This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Youth action programme 2000-2006
The Youth Programme offers young people opportunities for mobility and active participation in the construction of the Europe and contributes to the development of youth policy, based on non-formal education. It aims to promote exchanges and discussion meetings between young people, voluntary work, participation and active citizenship, and the innovation and improvement of international training and cooperation skills in the youth field.
ACT
Decision No 1031/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 April 2000 establishing the "Youth" Community action programme.
SUMMARY
The "Youth" Community action programme combines in one instrument several activities which existed in previous programmes such as " Youth for Europe " and the European Voluntary Service, for the period 2000-2006. It is also based on the objectives defined by the Commission in its communication " Towards a Europe of knowledge " and hence tends to favour the creation of a European educational area.
The main objectives of the programme are as follows:
The implementation of these objectives at European level will complement measures taken by and in the Member States. The Commission will ensure that action under the programme is consistent with the Community's other actions and policies.
The following actions will be carried out under the programme:
The programme is aimed principally at young people between the ages of 15 and 25 as well as those involved in youth work. Attention should be paid to ensuring that all young people, without discrimination, have access to the activities under the programme.
The Commission will ensure the implementation of the Community actions covered by the programme in conjunction with the Member States. The Member States will endeavour to take the necessary steps to ensure the efficient running of the programme at national level.
As part of the process of building up a Europe of knowledge, the measures of this programme may be implemented as joint actions with other Community actions which are part of the knowledge policy, particularly Community programmes in the area of education and vocational training of young people.
The Commission is responsible for managing the programme, which is largely decentralised to national employment agencies located in 31 European countries.
The Commission is assisted by a committee comprising representatives from the Member States and chaired by the representative of the Commission.
The financial resources for the implementation of the programme proposed by the Commission in the basic act is EUR 520 million over seven years. Because of the accession of the ten new Member States in 2004, this budget has received the favourable opinion of the European Parliament for an increase covering the period 2004-2006. It now amounts to EUR 615 million.
Besides the participation of the 25 Member States of the European Union, the programme is open to the participation of:
The Commission is strengthening international cooperation and the relevant international organisations, particularly the Council of Europe
The programme is regularly monitored by the Commission in conjunction with the Member States. On the basis of the reports to be submitted by the Member States by 31 December 2002 and 30 June 2005 respectively, the Commission will submit to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions:
References
Act |
Entry into force - Date of expiry |
Deadline for transposition in the Member States |
Official Journal |
Decision (EC) No 1031/2000 |
18.05.2000 - 31.12.2006 |
- |
OJ L 117 of 18.05.2000 |
RELATED ACTS
Decision No 1719/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 November 2006 establishing the Youth in Action programme for the period 2007 to 2013 [Official Journal L 327 of 24.11.2006].
Report from the Commission - Interim evaluation of the Youth Programme 2000-2006 (covering the period 2000-2003) [COM(2004) 158 final of 01.03.2004 - not published in the Official Journal]
The report stresses that the programme's objectives have largely been achieved. All the players have been involved in the evaluation process, namely the national administrations, national agencies, youth organisations, youth workers and researchers. However, to adapt the programme to changes in the situation and to respond to the recommendations made by the various players on the ground, the Commission proposes:
Youth for Europe:
European Voluntary Service (EVS):
Initiatives in favour of young people:
Joint actions:
Support measures:
As regards the Partnership Programme between the Council of Europe and the European Commission on European Youth Worker Training, the Commission proposes paying special attention to the efficient use of the competencies and tools at the disposal of the Partnership, e.g. by strengthening the network of trainers who participated in the training measures and capitalising on synergies between the three fields of cooperation (training, research, Euromed) with the Council of Europe.
The Commission could also facilitate access to the programme for organisations located in third countries and give organisations from partner countries the possibility of submitting applications and become leading partners in the projects. It also envisages transposing the model of the EuroMediterranean Youth Action Programme to the Balkans, Eastern Europe and the Caucasus.
Last updated: 20.02.2007