ANNEX

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

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

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

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

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

ACTIONS

The actions can be broken down into the following measures:

Action 1 — Youth for Europe

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

1.1.   Youth exchanges

Youth exchanges allow one or more groups of young people to be hosted by a group from another country in order to participate together in a joint programme of activities. They are available, in principle, to young people aged between 13 and 25.

These activities, based on transnational partnerships between the various actors in a project, involve the active participation of young people and are designed to allow them to discover and become aware of different social and cultural realities, to learn from each other and reinforce their feeling of being 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.

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.

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,

—	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.

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.

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.

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.