WRITTEN QUESTION E-1935/00

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Subject: Budget Item A-3023

The European Union Youth Forum receives a total of 2 million from Item A-3023. Could the Commission indicate the objectives and members of this organisation and how youth organisations are selected to receive Community funds?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(19 September 2000)

As can be seen from its statutes, the European Youth Forum seeks to uphold and promote the rights and interests of young people and the organisations representing them. The Community consults the Forum on issues concerning young people and youth organisations.

The Forum must take action to help integrate youth policy into overall Commission policy, to influence Community policy on matters affecting young people, to boost the involvement of young people and youth organisations in framing Community policy, to fight for equal rights for all citizens of the Community and promote mutual understanding among them, and to promote democracy and genuine participation in Community affairs. In order to achieve this, the Forum must establish a working relationship with the Community, which will serve as a basis for consultation, coordination and information.

The European Youth Forum's special role as a key contact body for the European institutions is reflected in the many initiatives and activities organised by the Commission in which it is asked to participate (as a body which can distribute information to young people about the Youth programme, which can be consulted on issues concerning young people and which can help draw up policy proposals).

Membership of the European Youth Forum is open to National Youth Committees (NYCs) and International Non-Governmental Youth Organisations (INGYOs) which meet certain criteria as regards their function, objectives, operating method and size.

The conditions determining the eligibility of youth organisations for Community funding other than those laid down in the corresponding remarks vary from one budget item to another. With regard to item A-3029 Support for international non-governmental youth organisations, the Honourable Member should refer to the answer to his written question E-1934/00(1).

(1) See p. 116.