CELEX: 51998PC0695
Language: en
Date: 1998-11-27
Title: Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing the Community action programme for youth

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
*****
                                              Brussels, 27.11.1998
                                            COM(1998) 695 final
                                            98/0197 (COD)
                          Amended proposal for a
        EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION
establishing the Community action programme for youth
        (presented by the Commission pursuant to Article 189 a (2)
                            of the EC-Treaty)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                               EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
In the light of the opinion of the European Parliament of 5 November 1998, the Commission,
in accordance with Article 189 A §2 of the EC Treaty, is submitting an amended proposal for
a decision to the Council and the European Parliament. The amended proposal largely retains
the same structure and the same objectives as the initial proposal but goes into certain aspects
in greater detail:
         in relation to the initial proposal, one set of amendments provides useful additional
information and clarification on specific aspects of cooperation policy in the field of youth;
         a second set of amendments improves the proposal by incorporating features designed
to make access to the programme easier for young people, particularly those who may have
difficulties in taking part.
61 amendments were tabled by the European Parliament. 12 were rejected and 12 considered
unnecessary. 36 amendments were accepted in full or in part, while 13 were partly modified.
 The Commission has not agreed to the modification of the eligibility age limits for the
 programme, for this would detract from concentration of resources on the target public.
 Similarly, amendments relating to the EU's external policy have not been accepted because this
 policy goes beyond the framework of Article 126 which is the legal basis for the programme
 proposal.
 The Commission is most appreciative of the increase in funding proposed by the European
 Parliament, but has opted to abide by its initial proposal on this.
 Lastly, with regard to committee procedures, the Commission has rejected the amendment on
 the procedures to be followed by the Committee as it does not conform to the 13 July 1987
 decision on comitology.
 The Commission has accepted the amendments designed to stress the importance of the
 cooperation policy's contribution in the area of youth and the development of non-formal
 education, and the need to remove the legal or administrative obstacles to transnational
 mobility among young people and to guarantee the safeguarding of their rights, particularly
 when it comes to social protection.
 ---pagebreak---                     Amended proposal for a
        EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DECISION
establishing the Community action programme for youth
                                                      £A
 ---pagebreak---            Commission's initial proposal            Amended proposal following the EP's opinion
                                                    '- 'v>'->: j - AVf ! ; jpf OS November 1998
                   Proposal for a
       EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND
              COUNCIL DECISION
  establishing the Community action programme
                      for youth
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE
    COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the
European Community and in particular
Article 126 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the
 Commission1,
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic
 and Social Committee2,
Having regard to the opinion of the Committee
 of the Regions3,
 Acting in accordance with the procedure
 referred to in Article 189b of the Treaty4,
 1. Whereas the Treaty establishing the
     European Community stipulates that the
     latter's action shall inter alia contribute to
     the development of quality education and
     training; whereas this was resolutely
     reiterated by the Treaty of Amsterdam signed
     on 2 October 1997 which states that the
     Community's objective is also to promote the
     highest possible level of knowledge for its
     peoples through wide access to education
     and through a continuous updating of
     knowledge;
 ---pagebreak---          '. f '1 ixmssta-n's initial proposal                        Amended proposal following the EP*s opinio,: •:
                                                                                        of 05 November! 998
                                                               5
     1er -is. by their Decision No 818/95/EC ,
, to European Parliament and the Council set
up         an action             programme         regarding
cooperation in the field of youth; whereas it
is appropriate, on the basis of the experience
acquired from that programme, to pursue and
strenghten cooperation and Community
action in that field;
Whereas the extraordinary European Council
on Employment held in Luxembourg on 20
and 21 November 1997 adopted a
coordinated employment strategy in which
lifelong education and training have a
fundamental role to play in implementing
guidelines6 for                 the Member             States'
employment policies in order to enhance
employability, adaptability, and the culture of
entrepreneurship and to promote equal
opportunities;
Whereas               the       Commission           in       its           Whereas             the         Commission           in its
communication "Towards a Europe of                                          communication "Towards a Europe of
knowledge"* set out guidelines on the                                       knowledge"9 set out guidelines on the
creation of a European education area                                       creation of a European education area
capable of achieving the objective of lifelong                              capable of achieving the objective of.lifelong
 education and training, defining six types of                              education and training, defining six types of
 measures to be developed at Community                                      measures to be developed at Community
 level, focusing on transnational cooperation                               level, focusing on transnational cooperation
 and designed to bring added value to the                                   and designed to bring added value to the
 action taken by the Member States in full                                  action taken by the Member States in full
 respect of the principle of subsidiarity, in a                             respect of the principle of subsidiarity; and
context of simplified procedures;                                           whereas in order to make it easier for the
                                                                            target publics to have access to the
                                                                            programme, it has decided to simplify the
                                                                            application and selection procedures:
   O J L K 7 , 20.4.1995, p. 1.
   O J C 3 0 , 28.1.1998, p. 1.
   Communication from the Commission to Hie Council "Fostering entrepreneurship in Europe: priorities for the future" (COM(1998)
   222 llnal/2, 21.4.1998).
   Communication from the Commission to the Council, European Parliament, Economic and Social Committee and Committee of the
   Regions - COM(97) 563 final of 12.11.1997.
   Communication from the Commission to the Council, European Parliament, Economic and Social Committee and Committee of the
   Regions - COM(97) 563 final of 12.11.1997.
 ---pagebreak---       Commission's initial proposal                            Amended proposal following the EP's opinion
                                                                                 of 05 November 1998
Whereas the White Paper10 Teaching and
learning - Towards the learning society
states that the emergence of the learning
society entails encouraging the acquisition
of new knowledge and to this end providing
motivation to learn at every opportunity;
and whereas the Green Paper11 Education,
training, research: the obstacles to
transnational mobility highlighted the
advantages mobility brings to people and
competitiveness in the Union;
Whereas there is a need to promote active 6. Whereas there is a need to promote active
 citizenship, to strengthen the links between                       citizenship, to strengthen the links between
 measures pursued under this programme,                             measures pursued under this programme,
 and to step up the fight against exclusion in                      and to step up the fight for human rights and
 all its forms, including racism and                                against exclusion in all its forms, including
 xenophobia; whereas special attention                              racism,        excessive            nationalism            and
 should be focused on removing all forms of                         xenophobia; whereas special attention
 inequality and on promoting equal                                  should be focused on the respect of
 opportunities for women and men;                                   minorities, the removal of all forms of
                                                                    discrimination and inequality, and on
                                                                    promoting equal opportunities for women
                                                                    and men: whereas the Commission and the
                                                                    Member States should endeavour to get the
                                                                    message through to all young people, not
                                                                    just those who belong to youth
                                                                     organisations; and whereas a special effort.
                                                                     including the allocation of extra funding,
                                                                     should be targeted at young people who
                                                                     have the greatest difficulty taking part in the
                                                                     programme because of their cultural, social.
                                                                     physical.        financial          or         geographical
                                                                     circumstances:
  Commission's White Paper: Education and training: Teaching and learning - Towards the learning society". Office for Official
  Publications of the European Communities, Luxembourg, 1996.
  Commission's Green Paper: Education, training, research: the obstacles to transnational mobility, COM(96) 462 final,
  2.10.1996.
 ---pagebreak---                                                                       tmmmmmmmmam
     Commission's initial proposal                              Amended proposal following the EP's opinion
                                                                                     of 05 November 1998
                                                                 6a,
                                                                 Whereas the integration of young people in the
                                                                 occupational world - a crucial part of their
                                                                 integration in society - depends inter alia on
                                                                 recognition and development of all the skills
                                                                 and qualifications they have acquired via non-
                                                                 formal education: whereas exchanges of young
                                                                 people contribute greatly to establishing
                                                                 mutual           confidence.            to       strengthening
                                                                 democracy, to developing a spirit of tolerance,
                                                                 cooperation and solidarity between the new
                                                                 generations, and are therefore vital to the
                                                                 cohesion and further development of the
                                                                 Union :
                                                                 6b
                                                                 whereas in its report on information and
                                                                 communication policy in the European
                                                                 Union12, the European Parliament "considers
                                                                 that, with regard to support and action
                                                                programmes, the selection of projects should
                                                                 be more transparent and the reasons for the
                                                                 choice should be clearer to those who submit
                                                                 the projects'                    whereas youth-related
                                                                 programmes can be strengthened if training
                                                                 and mobility of trainers, along with language
                                                                 training, are included among the priorities:
                                                                 whereas the European Parliament has
                                                                 acknowledged the essential role played by non-
                                                                 profit-making organisations in implementing
                                                                 the EU's social policy and programmes and has
                                                                 asked for appropriate steps to be taken13 to
                                                                 enhance their capabilities:
 (Minutes of the meet in g on 14.5.98. A4-0115/98)
Resolution on Commission's communication on promoting the role of associations and foundations in Europe (Doc. A4-0203/98
and OJ C ...)
 ---pagebreak---         Commission's initia) proposa!
                                                  6ç
                                                  Whereas there is a need to further develop
                                                  European voluntary service, both as a valid
                                                  experience in terms of informal education and
                                                  as a factor of development of European
                                                  citizenship and belonging to the European
                                                  Union, its quality being largely dependent on
                                                  appropriate preparation; whereas this service
                                                  must relate only to activities not intended to
                                                  replace potential or paid jobs and must not
                                                  result in a reduction in the number of jobs: and
                                                  whereas the projects concerned - particularly
                                                  the host projects - must not be commercial or
                                                  for profit, and must abide by the principles and
                                                   rules of the European Community:
                                                   6jd
                                                    whereas the Commission and the Member
                                                    States must seek to ensure complementarity
                                                    between EVS activities and similar ventures
                                                    undertaken nationally: whereas the Member
                                                    States should take appropriate and
                                                    coordinated steps to remove legal and
                                                    administrative obstacles in order to further
                                                    improve access to the programme for young
                                                    people and facilitate recognition of the
                                                    specificity of young people's voluntary
                                                    activities:
7. Whereas the European Parliament and the 7. Whereas the European Parliament and the
   Council of the European Union in their               Council of the European Union in their
   Decision No         /99/EC [education]14 and         Decision No          /99/EC [education]16 and
   the Council in its Decision No        /99/EC         the Council in its Decision No         /99/EC
   [training]15 have established Community              [training]17 have established Community
   action programmes for the education and              action programmes for the education and
   training fields respectively, which contribute        training fields respectively, which contribute
   together with the youth programme to                  together with the youth programme to
   implementing a knowledge policy;                      promotrng-a Europe of knowledge:
 ---pagebreak---         Commission's initial proposal                                   Amended proposal following the EP's opinion
                                                                                             of 05 November 1998
   Whereas it is necessary, in order to                                 8. Whereas it is necessary, in order to reinforce
   reinforce the added value of Community                                    the added value of Community action, for the
   action to ensure, at all levels, a coherence                               Commission to ensure, in conjunction with
   and a complementarity between the actions                                 the Member States, a coherence and a
   implemented in the framework of this                                       complementarity at all levels between the
   Decision and the Community interventions,                                  actions implemented in the framework of this
   in particular in the domains of culture18,                                 Decision and the Community interventions, in
   audio-visual media, the completion of the                                  particular in the domains of culture19,
   Single market, the environment, consumer                                   research and development, audio-visual
   protection, the information society, SMEs,                                 media, the completion of the Single market,
   social policies, employment and public                                     the environment, consumer protection, the
   health;                                                                    information society, SMEs, social policies,
                                                                              employment and public health;
9. Whereas the Commission's proposals for 9. Whereas the Commission's proposals for
   reforming            the         Structural          Funds20,            reforming             the        Structural      Funds21,
   particularly the European Social Fund, and                               particularly the European Social Fund, and
   the Community initiatives stemming                                       the Community initiatives stemming
   therefrom, are based on objectives designed                              therefrom, are based on objectives designed
   to        support           the       adaptation            and          to support the adaptation and modernisation
   modernisation of policies and systems                                    of policies and systems relating to
   relating to education, training and                                      education, training and employment; and
   employment;                                                              whereas the Commission and the Member
                                                                             States should ensure a coherence and a
                                                                            complementarity between the measures
                                                                            funded under this programme and those
                                                                             funded under the Structural Funds on the
                                                                            basis of clear guidelines drawn up by the
                                                                             Commission:
    Proposal for a Parliament and Council Decision establishing a single financing and programming instrument for cultural
    cooperation (2000).OJ C 211,7.7.1998, p. 18.
    Proposal for a Parliament and Council Decision establishing a single financing and programming instrument for cultural
    cooperation (2000).OJ C 211,7.7.1998, p. 18.
    Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds, OJ C 176,9.6.1998, p. 1.
    Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) laying down general provisioas on the Structural Funds, OJ C 176, 9.6.1998, p. 1.
 ---pagebreak---         Commission's initial proposal             Amended proposal following the EP's opinion
                                                              of 05 November 1998
10. Whereas the European Councils of Essen (9
    and 10 December 1994) and Cannes
    (26 and 27 June 1995) stressed the need for
    further action to enhance the social and
    vocational integration of young people in
    Europe; whereas the conclusions of the
    European Council of Florence (21 and 22
    June 1996) emphasised the importance of
    making it easier for young people to enter
    the      labour          force; whereas   the
    European Council meeting in Amsterdam
    (16 and 17 June 1997) expressed its
    support for non-profit making activities;
    whereas the European Parliament and
    Council have adopted Decision No
     1686/98/EC establishing a Community
    action programme "European Voluntary
    Service for Young People"22;
11. Whereas provision should be made to open
    up this programme to participation by the
    associated Central and Eastern European
    countries, in accordance with the conditions
    established in the relevant agreements,
    notably the association agreements, to
    Cyprus on the same terms as those applied
    to the EFTA/EEA countries as well as to
    Turkey and Malta according to the
    procedures to be agreed with those
    countries;
12. Whereas this programme should be 12. Whereas this programme should be
    monitored and continually assessed in co-       monitored and continually assessed in co-
    operation between the Commission and the        operation between the Commission and the
    Member States in order to allow for             Member States in order to allow for
    readjustments, particularly in the priorities   readjustments, particularly in the priorities for
    for implementing the measures,                  implementing the measures; whereas this
                                                    assessment should include an external
                                                    evaluation and be carried out by indépendant
                                                    organisations:
    OJL214, 31.7.1998, p. 1.
 ---pagebreak---                                                    Amended proposal foMowm^tllefe^mjiioa
                                                   ' , .          of05NwèJEtp«fjHA(--«>^.
13. Whereas, in accordance with the principles     13. Whereas, in accordance with the principles
    of subsidiarity and proportionality as             of subsidiarity and proportionality as defined
    defined in Article 3b of the Treaty, the           in Article 3b of the Treaty, the objectives of
    objectives        of the proposed       action     the proposed action concerning the
    concerning           the   development    and      development and strengthening of a
    strengthening of a cooperation policy in the       cooperation policy in the youth field,
    youth field, including the European                including the European voluntary, service
    voluntary service and youth exchanges both         and youth exchanges both within the
    within the Community and with the third            Community and with the third countries,
    countries, cannot be sufficiently achieved by      cannot be sufficiently achieved by the
    the Member States because the complexity           Member States because the complexity and
    and diversity of the youth field and can           diversity of the youth field and can therefore
    therefore be better achieved by the                be better achieved by the Community thanks
    Community thanks to the transnational              to    the     transnational    dimension     of
    dimension of Community actions and                 Community actions and measures; whereas
    measures; whereas this Decision does not           this Decision does not go beyond what is
    go beyond what is necessary to achieve             necessary to achieve these objectives;
    these objectives;                                  whereas it is up to the Member States to
                                                       develop and strengthen provisions aimed at
                                                       the programme's target publics in order to
                                                       make the European Community action more
                                                       effective:
14. Whereas this Decision lays down, for the
    entire duration of the programme, a
    financial framework offering the budgetary
    authority the principal point of reference,
    within the meaning of point 1 of the Joint
    Declaration by the European Parliament,
    the Council and the Commission of 6 March
     199523, during the annual budgetary
     procedure;
15. Whereas an agreement was reached on
     20 December 1994 on a modus vivendi
     between the European Parliament, the
     Council and the Commission concerning the
     implementing measures for acts adopted
     pursuant to the procedure referred to in
     Article 189b of the Treaty24,
 HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
     OJ C 102.4.4 1996, p. 4.
     O J C 102 4.4 1996, p. 1.
                                                                                           10
 ---pagebreak---     Commission's initial proposal               Amended proposal following the Ws opinion
                                                             of 05 November 1998
               Article one
   Establishment of the programme
This Decision establishes the Community
action programme for youth, hereinafter
referred to as "this programme", concerning
the cooperation policy in the youth field,
including the European Voluntary Service
and youth exchanges both within the
Community and with third countries.
This programme shall be implemented in the
period starting on 1 January 2000 and
ending on 31 December 2004.
This programme shall contribute to the 3. This programme shall contribute to active
 Europe of knowledge through the                  citizenship in order to enhance young
 implementation of a European education           people's chances and their employability.
 area fostering the development of lifelong       and their participation in the further
 education and training. It shall permit the      development of the European Community
 development of the knowledge and skills          and in the promotion of a Europe of
 conducive to the full exercise of citizenship.   knowledge through the development of a
                                                  European education area.
  This programme shall support and
  supplement action taken by and in the
  Member States, while fully respecting their
  cultural and linguistic diversity.
                  Article 2
         Aims of the programme
 In order to allow young people to acquire         In order to allow young people to acquire
 knowledge and skills, and to exercise             knowledge and skills, and to exercise
 responsible citizenship so as to become an        responsible citizenship so as to become an
 active part of society, notably by promoting      active part of society, notably by promoting
 the role of young women, the objectives of        the role of young women, the objectives of
 this programme are as follows:                    this programme are as follows:
                                                                                       11
 ---pagebreak---     to strengthen ihek sefrëe of solidarity
    through fflw« C3ft«*iiv« partK&rçwrtkè* Ipy
    ympg fosfte living Iflffttty in * Mimfry
    State in tr^mftfitiefuU C w w r f t y a a r ^ i
    activities within the Coawnunfty of in noa-
    mémfeer ce>un{rk«, i« pefftoular those with
    which the Community has concluded
    cooperation agreements;
(b) to promote an active contribution by b) to promote an active contribution by young
    young people to the building of Europe          people to the building of Europe through
    through their participation in transnational    their participation in transnational projects
    exchanges within the Community or with          which involve exchanges within the
     non-member countries, by means of which        Community or with non-member countries,
    they may discover the true nature of            by means of which they may discover the
    Europe in all its diversity and become          true nature of Europe in all its social and
     more aware of other environments, thus         cultural diversity and become more aware of
     helping to combat racism, anti-Semitism        other environments, thus standing up for
     and xenophobia;                                human rights and helping to combat racism,
                                                    exagerated nationalism. anti-Semitism and
                                                    xenophobia;
(c) to encourage young peoples' sense of
     initiative, enterprise and creativity so that
     they may play an active role in society
     while        at      the     same       time
     stimulating recognition of the value of
     informal education acquired within a
     European context.
   In implementing these objectives, the             In implementing these objectives, the
   Commission and the Member States shall             Commission and the Member States shall
   ensure that action under this programme is         ensure that action under this programme is
   consistent with the Community's other              consistent with the Community's other
   actions and policies, particularly with regard     actions and policies, particularly with
   to employment, to the removal of                   regard to employment, to the removal of all
   inequality, to equal opportunities for             forms of social discrimination and
   women and men, and to social policy.               inequality, 'to equal opportunities for
                                                      women and men, particularly by integrating
                                                      this dimension in all initiatives through
                                                      positive action, and to social policy.
                                                                                          12
 ---pagebreak---          Commission's initial proposal             Amended proposal following the EP's opinion
                                                                 of051Novemberl998
                    Article 3
              Community actions
1.  The aims of this programme shall be
     pursued by means of the following actions,
     the operational content and the application
     procedures of which are described in the
     Annex to this Decision:
        (a) European voluntary service;
        (b) Youth for Europe;
        (c) Opportunity for Youth;
        (d) Joint actions;
        (e) Support measures
2.   The actions shall be implemented through
     the following types of measures, in the form
     of operations which may use several of
     them in combination:
   (a) support for the mobility of young people;
   (b) promotion of virtual mobility;              b) Promotion of the use of and access to
                                                       information         and     communication
                                                       technologies:
   (c) support for the development of
         European level cooperation networks
         permitting    mutual     exchange      of
         experience and good practice;
   (d) promotion of language skills           and   d) Fostering the respect for linguistic and
        understanding of different cultures;           cultural    diversity   in the  European
                                                       CommunTtyf
   (e) support for innovatory pilot projects
         based on transnational partnerships
         designed to develop innovation;
                                                                                       13
 ---pagebreak---           Commission's initial proposal             Amended proposal following the EE's opinion
                                                                  of 05November if93?
   (f) the constant improvement of the f) the constant improvement of the Community
         Community terms of references with          terms of references through:
         regard to youth systems and policies.
                                                     - the observation and analysis of national
                                                     policies on youth:
                                                     - the observation and dissemination of good
                                                     practice and innovation:
                                                     - extensive exchanges of information.
                                                     There shall be special focus on projects
                                                     combining two or more different measures.
                       Article 4
             Access to the programme
     This programme is aimed at young people,
     in principle between the ages of 15 and 25,
     who are legal residents of a Member States,
     as well as those involved in youth work.
     The Commission and Member States shall
     ensure that all young people, without
     discrimination, have access to the activities
     of this programme.
3.   The Commission and Member States shall            The Commission and Member States shall
     ensure that special efforts are made to assist    ensure that special efforts are made to assist
     young people who, for cultural, social,           young people and small local groups who,
     physical, economical or geographical              for cultural, social, physical, economical or
     reasons, find it more difficult to participate    geographical reasons, find it more difficult to
      in existing action programmes at                 participate in existing action programmes at
      Community, national, regional or local level     Community, national, regional or local level
      and shall accordingly take account of the        and shall accordingly take account of the
      difficulties faced by this target group.         difficulties faced by this target group.
                                                                                            14
 ---pagebreak---         Commission's initial proposal              Amended proposalfollowingthe EP's opinion
                                                                of 05 November 1998
                    Article 5
   Implementation of the programme and
    cooperation with the Member States
1.  The     Commission      shall   ensure     the
    implementation of the Community actions
    covered by this programme in accordance
    with the Annex.
2.  In conjunction with the Member States, the
    Commission shall take the steps described
    in the Annex (Action 5.3) in order to make
    the best use of what has been achieved
    through Community cooperative action in*
    the field of youth.
3.  The Commission and Member States shall           The Commission and Member States shall
    take appropriate action to develop               take appropriate action to           develop
    structures established at Community and          structures established at Community and
    national level to achieve the objectives of      national level to achieve the objectives of
    the programme, to facilitate access to the       the programme, render implementation user-
    programme for young people and other             friendly and geared to young people, so that
    partners at local level, to evaluate and         the programme becomes more accessible for
    monitor actions called for under the             young people and other partners at local
    programme and to apply consultation and          level, to evaluate and monitor actions called
    selection arrangements. The Commission           for under the programme and to apply
    and the Member States shall ensure that          consultation and selection arrangements.
    they take measures designed adequately to        The Commission and the Member States
    inform and raise the awareness of young          shall ensure that they take measures
    people moving to another country, in             designed adequately to inform and raise the
    particular briefing volunteers on their rights   awareness of young people moving to
    and obligations at European, national and        another country, in particular briefing
    local level. The Member States shall ensure      volunteers on their rights and obligations at
    that appropriate information and publicity is    European, national and local level. The
    provided on actions supported by the             Member States shall ensure that appropriate
    programme.                                       information and publicity is provided on
                                                     actions supported by the programme. The
                                                     Commission and the Member States
                                                     undertake to provide an appropriate flow of
                                                     information and dissemination for the
                                                     actions of this programme so that it reaches
                                                     the general public.
                                                                                         15
 ---pagebreak---           Commission's initial proposal           Amended proposal following the EP's opinion
                                                                of 05 November 199&
4.   Each Member State shall endeavour to take    4. Each Member State shall endeavour to take
     the necessary steps to ensure the efficient     the necessary steps to ensure the efficient
     running of the programme and to take            running of the programme and to take
     appropriate measures to remove any              appropriate measures to remove any legal or
     obstacles in gaining access to this             administrative obstacles in gaining access to
     programme.                                      this programme, particularly bv guaranteeing
                                                     that young people taking part in activities and
                                                     transnational     exchanges      under      this
                                                     programme do not forfeit their rights.
                                                     particularly when it comes to social
                                                     protection, and have access to health care.
5.   The Commission, in cooperation with the
     Member States, shall ensure the transition
     between those actions developed in the
     framework of the previous community
     programmes in the field of youth (Youth for
     Europe III and European Voluntary
      Service) and the actions that will be
     implemented in the framework of the
      present programme.
                     Article 6
                   Joint actions
As part of the process of building up a Europe of As part of the process of building up a Europe of
knowledge, the measures of this programme may     knowledge, and in conformity with the
be implemented as joint actions with other        procedures set out in Art. 7 of the Decision, the
Community actions forming part of the             measures of this programme              may be
knowledge policy, particularly Community          implemented as joint actions with other
programmes in the area of education and           Community programmes actions, inter alia in the
training.                                         area of education and training, research and
                                                  development, and new technologies.
                     Article 7
                    Committee
 1.   The Commission shall be assisted by a
      committee composed of the representatives
      of the Member States and chaired by the
      representative of the Commission.
 2.   The representative of the Commission shall
      submit to the committee a draft of the
      measures to be taken as regards:
                                                                                         16
 ---pagebreak---      Commission's initial proposal            Amended proposal following the EP^s opinion
                                                           of05November 1998 jff,i,:
 (a) the arrangements for implementing this
      programme,         including     where
      appropriate the annual plan of work for
      the implementation of the programme's
      actions;
                                              a(2) the overall balance between the different
                                                   actions of the programme:
 (b) the criteria applicable for establishing
      the indicative breakdown of funds
      among the Member States for the
      purpose of the actions to be managed
      on a decentralised basis;
 (c) the arrangements for assessing the
      programme.
The committee shall deliver its opinion on
the draft within a time limit which the
Chairman may lay down according to the
urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be
delivered by the majority laid down in
Article 148(2) of the Treaty in the case of
decisions which the Council is required to
adopt on a proposal from the Commission.
The votes of the representatives of the
Member States within the committee shall
be weighted in the manner set out in that
Article. The Chairman shall not vote.
The Commission shall adopt measures
which shall apply immediately. However, if
these measures are not in accordance with
the opinion of the committee, they shall be
communicated by the Commission to the
Council forthwith.
   In that event:
- the Commission may defer application of
    the measures which it has decided for a
    period of up to one month from the date
    of the communication;
                                                                                17
 ---pagebreak---                                                    Amended proposal following the EP's opinio»
                                                   7 1 its ^^If^^oyemberlS»^'
     - the Council, acting by a qualified
       majority, may take a different decision
       within the time limit referred to in the
        first indent.
5.   The Commission may consult the
     committee on any other matter concerning
     implementation of the programme.
       In that event, the Commission
       representative shall submit to the
       Committee a draft of the measures to be
       taken. The committee shall deliver its
       opinion on the draft within a time limit
       which the Chairman may lay down
       according to the urgency of the matter, if
       necessary by taking a vote.
       The opinion shall be recorded in the
       minutes; in addition, each Member State
        shall have the right to ask to have its
       position recorded in the minutes.
        The Commission shall take the utmost
        account of the opinion delivered by the
        committee. It shall inform the Committee
        of the manner in which its opinion has
       been taken into account.
                      Article 8
                      Funding
1. The       financial    resources    for     the
   implementation of this programme for the
   period specified in Article 1 shall be set at
   ECU 600 million.
2. The annual appropriations shall be authorised
   by the budgetary authority within the limits of
   thefinancialperspectives.
                                                                                    18
 ---pagebreak---          Commission's initial proposal          Amended proposal following the EP's opinion
                                                               of 05 November 1998
                     Article 9
      Consistency and complementarity
1. The Commission shall, in cooperation with 1. The Commission shall, in cooperation with
   the Member States, ensure the overall           the Member States, and in full respect of
   consistency with other Community activities.    the intrinsic and specific nature of each
   Coordination shall be ensured in particular      programme, ensure the overall consistency
   between the activities of this programme and     and coordination between the programme
   the other Community actions in particular        activities and the other Community policies
   those covered by the knowledge policy.           and actions, particularly those contributing
                                                    to a Europe of knowledge in the area of
                                                    education, training, youth, research and
                                                    development, and innovation.
   The Commission shall ensure in cooperation   The Commission shall ensure in cooperation
   with the Member States consistency between   with the Member States consistency and synergy
   the implementation of this programme and     between the implementation of this programme
   the other Community actions relating to      and the other Community actions relating to
   youth in the area of culture and the         youth in the area of culture, research and
   audiovisual sector, the completion of the    development, and the audiovisual sector, the
   internal market, the information society,    completion of the interna! market, the
   environment, consumer protection, SMEs,      information society, environment, consumer
   social policies, employment, and public      protection, SMEs, social policies, employment,
   health.                                      and public health.
   The Commission shall ensure an efficient
   link-up between this programme and the
   programmes and actions in the area of youth
   undertaken as part of the Community's
   external relations.
2. The Commission and the Member States shall 2. The Commission and the Member States shall
   ensure that the measures of this programme      ensure that the measures of this programme
   will, as part of the implementation of the      will, as part of the implementation of the
   coordinated employment strategy, be             coordinated employment strategy, contribute
   consistent with the orientations established    to the attainment of the objectives set in the
   annually for the employment guidelines and      European employment guidelines and to the
   in conjunction with the other actions           drafting of national action plans:
   contributing to the implementation of the
   action plans to be drawn up in this context.
                                                                                       19
 ---pagebreak---         Commission's initial proposal           Amended proposal following the E P ' S opinion
                                                              of 05 November 1998
  Hie Commission and the Member States shall       The Commission and the Member States shall
  ensure consistency and complementarity           ensure consistency and complementarity
  between action undertaken under this             between action undertaken under this
  programme and Community action under the         programme and Community action under the
  Structural Funds                                 Structural Funds. They shall in particular
                                                   facilitate transfer and dissemination on a
                                                   greater scale through the Community
                                                   Structural Funds, approaches and innovatory
                                                   methods developed under this programme.
                   Article 10                                        Article 10
 Participation of the associated Central and     Participation of the associated Central and
Eastern European countries,Cyprus, Turkey       Eastern European countries, EFTA countries
                  and Malta                       which belong to the EEA, Cyprus, Turkey
                                                                    and Malta
    This programme shall be open to the         1. This programme shall be open to the
    participation of the associated Central and    participation of the associated Central and
    Eastern European countries (CEEC) in           Eastern European countries (CEEC) in
    accordance with the conditions fixed in the    accordance with the conditions fixed in the
    Europe agreements or in existing or            Europe agreements or in existing or
    anticipated additional protocols governing     anticipated additional protocols governing
    the participation of these countries in        the participation of these countries in
    Community programmes. This programme           Community programmes. This programme
    shall also be open to the participation,       shall also be open to the participation of the
    funded by additional appropriations, of        countries of the European Free Trade
    Cyprus under the same rules as those           Association (EFTA^ which belong to the
    applied to the countries of the European       European Economic Area fEEAY This
    Free Trade Association (EFTA) which            programme shall also be open to the
    belong to the European Economic Area           participation,     funded    by      additional
    (EEA) according to the procedures to be        appropriations, of Cyprus according to the
    agreed with this country. This programme is    procedures to be agreed with this country.
    also open to participation by Turkey           This programme is also open to
    according to the procedures to be              participation by Turkey according to the
    established with that country.                 procedures to be established with that
                                                   country.
    This programme shall also be open to
    participation by Malta according to the
    procedures to be agreed with that country.
                                                                                        20
 ---pagebreak---           Commission's initial proposal               Amended proposal following the EP f s opwiciu |
                                                                    of 05 November 1998
                     Article 11
            International cooperation
     The Commission shall strengthen its In the framework of this programme, the
cooperation with non-Community countries and Commission shall strengthen its cooperation
the     relevant    international      organisations, with non-Community countries and the relevant
particularly the Council of Europe.                   international organisations, particularly the
                                                      Council of Europe.
                     Article 12
           Monitoring and assessment
     The Commission shall continually monitor
     this programme in cooperation with the
     Member States.
      This monitoring shall be effected through
     the reports referred to in paragraph 3 and
      through specific activities.
      The Commission shall evaluate this 2. The Commission                       shall   evaluate   this
      programme periodically in cooperation with          programme periodically in cooperation with
     the Member States. The evaluation shall              the Member States. The evaluation shall seek
      seek to appraise the effectiveness of the           to appraise the relevance, effectiveness and
      actions implemented, by reference to the            impact of the actions implemented, by
      objectives set out in Article 2.                    reference to the objectives set out in Article
                                                          2.
      The evaluation shall also examine the
      complementarity between action under this
      programme and that pursued under other
      Community programmes, particularly action
      supported by the European Social Fund.
      There shall be regular external evaluations
      of the results of the Community actions in
      accordance with criteria established using
      the procedure under Article 7(2).
3.    Member States shall submit to the
      Commission by 31 December 2002 and
      30 June 2005 respectively reports on the
      implementation      and the impact           of
      this programme.
                                                                                             21
 ---pagebreak---          Commission's initial proposal            Amended proposal following the EP's opinion
                                                      -, V . '. • of 05 November I5>98    ; - ,V
   The Commission shall submit to the
   European Parliament, the Council, the
   Economic and Social Committee and the
   Committee of the Regions
     - an interim report on the implementation      an interim report, no later than 30 June
        of this programme no later than 30 June     2003. on the qualitative and quantitative
        2003.                                       aspects of programme implementation in
                                                    relation to the funds allocated.
     - no later than 31 December 2005, a final
        report on the implementation of
        this programme.
                    Article 13
                 Entry into force
This Decision shall enter into force on the date
of its publication in the Official Journal of the
European Communities.
Done at Brussels, on
For the European Parliament:      For the Council
The President                      The President
                                                                                       22
 ---pagebreak---         SM^SS®J^SBHlffS!i
                     ANNEX                                                ANNEX
                                                                                                       I
Funding approved under this programme shall        Funding approved under this programme shall ji
respect the principles of co-financing and         respect the principles of co-financing and |j
additionally. In accordance with Article 4(3) of   additionality. In accordance with Article 4(3) of sj
the Decision, efforts must be made to facilitate   the Decision, steps must be taken to facilitate jj
access to the programmé for young people who       access to the programme for young people and jj
face difficulties of a cultural, social, economic, small local groups who face difficulties of a j!
physical, mental or geographical nature. The       cultural, social, economic, physical, mental or jj
committee referred to in Article 7 of this         geographical nature. The committee referred to |1
Decision shall lay down the specific form these    in Article 7 of this Decision shall lay down the ;;
efforts should take. Community funding is to be    specific form these efforts should take. ||
distributed in such a way as to take account of    Community funding is to be distributed in such a
the need to ensure that there is a balance in the  way as to take account of the need to ensure that
 mobility actions undertaken and that the young     there is a balance in the mobility actions
 people of every Member State have an equal         undertaken and that the^young people of every
 opportunity of participation.                      Member State have an equal opportunity of
                                                    participation.
 In order to achieve the objectives of this
 programme, five categories of action are to be
 implemented on the basis of the measures
 described in Article 3 of the Decision:
   •    Action 1 : European voluntary service;
   •    Action 2: Youth for Europe;
   •    Action 3: Opportunity for youth;
   •    Action 4: Joint actions;
   •    Action 5: Support measures
   ACTION 1 - EUROPEAN VOLUNTARY
                     SERVICE
  For the purposes of this programme, "young For the purposes of this programme, "young
  volunteer" is taken to be a person between the volunteer" is taken to be a person between the
  ages of 18 and 25 who is a legal resident of a ages of 18 and 25 (but allowing for the
  Member State of the European Community.             possibility of duly justified exceptions whereby
                                                      consideration may be given to applications
                                                      from young people outside that age bracket)
                                                      who is a legal resident of a Member State of
                                                      the European Community.
                                                                                              23
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                 ><<s
          Coosmission's initial proposal             Amended proposal following thÉEP's opinion
                                                                   of 05 November 199$
The young volunteer shall undertake, as an           The young volunteer shall undertake, as an
active citizen, to carry out an activity which       active citizen, to carry out an activity which
gives tangible form to solidarity, with the aim of   gives tangible form to solidarity, which will help
acquiring social and personal skills and             him to acquire social and personal skills. To this
establishing the basis for a future career while at  end, the young volunteer shall participate, in a
the same time contributing to society as a whole.    Member State other than the one in which he is
To this end, the young volunteer shall               living, or in a non-member country, in a non-
participate, in a Member State other than the one    profit-making and unpaid activity which is of
in which he is living, or in a non-member            value to the community and lasts for a limited
country, in a non-profit-making and unpaid           period (maximum of 12 months). This activity
activity which is of value to the community and      must be part of a project recognised by the
lasts for a limited period (maximum of 12            Member State and by the Community, and must
months) as part of a project recognised by the       comply with the objectives of this programme as
Member State and by the Community. Full board        set out in Art. 2 and with the other Community
and the supervision of a tutor shall be provided.    policies. In particular, it should not result in job
The voluntary service project shall ensure that      substitution. Full board and the supervision of a
the young volunteer is covered by sickness           tutor shall be provided. The voluntary service
insurance and by any other appropriate               project shall ensure that the young volunteer is
insurance. The young volunteer shall receive a       covered by sickness insurance and by any other
small remuneration/sum as pocket money.              appropriate insurance. The young volunteer shall
                                                     receive a small remuneration/sum as pocket
                                                     money.
 In accordance with the provisions relating to the
programme committee referred to in Article 7, a
certificate, issued by the Commission, shall
confirm the young volunteers' participation in
the European voluntary service and set out the
experience and skills they have acquired during
this period.
    Action 1.1 : Intra-Community European
                 voluntary service
 The Community shall support transnational
 projects (for a limited period ranging in principle
 from three weeks to one year) which involve
 young people, actively and personally, in
 activities designed to help meet the needs of
 society in a wide range of fields (social, socio-
 cultural, environmental, cultural, etc.). These
 projects are designed to bring young people into
 contact with other cultures and other languages,
 exposing them to new ideas and projects within
 a multicultural civilian context.
                                                                                              24
 ---pagebreak--- r-
            Commission's initial proposal               Amended proposal following the EP's opiaioi
                                                                  of 05 November 1998
 The Community may support schemes,
 particularly those with a linguistic or
 intercultural element, which aim at preparing
 young volunteers for their departure and easing
 their integration during these activities as well as
 when they have completed their period of
 European voluntary service. These schemes may
 take the form of mentor arrangements for the
 young person.
  Action 1.2 : European voluntary service with
                non-member countries
  The Community shall support transnational
  projects with non-member countries (for a
  limited period ranging in principle from three
  weeks to one year) which involve young people,
  actively and personally, in activities designed to
  help meet the needs of society in a wide range of
  fields (social, socio-cultural, environmental,
  cultural, etc.). These projects are designed to
  bring young people into contact with other
  cultures and other languages, exposing them to
  new ideas and projects within a multicultural
  civilian context.
   Support may be given to action laying or
   consolidating the necessary foundations for
   developing transnational European voluntary
   service projects with non-member countries.
   The Community may support schemes,
   particularly those with a linguistic or
   intercultural element, which aim at preparing
   young volunteers for their departure and easing
   their integration during these activities as well as
   when they have completed their period of
   European voluntary service. These schemes may
   take the form of mentor arrangements for the
   young person.
                                                                                         25
 ---pagebreak---                                                      Amended proposiïïoli^iné ib^ lK*s opinion
                                                                  of05N6vémVërI993
     ACTION 2 -YOUTH FOR EUROPE
  Action 2.1 Intra-community exchanges for
                   young people
The Community shall support mobility activities
for young people provided these last at least one
week, are carried out on the basis of joint
projects within the Community and involve
groups of young people aged in principle
between 15 and 25 years and legally resident in a
Member State.
These activities, based on transnational
partnerships between groups of young people
shall involve their active participation and be
designed to make it possible for them to
discover and become aware of different social
and cultural realities and to encourage them to
participate in, or initiate, other activities at
European level. Particular attention is to be paid
to participation by young people for whom it is
their first European activity and to small-scale or
local groups without experience at European
level.
After a launch period expected to last some two      After a launch period expected to last some
years, Community support shall be focused            two years, Community support shall be
primarily     on multilateral        group-mobility  focused primarily on multilateral group-
activities. Bilateral group mobility will receive    mobility activities. Bilateral group mobility will
funding only if this is justified in terms of the    receive further funding if this is justified in
target group or a specific educational approach.     terms of the target group or a specific
                                                     educational approach.
Activities designed to strengthen the active
involvement of young people in group mobility
projects may receive funding under this action,
particularly in the form of activities to give these
young people linguistic and intercultural
preparation before their departure.
                                                                                            26
 ---pagebreak---           Commission's initial proposal ! ; -K      Amended proposal following t h e E F * opin i'jii
                                                              of 05 November 1998
                                                                                                      H;
  Action 2.2 Exchanges of young people with
              non-member countries
The Community shall support mobility activities
for young people provided these last at least one
week, are carried out on the basis of joint
projects and involve groups of young people
aged in principle between 15 and 25 years and
legally resident in a Member State or in a non-
member country. These mobility activities shall
involve at least two Member States.
These activities, based on transnational
partnerships between groups of young people
shall involve their active participation and be
designed to make it possible for them to
 discover and become aware of different social
 and cultural realities and to encourage them to
 participate in, or initiate, other activities at
European level. Moreover, these projects shall
make it possible for partners in the non-member
 countries to gain experience of this kind of
 activity in the field of informal education and to
 contribute to the development of youth clubs
 and associations and of youth work in these
 countries.
 Activities designed to strengthen the active
 involvement of young people in group mobility
 projects may receive funding, particularly in the
 form of activities to give these young people
 linguistic and intercultural preparation before
 their departure.
                                                                                         27
 ---pagebreak---           Commission's initial proposal             Amended proposal following the EP's opinion
                                                                  of 05 November 1998
ACTION 3 - OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH
In order to encourage initiative and creativity
among young people, the Community shall
support projects in which young people actively
and directly participate in innovative and creative
schemes and in those which focus on the social
commitment of young people at local, regional,
national or European level. These projects allow
young people to develop their initiative and to
put into practice activities they have themselves
devised and in which they play the key roles.
 The Community shall support initiatives            The Community shall support initiatives
 designed to help young volunteers to make the      designed to help young volunteers to make the
 best possible use of the experience they have      best possible use of the experience they have
 gained during their period of voluntary service    gained during their period of voluntary service
 and to encourage their active integration into     and to encourage their active integration into
 society. These initiatives taken by young people   society. These initiatives taken by young people
 on completing their European voluntary service     on completing their European voluntary service
 will allow them to launch and promote activities   will allow them to launch and promote activities
 of a social, cultural, socio-cultural and economic of a social, cultural, socio-cultural and economic
 nature and/or to participate in supplementary      nature and/or to participate in supplementary
 educational activities. Priority access will be    educational activities which can enhance their
 given to those young people most in need.          employment prospects. Priority access will be
                                                    given to those young people most in need.
 Initiatives designed to encourage tolerance and
 the acceptance of differences, as well measures
 combating all forms of exclusion, should be
 given specific encouragement and stimulation.
 The Community shall be receptive to initiatives
 involving cultural and sporting activities as a
 vital form of communication between young
 people at Community level.
                                                                                            28
 ---pagebreak---                                                     Amended proposal following the EP's opinion
                                                                  ofOji November 1998
 Support for "Youth Initiatives" shall encourage
 extension of these projects to include similar
 initiatives conducted in other Member States in
 order to strengthen their transnational nature and
 greatly expand exchanges of experience and
 cooperation between young people. This aid
 may include organising meetings of young
 promoters of Europe-wide initiatives. Financial
 aid may be granted towards the effective
 establishment of stable partnerships designed to
 enhance the impact and permanence of
 transnational youth initiatives.
                                                    Community       support    for these 'Youth
                                                    Initiatives' shall be organised in partnership
                                                    with other local players, such as political
                                                    leaders in towns, associations, social services.
          ACTION 4 - J O I N T ACTIONS
The actions referred to in Article 6 of the present
Decision, Community aid may qualify for
support for activities to be undertaken jointly
with other Community schemes in the field of
knowledge policy, in particular Community
programmes in the field of education and
vocational training.
Coordination between programmes may be
implemented by means of calls for joint projects.
The Commission intends in particular to develop
a common system of information                  and
observation concerning good practice in the field
of knowledge, alongside joint actions with
regard to multimedia for educational and training
purposes. These projects may cover a range of
schemes from a number of different sectors
including youth. They may be funded in a
complementary manner by a number of different
Community programmes.
                                                                                            29
 ---pagebreak---                                                     Amended proposal following the EP's opinion
                                                            ,'of 05November 1998
Appropriate measures, including in particular the
creation of "European knowledge points", may
be adopted to provide, at regional and local
level, contact and interaction between those
participating in the present programme and in
programmes dealing with vocational training and
education.
     ACTION 5: SUPPORT MEASURES
   Action 5.1 Training and cooperation for
         those involved in youth policy
Funding shall be granted to:
1.   Activities designed to give further training
     to persons who are involved in youth work
     - particularly European Voluntary Service
     instructors, youth workers, those running
     European projects and youth initiative
     counsellors - in schemes, directly involving
     young people, of the kind described in
     Sections I, II and III of the present
     programme; the aim being to ensure such
     schemes are of an appropriately high
     quality. Particular attention shall be paid to
     activities seeking to encourage the
     participation of those young people who
     find it most difficult to participate in
     Community actions;
2.   Activities designed to develop European
     modules fulfilling the requirements for
     transnational cooperation;
3.   Activities - such as study visits, feasibility
     studies, seminars, work-experience - which
     focus particularly on exchanges of
     experience and good practice with relation
     to joint actions or issues of common
     interest, or which are designed to facilitate
     and to promote the establishment of lasting
     transnational        partnerships       and/or
     multilateral networks between those active
     in the field of youth work;
                                                                                    30
 ---pagebreak---          Commission's initial proposal            Amended proposal following the EP's opinion
                                                            of 05November 1998
4.   Experimental activities which comprise a
     source of innovation and enrichment of
     youth policy through the implementation of
     new approaches and new forms of
     cooperation, as well as through the shared
     efforts       of      participants     from
     differing backgrounds;
5.   Community support may also be awarded
     to conferences and seminars which seek to
     promote cooperation and the exchange of
     good practice in the field of youth, as well
     as other promotion and dissemination
     measures regarding the results of the
     projects and activities supported in the
     framework of the Community actions
     related to youth.
Activities associated with these measures may be
solely intra-Community in nature or involve non-
member countries. Particular attention shall be
paid to those who work with youth at a regional
or local level and who have no or little
experience of, or scope for, contacts at
European level, as well as to activities in which
young people play the key roles.
                                                                                   31
 ---pagebreak---                                                                                il,?,
         Commission's initial proposal           Amended proposal following the EP's opinion
                                                     > >: *ot 05 November 4S>98
Action 5.2 Information for young people and
                  youth studies
1.  In line with the objectives of the
    programme, and in particular to improve
    access for all young people and to enhance
    their initiative and active participation in
    society, the Commission shall encourage
    those active in the field of youth work to
    become involved in informing young people
    at European level, as well as boosting
    cooperation between the information and
    communication systems for young people
    established in the Member States and at
    Community level. In this context, particular
    stress is to be laid on broadening
    cooperation to include the fields of
    education and training as well as on the
    dialogue between and with young people.
2.  Accordingly, funding shall be provided for
    initiatives involving:
    - the acquisition of the necessary
        experience and skills to carry out youth
        information      projects    based    on
        transnational cooperation and projects
        which provide information and, in
        particular, advisory services for young
        people;
    - cooperative       projects   focusing   on
        information dissemination, enhancing the
        awareness among young people of the
        field covered by the programme and
        giving young people access to all
        necessary information to achieve the
        objectives of the programme;
                                                 These initiatives could if necessary be
                                                 organised in conjunction with similar actions
                                                 envisaged, for instance, under the Socrates and
                                                 Leonardo programmes:
                                                                                       32
 ---pagebreak---         ;
          -Con|MI|s|o||||niiiilp|                   j|iiêid|i
                                                          "''"BîHJiiil^Sftrii^98:!
     - the implementation, as part of
        transnational cooperation projects, of
        mechanisms permitting dialogue between
        and with young people, particularly
        through the use of youth-oriented media
        and new technologies.
3.   With regard to the youth studies associated
     with the programme objectives, the
     Community shall support studies focusing
     on the impact of measures taken on behalf
     of young people and, in particular,
     measures that seek to promote cooperation
     in this field. This research may take the
     form of case studies.
          Action 5.3: Support measures
1.    National agencies
        Community assistance may be provided
        to support the activities of the structures
        set up by Member States, in accordance
        with Article 5 of the Decision.
2. Technical      assistance and       operational
     support
   In carrying out the programme, the
   Commission can have recourse to technical
   assistance organisations the financing of
   which may be provided for the within the
   overall envelope for the programme. It can,
   under the same conditions, have recourse to
   experts.
   Furthermore, the Commission will be able to
   undertake evaluation studies, organise
    seminars, colloquia or other meetings of
   experts, likely to facilitate the implementation
    of the programme. The Commission can also
   take foward information, publication and
    dissemination actions.
                                                                                   33
 ---pagebreak--- Commission's initial proposal Amended proposal following the EP's opinion
                                             of 05 November 1998
                              The Commission shall set up a structure
                              designed inter alia to develop youth projects,
                              to collect information and documentation on
                              youth, bringing together publications, specific
                              studies, programmes and/or measures taken on
                              youth-related matters by the Community
                              Institutions, the Member States, organisations
                              and      associations.    An Europa-based
                              Commission-run Internet site "Youth in
                              Europe" will further highlight the steps taken
                              for young people at Community level and in
                              the Member States, in a wide range of
                              contexts: education, training, social and
                              political rights, health. sport. leisure.
                              accommodation.          consumer        matters.
                              audiovisual and media, etc. It is also expected
                              to make dialogue easier with young people in
                              general.
                                                                     34
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                                                  ISSN 0254-1475
                                                           COM(98) 695 final
                                              DOCUMENTS
EN                                                           16 05 01 09
                                    Catalogue number : CB-CO-98-701-EN-C
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities
L-2985 Luxembourg
                                                                                3>5"