Decision No 1719/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 November 2006 establishing the Youth in Action programme for the period 2007 to 2013
Date: 2006-11-15
Institutions: Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Subjects: EU Member State, EU programme, European citizenship, cooperation policy, youth policy

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DECISION No 1719/2006/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 15 November 2006

establishing the ‘Youth in Action’ programme for the period 2007 to 2013

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu-
nity 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),

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

The Treaty establishing the European Community, herein-
after referred to as the ‘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 instructors and
quality education.

liberty, democracy,

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

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

It

(4) 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).

(5)

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
complemented by the
priority to lifelong learning,

(1) OJ C 234, 22.9.2005, p. 46.
(2) OJ C 71, 22.3.2005, p. 34.
(3) Opinion of the European Parliament delivered on 25 October 2005
(not yet published in the Official Journal), Council Common Position
of 24 July 2006 (OJ C 251 E, 17.10.2006, p. 20) and Position of the
European Parliament of 25 October 2006 (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.

sustainable development
European Council of 15 and 16 June 2001.

strategy of

the Gothenburg

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9)

The Laeken Declaration annexed to the Presidency conclu-
sions of the European Council of 14 and 15 December
2001 asserts that one of the basic challenges 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 Resolution of the Council and of the representatives of
the Governments of the Member States meeting within the
Council of 27 June 2002 (7) establishes, in particular, an
open method of coordination covering the priorities of
participation,
information, voluntary activities among
young people and greater understanding of youth. This
should be taken into account in the implementation of the
Youth in Action Programme, hereinafter referred to as ‘the
Programme’.

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

for

(10) The Spring European Council on 22 and 23 March 2005
the
adopted the European Pact
instruments contributing to the achievement of the Lisbon
objectives of growth and jobs. The Pact focuses on three
areas: employment,
integration and social advancement;
education, training and mobility; reconciliation of working
life and family life.

for Youth as one of

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

(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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(12) The special needs of people with disabilities should be

addressed.

(13) 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.

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

(15) 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 Association
process, on the basis of framework agreements to be signed
between the Community and these countries.

(16) Steps should be taken with a view to opening up the

Programme to Switzerland.

(17) 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.

(21) The Programme should be regularly monitored and
evaluated in cooperation between the Commission and
the Member States in order to allow for readjustments,
particularly in the priorities for implementing the measures.
This monitoring and evaluation should include measurable
and relevant objectives and indicators.

(22)

(23)

(24)

is necessary to provide sufficient

It
flexibility in the
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 essential accom-
panying administrative and financial provisions.

is appropriate to ensure a correct closure of

the
It
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 Commu-
nities (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 should be implemented to prevent
funds lost or

irregularities and fraud and to recover
incorrectly paid or used.

(18)

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

(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
Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the
European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on
budgetary discipline and sound financial management (2),
for the budgetary authority during the annual budgetary
procedure.

(19) 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) 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 Community
support for the structures established at national level for
the administration of the Programme.

(27) Since the objectives of this Decision cannot be sufficiently
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 subsidiarity as
set out in Article 5 of the Treaty. In 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.

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

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(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
implementing powers
the exercise of
conferred on the Commission (1).

for

Article 3

Specific objectives of the Programme

The specific objectives are as follows:

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

1.

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

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Establishment of the Programme

1. This Decision establishes the Youth in Action 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.

(a)

giving young people and youth organisations the
opportunity 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;

2. The Programme shall start on 1 January 2007 and end on
31 December 2013.

(d)

fostering the mobility of young people in Europe;

Article 2

General objectives of the Programme

1. The general objectives of the Programme shall be:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

to promote young people's active citizenship in general and
their European citizenship in particular;

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

to foster mutual understanding between young people in
different countries;

to contribute to developing the quality of support systems
for youth activities and the capabilities of civil society
organisations in the youth field;

(e)

to promote European cooperation in the youth field.

2. The general objectives of the Programme shall complement
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 diversity
to fostering social cohesion and combating all
in Europe,
discrimination based on sex, race or ethnic origin, religion or
belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, and with regard to
sustainable development.

(e)

(f)

developing intercultural
field;

learning within the youth

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;

(g)

encouraging initiative, enterprise and creativity;

(h)

facilitating participation in the Programme by young
people with fewer opportunities,
including young
people with disabilities;

(i)

(j)

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;

providing non-formal and informal learning oppor-
tunities with a European dimension and opening up
innovative opportunities in connection with active
citizenship.

2.

the general objective of developing
In the context of
solidarity 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
personal commitment through voluntary activities at
European and international level;

(1) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. Decision as amended by Decision

2006/512/EC (OJ L 200, 22.7.2006, p. 11).

(b)

involving young people in actions fostering solidarity
between citizens of the EU.

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3.

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

(d)

contributing to the cooperation between various
national and international youth voluntary activities.

(a)

(b)

(c)

developing exchanges
and intercultural dialogue
between young Europeans and young people in the
neighbouring countries;

Article 4

Actions

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;

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

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

1.

Youth for Europe

The aim of this action is to:

4.

In the context of the general objective to contribute to
developing the quality of support systems for youth
activities and the capabilities of civil society organisations
in the youth field:

(a)

contributing to the networking of the organisations
concerned;

— support exchanges of young people in order

to

increase their mobility,

— support youth initiatives and projects and activities
concerning participation in democratic life, in order
to develop young people's citizenship and mutual
understanding.

(b)

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

2.

European Voluntary Service

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

promoting innovation in the development of activities
for young people;

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

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

3.

Youth in the World

The aim of this action is to:

supporting long-term youth projects and initiatives of
regional and local bodies;

facilitating the recognition of young people's non-
formal learning and skills acquired through participa-
tion in the Programme;

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

(g)

exchanging good practices.

— support

that

initiatives

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

5.

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

4.

Youth support systems

(a)

encouraging the exchange of good practices and
cooperation between administrations and policy-
makers at all levels;

(b)

encouraging structured dialogue between policy-
makers and young people;

(c)

improving knowledge and understanding of youth;

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

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5.

Support for European cooperation in the youth field

The aim of this action is to:

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

— 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,

— 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.

Article 5

Participation in the Programme

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

(a)

the Member States;

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

the EFTA States that are party to the EEA Agreement, in
accordance with the provisions of that Agreement;

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
their
participation in Community programmes;

for

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;

Switzerland,
agreement with that country.

subject

to the conclusion of a bilateral

2. The actions in points 2 and 3 of the Annex shall be open to
cooperation with third countries that have signed agreements
with the Community relevant to the youth field, hereinafter
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

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

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

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, psychological,
economic or cultural reasons or because they live in remote
areas.

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
Community law. The country of origin shall endeavour to take
appropriate measures to enable participants in the European
Voluntary Service
social protection. The
participating countries shall also endeavour to adopt appropriate
measures, in accordance with the Treaty, to remove legal and
administrative obstacles to access to the Programme.

to retain their

Article 7

International cooperation

The Programme shall also be open to cooperation with
international organisations with authority in the field of youth,
in particular 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.

3. The Commission and the participating countries shall take
appropriate measures to encourage the recognition of non-
formal and informal learning for young people, for example by
means of documents or certificates, whilst taking account of
national situations recognising the experience gained by the
beneficiaries and attesting to the direct participation 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.

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

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

6. The participating countries shall:

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

level,

(a)

(b)

the existence, relevance and operation in the national
agency,
sound
in accordance with the rules of
financial management, of suitable procedures, mon-
itoring 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 national agencies'
financial systems and procedures and the accuracy
of their accounts;

the reliability of

(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.

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:

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.

(i)

(ii)

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

the body shall have sufficient staff with the appro-
priate skills to work in an international cooperation
environment, an appropriate infrastructure and an
administrative environment allowing it to avoid any
conflict of interests;

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.

(iii)

it shall be able to apply the fund management rules
and the contractual conditions laid down at Commu-
nity level;

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.

(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;

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 the implementation of
gramme, including the annual work plan;

the Pro-

(d)

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

(b)

the general balance between the various actions of the
Programme;

(i)

provide the Commission, before the national agency
starts work, with the necessary assurances regarding

(c) with regard to the funding,

the criteria (e.g. youth
population, GDP and geographical distance between

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countries) applicable for establishing the indicative break-
down of funds among the Member States for the purpose
of the actions to be managed on a decentralised basis;

Article 13

General financial provisions

(d)

the monitoring of the agreement referred in point 4.2 of
the Annex,
including the annual work plan and annual
report of the European Youth Forum;

1. The budget for the implementation of this programme for
the period referred to in Article 1 is hereby set
at
EUR 885 000 000.

(e)

the arrangements for evaluating the Programme;

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

(f)

the arrangements for certifying the participation of the
young people concerned;

Article 14

(g)

the arrangements for adapting the actions of
gramme mentioned in Article 8(7).

the Pro-

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).

Article 11

Complementarity with other Community actions

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

citizenship,

training,

culture,

2. The Programme may, where compatible, share resources
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 development of
the objectives of other fields of Community action, such as
education, vocational
languages,
social inclusion, gender equality and combating discrimination.

training, culture and sport,

Article 12

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 and
qualifications for completing the action or work 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 characteristics of the
recipients, their age, the nature of the action and the amount of
financial support.

3. Depending on the nature of the action, 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 actions, agreements should be

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

the Programme

5. Operating grants
to
awarded under
organisations active at European level, as defined in Article 162
of Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of
23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules
the
implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/
2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general
budget of the European Communities (1), shall not be auto-
matically decreased in accordance with Article 113(2) of
Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 in the event of renewal.

for

Complementarity with national policies and instruments

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

Pursuant

to Article 54(2)(c) of Regulation (EC, Eura-
6.
tom) No 1605/2002, the Commission may entrust tasks of
public authority and, in particular, budget implementation tasks
to the structures referred to in Article 8(2) of this Decision.

2. A participating country may make national
funding
available to beneficiaries to be managed in accordance with the
rules of the Programme and, to this end, use the decentralised
the
the Programme, as
structures of
complementary pro rata funding of these structures.

it ensures

long as

Pursuant

7.
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.

(1) OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 1.

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Article 15

Monitoring and Evaluation

1. The Commission shall ensure that
the Programme is
regularly 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.

2. The Commission shall ensure the regular,
external evaluation of the Programme.

independent,

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 implementation
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

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 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 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 20th day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 January 2007.

Done at Strasbourg, 15 November 2006.

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 Decisions.

For the European Parliament
The President
J. BORRELL FONTELLES

For the Council
The President
P. LEHTOMÄKI

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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.

The actions can be broken down into the following measures:

ACTIONS

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 European 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 opportunities 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.

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

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 they fulfil the requirements of Article 5(1)(d).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 supervisory 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 countries
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
activities must cover at least eight participating countries; it may be a European network representing bodies
active in the field of youth,

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— 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.

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 meetings, 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,
hereinafter 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.

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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 Commission.

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

Community's action for young people.

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 relevant
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, particularly
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 publications 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 coordination
activities.

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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 EURODESK
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 procedures 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
work and youth organisations and those responsible for youth policy. The activities include, in particular, 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.

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.

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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
particular 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.

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 Commission 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 (Euratom, EC) 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
Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities financial
interests (2) shall mean any infringement of a provision of Community law or any non-performance of a contractual
obligation resulting from an act or omission by a party, which has, or would have, because of an unjustified item of
expenditure, the effect of prejudicing the general budget of the European Union or budgets managed by the Communities.

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