 53 have been
included in full.

Amendments 4, 6, 13, 19/20, 21, 22, 23, 24/25, 26, 27, 36, 37, 38, 40, 44, 45, 46, 47, 50,
51 and 54 have been accepted in part or in principle.

3.2. Amendments not incorporated

Just over a quarter of the total number of EP amendments have been rejected.

Amendments 64 and 69 — requesting an increase of 23 % in the overall budget for the
Programme — were rejected in the light of the Interinstitutional Agreement on the 2007-
2013 Financial Framework referred to in section 1 above. Amendments 48 and 49 could not
be accepted on similar grounds.

A number of amendments (28 on disabilities, 59 on youth seminars and 67 on proportion-
ality) were rejected on the grounds that their content was covered elsewhere in the text.
Others were felt to be either too restrictive (15 referring to ‘qualified’ operatives, 29 on the
need for ‘sufficiently skilled’ staff and 55/70 on funding procedures) or too detailed (58/73 on
the European Youth Week and 68 on a database for financial documentation). Nor could the
Council accept amendment 9 on language learning, arguing that this was amply covered by
other Community programmes.

Finally, the Council — in support of the Commission's original proposal — rejected two dele-
tions by the Parliament: amendment 30, which had deleted a reference to the need for national
agencies to offer ‘sufficient financial guarantees’, and amendment 42, which had removed the
possibility for certain types of project to call for volunteers with specific skills.

IV. CONCLUSION

The Council considers that its common position represents a balanced text, providing a good basis for
the timely launching of this important instrument in support of the youth sector, which, as compared
to its predecessor, simplifies and broadens access to a range of activities aimed at increasing young
people's engagement in society at local, national and European level.

The Council also considers that it has taken account of the objectives pursued by the European Parlia-
ment in its amendments to the Commission's proposal and looks forward to an agreement with the
European Parliament in the near future with a view to the adoption of the Decision.